Tamoxifen vs Arimidex

[3pturk]

Hi to all of you..I need a little help here. I started taking tamoxifen 1 week ago. The doc called today and said that my estrodial levels are low , meaning chemo (which ended 8/17/05) booted me into menopause so they want me on arimidex instead. Apparently as far as postmenopausal women are considered arimidex works better for nonrecurrence of the cancer...Tamoxifen is more used for premenopausal women. All is fine I say okay I'll switch then. Noone bothered to tell me that arimidex is going to cost me $221.00 per month (tamoxifen was $21.00 per month). How can this be??? I can not afford this!
My question to you is this ...Does anyone know if you can make a choice here, staying on tamoxifen instead of switching to arimidex. How much difference is there , really? I cant talk to Docs until tomorrow but this is making me insane.
God Bless and be well, Jill

[DiO]

Hi Jill!

I'm on Arimidex and fortunately my HMO covers all but a $20 copay per month. When Doc put me on it he verified that I had prescription coverage first. His words were that Arimidex works a little better for postmenopausal women who have insurance, as it's very expensive! He has also said that if there are bad side effects from Arimidex I can always go to Tamoxifen, so I don't think it's inappropriate to consider switching back for financial reasons.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

[3pturk]

diO,
thanks for the reply. I am still trying to talk with doc for more info.
Leo maybe you could help....do the benefits of arimidex outweigh those of tamoxifen for postmenopausal women..

Jill

[Muttsmom]

Hi,
I had the same thing happen to me. Chemo put me into MENTALpause. With me being Stage III and everything pointing to Arimidex being superior over Arimidex, I changed. My Tamoxifen was $110.00 a month and Arimidex is $233.00 a month and I can't find a job..........Thank God for my wonderfull parents and them being able and of course willing to help.
My onco did tell me it would be more, but wasn't sure how much more. I got a shock too.......geesh. Between having to take Actonel to help with the bone pain from Arimidex and the Advicor to help with the side affect of Arimidex, which can cause VERY high tryglicerides and cholesterol, it's still worth it if it will keep the cancer from coming back.
A suggestion. If you start having bone pain from Arimidex, normally it's your fingers and feet/ankles, I found if I'll wear tennis shoes more then going barefoot, it helps. I guess the tennis shoes give support to the areas that Arimidex can cause the most pain in.
Nancy
p.s. not everyone has side affects from Arimidex. Of course only 10% of women get the kind of cancer I was dx with and only 10% of them have it spread to the lymph nodes, so I'm just lucky I guess............lol NOT

[3pturk]

I finally got the answer I've been looking for. Tamoxifen blocks the estrogen from entering the tumor. Premenopause women ovaries are still producing estrogen. Menopausel women have androgens being released by the adrenal glands. An enzyme called Aromatse can change the androgens into estrogen. Arimidex is an Aromatase Inhibitor, stops the aromatase from turning androgens into estrogen. Therefore, no estrogen for tumors to feed off of.

[yvonne1348]

Well, my onco refused to switch me form Tamoxifen to Arimidex; she insists that "growing evidence" suggests that Arimidex is more likely to cause other problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease, and is a less effective drug on estrogen positive post menopausal women than Tamoxifen. As far as she's concerned, the risks outweigh the benefits. I can't say I necessarily agree with her from the reading I've done, but arguing isn't going to change her mind. I'd have to get a second opinion or switch doctors if I really want to change medications.