When do side effects of anastrozole begin?

Posted by meomurian @meomurian, Oct 28, 2023

I will be starting my first day on anastrozole and wanted to know when I should expect to see any side effects. Also, what time of day is best to take it?

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Rom828 | @jgallagher04921 | Mar 4 12:09pm

In reply to @deluga "I'd like to switch to Exemestane but with insurance Anastrozole was $10 and other $425. Any..." + (show)

Oh really? Mine comes through w no cost... it is generic.

gegost1955 | @gegost1955 | Mar 4 7:44pm

In reply to @otas "I have been on Arimidex (Anastrozole) for 6 months. My side effects started about 3 months..." + (show)

I use Rosemarin oil and chea butter twice a week. The hair is thinner as it use to be but not falling out.

einnoc | @einnoc | Mar 5 12:41am

In reply to @otas "I have been on Arimidex (Anastrozole) for 6 months. My side effects started about 3 months..." + (show)

I just ordered the shampoo that someone on here said was good for hair loss and for making thin hair thicker. It comes in a blue bottle and I ordered the shampoo and the conditioner but it has not yet arrived, so no firsthand reports of its efficacy.
Also, to doxielover (who mentioned just having a mastectomy and not taking the pills) I hear you, but my current oncologist said he is not worried about it coming back in the breast(s). He is worried about it going elsewhere, so having a mastectomy wouldn't really protect against it moving to bones, pancreas, liver, etc. I just wish there were a test to tell us if there are cells still present somewhere in our bodies lying dormant for the moment, but possibly able to return at a later time.

casbc | @casbc | Mar 5 8:34pm

In reply to @einnoc "I'm 78 now, but, 6 months out of taking "adjuvant therapy" I'm feeling the best I..." + (show)

@einnoc

I'm 78 now, but, 6 months out of taking "adjuvant therapy" I'm feeling the best I have since December of 2021 when I was initially diagnosed. Being old weakens everything on your body. In many studies they don't even have anyone over the age of 70 (or younger). It stands to reason that an older person will have reduced immunity, less strength, etc. Instead of letting me continue on 10 mg every other day, which I WAS taking, I was told (after 2 months) to move up to 20 mg. daily (which was 140 mg. weekly versus the 40 mg. I was taking) because "the clinical studies we have are for 20 mg. daily." Well, maybe run some clinical studies on older subject who aren't in peak condition to begin with. If I had been left alone to take the 10 mg. I was managing to tolerate, I would still be taking (some) Tamoxifen. Instead, the instructions to move up to 20 mg. a day caused the total collapse of what had been a not-fun, but not godawful experience of taking Tamoxifen. On 10 mg. every other day I had to pee all the time and things did not "feel right" below the belt, but I was coping and taking it and there was some of it in my system. Now there is none and I feel much better for it. However, if the 29 oncotype is accurate, I fear a recurrence, because now I'm on nothing to prevent it from coming back. I've asked for good tests to monitor the spread, if any, but, as my Texas oncologist has said, "I'm not afraid of it coming back on the contralateral side. I'm worried about it coming back somewhere else." I will have a bone scan in May. It is the bones that I think he is most worried about. I can't have that one until 2 years has elapsed since my last one in May of 2022. Another thing that amazes me is that I did not get the 2022 bone scan until late May (May 22) but I was put on Anastrozole in February. No wonder my bone density took it in the shorts and now I'm having dental (and other) woes.

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Have they not done tumor marker blood tests?
I just started on Anastrozole and after just 3 days, I have joint & muscle pain like crazy. I'm almost 74 next month so YES, getting older is not quite the same as dealing with it when you are younger. Going tomorrow for a bone density baseline even though I've done that for years in the past and they were good results.
Hope you continue to do well.

casbc | @casbc | Mar 5 8:37pm

Mine started 3 days after!! Joint & muscle pain so I started some steroid pills (Medrol) until my DMX next Wednesday.

einnoc | @einnoc | Mar 5 10:23pm

No tumor marker tests.

slapshotmary | @slapshotmary | Mar 6 4:00pm

I've been on anastrazole for 2 years and 5 months. My side effects took about a year. They included eye issues and stiffness.

myoga | @myoga | Mar 6 6:34pm

My side effects started about 4 months after. My toes hurt in the morning but the pain went away. My finger stiffness kept getting worse. So was the pain in the collar bone on the right side. After a year, My oncologist switched me to Exemestane. Been on it for 3 weeks. Finger stiffness and collar bone pain are getting better. My eyes are still blurry though. Hope you all doing fine. Hugs.

rococo325 | @rococo325 | Mar 11 5:49pm

In reply to @saraabrooks "I was on anastrazole for 3 months and noticed nothing. I felt good. It was towards..." + (show)

Hi Sara--reading everyone's experience w/ Anastrozole. I am wondering cuz I did not see, that you wrote what type of breast cancer you have and are you having a double or single mastectomy, or??
I've been dealing off and on w/ Lobular BC tumors (double mast , 2012,,, then felt a tumor in arm pits 2019, &2022... never had chemo , but did have radiation in '19 & again in '22.
11/30/23 they found a sm lesion on Vertebrae (all BC on left side )- Metastatic Lobular BC to Bone 2cm) Never took Tamoxifen , but NOW have been a mo. in w/ Anastrozole. I was sitting on a fence over the Holidays about taking it...and I have not had the side affects (so far) but had a CT scan today and it was showing so far good, no progression in the last 3.5 mos. THE questionable thing my Oncology PA said was with Metastatic BC the Anastrozole works on avg. 6-12mos. then a different drug is tried....to combat what ever the deterioration of patient's BC... She said "Oh there are some patients w/ metastatic take it for for years and are alive 10 yrs at this point.".... I wonder what happens to a typical Metastic BC to bone patient after 6-12 mos on Anastrozole....

saraabrooks | @saraabrooks | Mar 12 3:52pm

In reply to @rococo325 "Hi Sara--reading everyone's experience w/ Anastrozole. I am wondering cuz I did not see, that you..." + (show)

My breast cancer label - I really confirmed it this afternoon. In the left breast it is mammary duct tumor. (After 3 months on Anastrozole it shrank so much my surgeon was shocked.) Then, my right breast is IDC - Invasive Ductal Cancer. That has also shrunk, but not as much as the left breast. On Feb 16 I stopped Anastrozole. On cruise control right now. I am interested in seeing if the Anastrozole keeps on working. Why not? The side effects sure stuck around. Although much better now. My next exam is May 14, my lumpectomy will be May 24. We are very interested to see what the test results will be on May 14. I'll have been off Anastrozole since Feb 16. I will sign off . . . Your Anastrozole Beta Site!!