Cholesterol
 

After 2 1/2 years on Arimidex and 4 months in the Femara study, I registered a spike in my cholesterol level on my last blood test. I am off the drug for two weeks and will repeat the blood test. My weight is normal and I eat low-fat, so it's likely not my diet. Not sure what will happen. Anybody have this happen?

Yes, my cholesterol went up. I have been on Arimidex
2years and 3 months and now take a statin drug. Just
another side effect from the arimidex. I was eating healthy and exercising but that did not lower the cholesterol.
patb

Hi,
I've been on arimidix for two years now and my good cholesterol went down (40)while my bad cholesterol went up (124). My doctor is waiting to see if it improves. I am not overweight as a matter of fact I hit the gym at least 4 times/week. Before arimidix I had very low cholesterol (65) so it about doubled. I am in the process of trying to learn more about foods which may improve the good cholesterol. From what I've been reading the good cholesterol may be more important than the bad. Let me know what your doctor does with the info.

Liver enzymes, cholesterol, you name it
 

I went to my primary care doctor today and she told me my liver enzymes were very elevated. Like 150 above where they should be. When the oncology nurse told me my cholesteroal and liver enzymes were elevated, I didn't pay much attention to the liver part, because my enzymes always go up and down a few points. But they've never been this high. The primary care doc told me, and I got very upset. The fear never goes away. I hope I can continue to take Femara or Arimidex.

Mjo,
It sounds like you are having the same issues as me. My liver enzymes are also high. The different enzymes change, sometimes one is high the other normal and then it changes. At first my onc sent me to have a scan and the liver looked okay. My onc said arimidix would not cause a spike in liver enzymes. Since then I have talked to others who have also experienced high choles/liver enz so I think he may be wrong. I did read that arimidix could cause high cholesterol. So maybe arimidix could cause high cholesterol and high cholesterol then causes high liver enzymes. Arimidix may cause the domino effect. I also worry about not being able to take arimidix, Keep me posted.

my cholesterol also went up, am now taking lovastatin, 40 mg a day. And NOW my blood sugar is going up.....

Thanks for the reassurance. Last night I had to use the ice cream cure for anxiety. At least it was weight watchers brand. In my research I see that 3% of Femara users get a spike in liver panel. That's the initial research. I bet as time goes on the 3% will go up. I was taking Femara and also a mild does of Abilify for mood. Abilify also effects/affects liver. I hope my blood test gets back to normal. If not I will need a scan. I had been considering myself well and unlikely to recur until I got this reminder. I think I'm fine, but the reminders aren't pleasant.