Types of Common Side Effects

• Common side effects of Arimidex include hot flashes, weakness, joint pain, pharyngitis, hypertension, depression, nausea, vomiting, rashes, back pain, insomnia, headaches, coughing, shortness of breath and swelling of the lymph nodes or extremities.
  
  

Significance

• The most common side effects of Arimidex occur in more than 10 percent of patients, according to FDA clinical trials published on RxList.
  
  

Drug Interactions

• When combined with tamoxifen for breast cancer treatment, Arimidex poses an increased risk for side effects without any real evidence of benefits, cautions RxList.
  
  

Risks

• More than 10 percent of patients who take Arimidex experience the onset of osteoporosis, according to RxList. Other risks associated with Arimidex include severe allergic reactions, heart attack, stroke and liver dysfunction.
  
  

Considerations

• Arimidex is only safe for women who have already completed menopause, and the drug can cause fetal harm if used during pregnancy. If you have a history of osteoporosis, high cholesterol, heart attacks, angina or liver disease, it may not be safe for you to take Arimidex due to its potential side effects, warns the Mayo Clinic.