Does Arimidex Intake Interfere With Thyroid Medication Or Function?

Posted on Thu, 19 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 19 Jun 2014 Answered on

Sat, 5 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I have started back on Arimidex. I went off it 12 months ago as I believe it was either interferring with my thyroid function or my thyroid medication. Back then, after only 6 weeks on Arimidex my TSH level went form 1.5 to 6. I have been on Oroxin for around 18 years. I monitor the levels regularly with my doctor and take medication same time every day. I believe it could only be Arimidex that caused this. I am at my physical and mental best when my TSH level is between 0.5 and 3. Anything above that I suffer depression.

Answered by Dr. Monish De (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
no link between taking anastrozole and thyroid function

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Some facts about armidex:
- ARIMIDEX contains anastrozole which is approved for adjuvant treatment thay is treatment following surgery with or without radiation of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.
- It is is approved for the initial treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that has progressed following treatment with tamoxifen.

There is no link between taking anastrozole and thyroid function.

Common side effects of armidex are hot flushes and asthenia and it also causes mood changes which can be a cause for depression in your case.

Hope I have answered your query

Regards
DR De

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad