I took Arimidex for 1.5 years and stopped due to the severe side effects. My Onc worked with me on this. I lowered the dosage every 3 months and then he would check my hormone levels. When I was down to 1/4 dosage the hormone levels were still too low to measure so he agreed I could stop. He then monitored me every 3 months just like he would if I had completed the 5 years. He just changed me to 6 months. I have been off for 1.5 years now.

I have been on Arimidex 6 mo now and have really OT had many problems, intermittent pain but, no ongoing anymore. Very important to team with your oncologist they should be your number 1 advocate, u should feel secure, confident with them and they should be willing to talk with u about your concerns. Get u a notebook and write questions down, leaving a few lines to write an answer. (I'm a little ocd but, I like to write the answers in a different color) take it with you to all dr visits, eventually they will examine u and all and will say "let me see what questions u have that I didn't answer, often they actually ans them before u ask, hugs and prayers

I have been on Arimidex for nine weeks now. From the first day I had stomach pain, not cramping, gas-like pains but ache in my stomach. I also immediately began having headaches, something new for me. I would have pain at the base of my skull and on the right side of my face. Sometimes it felt like a sinus infection and would radiate to my upper teeth on that side. After about five weeks the stomach ache subsided and has not returned. The headaches are some better in that they are not every day now and are not as severe. For the past two weeks now I have had pain in my knees. I sometimes feel like I have a fever and sometimes do have a low grade, which is a fleeting thing. Rather strange! My hands often are colder than ice. I have also experienced some depression which I think is the arimidex as I just find myself suddenly in tears at times. Up and down emotions. The worse side effect of all these is for me the headaches. Because of my blood pressure I do not take motrin and only take Tylenol when the pain is really bad. I already have bone loss in one hip and try not to worry about what the arimidex will eventually do to my bones. I often have insomnia and do not sleep as well as I did before starting this drug. I will probably take arimidex for the rest of my life. I am 68 and a widow. I try to take one day at a time. I do not think about not taking the drug because my oncologist and my radiation oncologist both said that our goal was for me to die of something else before the cancer returns. I hope sharing this info helps someone else. Every woman is different and will be affected differently. I fully expected I would have terrible joint pain; instead I have face and skull pain. It has been my experience that physicians respond to accounts of side effects by denying that they are caused by the drug in question, the radiation treatment, the chemo or whatever it is they are doing to you! If I want factual information, I go to the patients who are actually dealing with the issue. We do what we must and pray for the strength to do it.

My doctor has just taken me off Arimedex for two week due to insomnia, itchy rash, and severe fatique and joint pain. It talking about changing medication. I have heard that some people having problems with it. I have been to by medical personnel that it is not unusual that people can't take it and must take a substitues.

Thanks to all to you who have been so kind to answer my q's Your hard earned wisdom and experiences bless my life.