WOW! That's about all that came to mind when I took the prescription bottle out of the envelope and looked inside. I felt like, if I sneezed those 30 little pills would enter the air and circulate like dandelion parachutes! Well, maybe they aren't THAT small, but for something that has such an important job as keeping the estrogen away from the receptors so the cancer can't grow, they didn't look like they'd have much punch. Then I started reading the one and a half pages of font size 10 type that listed all the specific instructions but, as it said at the end, "this is a summary only and does not contain all the information about this medicine."
"It works by lowering blood estradiol concentrations, which may decrease the size and growth of the tumor." Hmmmmm
"Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are: taking any prescription or non prescription medicine, herbal preparations, or dietary supplements." So much for just picking things out at the drug store.
The first line under IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: "This medicine may cause dizziness. Use this medicine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it." Of course I'm not going to have any dizziness, I decided. But if I do, there's a whole new can of worms to deal with! Sheesh!
We won't even mention the additional list of side effects. I know they have to include every possibility because of law suits, but good grief!
A few more pages of information from my prescription drug program ending with a form to reorder on or after Dec. 15. Each one of my little pills is worth $1.00 each, generic version. The original Arimidex pills prior to July 2010, cost $102.00 each. Merry Christmas for sure!
I am not starting this prescription until after my football game weekend, October 16. One, because I'm not sure about the driving part and I have to get to Ann Arbor, a little over 200 miles and about 3 hours away. Two, there is quite a bit of information in other articles regarding having any alcohol and taking this drug. Have to have a chat with the doctor and get some clarification here. Even though it's been several weeks since I have had any alcohol, I am looking forward to a beer or two that weekend with one of my friends. Add to that most beer contains hops which includes estrogen and may be on my "no no" list afterwards? Bummer! I've got a week to figure this out and decide on a starting date. I won't wait too long.
One of the other warnings on the label states you need to be talking with your medical doctor if you stop the dose or if more than one dose is missed accidentally. For someone who never got the hang of taking daily vitamins and who even missed a birth control pill now and then and had to "catch up", this is going to be a bigger challenge than you can imagine! Add to this that they require that it be taken as close to the same time as possible every day. When you don't have a regular work schedule or life, for that matter, that will be interesting too.
It takes 30 days to adopt a habit...these first 30 days are going to be a real test. I think I seriously need to teach Foxy how to say, "Hey Mom, did you take your pill this morning?" Her training begins next week ;-)
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