Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Posted by tinalove @tinalove, Jan 31, 2016

I completed all treatments for breast cancer but now I am supposed to take hormone blocker, named anastrozole. im concerned about the side effects. Has anyone here taken it and did anyone have hair loss?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

exk | @exk | Mar 2 8:00am

In reply to @anjalima "When I realized that my sudden major increase in side effects after one year on Anastrozole..." + (show)

I just posted a few days ago about how my issues started after my brand was switched. I had only minor issues my first 15 months with Anastrazole. Long story short, my digging showed that the first 15 months were Accord, and then I was switched to Breckenridge. Starting again on Accord after a month break. However my cancer provider tells me that my aggressive palpitations that went away after 9 days off of Anastrazole were NOT related to the meds. Hmmmm , we will see.

sessioja | @sessioja | Mar 3 10:33am

I’ve been on anastrozole about9 months; after 4 months I had had enough of the side effects— joint pain, hot flashes, trigger thumbs— and had decided to ask my oncologist to change my AI when things got better… all but right knee pain at night on and off and occasional hot flashes. After reading responses here I checked my prescription label .. CVS had changed the manufacturer that they used. This one works for me..the difference is phenomenal.
Jas

jkh | @jkh | Mar 3 11:16am

In reply to @anjalima "Generics can fluctuate ingredients 20% in either direction whereas BRAND has to be exactly the same..." + (show)

An ingredient can not fluctuate 20% according to my pharmacist husband.

dlmdinia | @dlmdinia | Mar 3 2:12pm

In reply to @anjalima "When I realized that my sudden major increase in side effects after one year on Anastrozole..." + (show)

This is not true as to generics. (From the FDA website) FDA-approved generic medicines work in the same way and provide the same clinical benefit and risks as their brand-name counterparts. A generic medicine is required to be the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality, as well as in the way it is taken. Generic medicines also have the same risks and benefits as their brand-name counterparts.

dlmdinia | @dlmdinia | Mar 3 2:13pm

In reply to @jkh "An ingredient can not fluctuate 20% according to my pharmacist husband." + (show)

He is so correct. Per the FDA website they must be the same dosage and strength to be FDA approved.

dlmdinia | @dlmdinia | Mar 3 2:15pm

In reply to @anjalima "Generics can fluctuate ingredients 20% in either direction whereas BRAND has to be exactly the same..." + (show)

FDA-approved generic medicines work in the same way and provide the same clinical benefit and risks as their brand-name counterparts. A generic medicine is required to be the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality, as well as in the way it is taken. Generic medicines also have the same risks and benefits as their brand-name counterparts.

dlmdinia | @dlmdinia | Mar 3 2:20pm

In reply to @anjalima "I was told this by a drug rep and I corroborated it with my son in..." + (show)

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drug-facts

windyshores | @windyshores | Mar 3 2:24pm

Fillers are different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some of us react to certain fillers used by certain companies. That is different from side effects from estrogen deprivation.

otas | @otas | Mar 4 11:46pm

In reply to @sterzi "I am wondering where you heard that taking anastrozole at night can make you sleepy. I..." + (show)

For the past 6 moths I was taking Arimidex around 8.00am and by 3/4pm I was getting very lethargic and sleepy, however I never took a nap during the day.
And at night I suffered from insomnia.
I could hardly get even a 3/4 hours sleep .
Now I’ve started taking the tablets at 7.00pm and I find that I have a much better sleep at night. Now I also go for a 1.00hour walk in the evenings which seems to help with my sleep.
Does anyone know what I can do to stop loosing my hair, this is also one of the side effects.
Best wishes

sterzi | @sterzi | Mar 6 10:14pm

In reply to @otas "For the past 6 moths I was taking Arimidex around 8.00am and by 3/4pm I was..." + (show)

Thank you for your suggestion on taking Arimidex at 7p.m.
I will give that a try. I also am losing a lot of hair, plus it has gotten finer. Do you know if it will come back once we're off It?