[sassy]

After being on Arimidex for over a year with significant joint pain (especially right hand thumb and little finger), my GP and Onc started changing other meds to see if they could lessen side effects. My GP changed me from a low dose diuretic (for BP) to Lasix. At that point, Lasix was the only variable in meds. In less than a week I began to see a change in joint problems. I now have some stiffness especially after being sedentary, but it has improved by at least 75%.

I know there is no data that indicates Lasix or another diuretic being used in this manner--but remember we are the early users of AI's and are the ones uncovering side effects and possible side effect treatment. At this point I know of only one other lady who showed this same improvement on Lasix, but she had also changed another med at the same time so could not be certain that improvement could all be attributed to Lasix.

I have been fortunate that my onc(s) have been progressive and prescribed outside of standard protocol. Early on, my onc put me on Lupron and Zometa, both which have just had studies released showing the benefit of each in terms of recurrance. While Lupron is used for ovary suppression in hormone positive BC, Zometa is beneficial for all pathologies.

So perhaps the use of diuretics like Lasix will prove at some point to be beneficial in the treatment of side effects with AI's. We may discover that fluid contributes to the joint stiffness. It certainly seems to have worked for me.

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone else who has seen benefit, or from anyone who tries this option and their subsequent results.