1. < Breast Cancer
Profile picture for trixie1313

Timing of HRT, anastrozole - taking day or night?

Posted by trixie1313 @trixie1313, Mar 7, 2019

I've seen many messages about anastrozole, but does anyone prefer to take this in the morning or evening? I'm wondering if side effects are less via day or night?

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

Profile picture for anjalima
anjalima | @anjalima | Apr 30, 2024
In reply to @diason "For hot flashes, I eat 2 tablespoons of "freshly ground" flax seeds every day, usually mixed..." + (show)
Profile picture for diason @diason

For hot flashes, I eat 2 tablespoons of "freshly ground" flax seeds every day, usually mixed in oatmeal or other foods. It must be ground and consumed fresh daily. I've tried so many times to skip the flax seeds and the hot flashes come on strong if I don't eat the ground flax seeds. Supposedly the ground flax seeds trap the estrogen in the bowels. I'm 63 and it's been 3 years since diagnosed ER/PR+ Her2-. Just started Anastrozole 6 weeks ago. I take it at night and no problems so far except I am having a terrible time sleeping. I only get 3-4 hours of sleep at night. Not sure if it's the Anastrozole or not. I am also gaining weight but not sure if it's the Anastrozole or Buspirone they put me on for anxiety.

Jump to this post

Look into melatonin for possible sleep relief. It “ may” have benefits beyond sleep for breast cancer . Read up on it and check with provider.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for diason
diason | @diason | Apr 30, 2024
In reply to @anjalima "Look into melatonin for possible sleep relief. It “ may” have benefits beyond sleep for breast..." + (show)
Profile picture for anjalima @anjalima

Look into melatonin for possible sleep relief. It “ may” have benefits beyond sleep for breast cancer . Read up on it and check with provider.

Jump to this post

Thank you. I do take melatonin but it only gets me to sleep quicker but doesn't keep me asleep. I was following Doris Loh and taking high dose melatonin during the day for about a year. I'll revisit that.

REPLY
Profile picture for kimogi57
kimogi57 | @kimogi57 | Apr 30, 2024
In reply to @buckimom "@karendb - I decided to take my AI at night. My thinking was if I was..." + (show)
Profile picture for buckimom @buckimom

@karendb - I decided to take my AI at night. My thinking was if I was going to have side effects I’d be asleep. Solid reasoning? Who knows? It’ll be interesting to see what others have done. All the best to you 😊

Jump to this post

I'm doing the same by taking the Anastrozole at night. I am also doing something I haven't talked to my oncologis about because she is out of the office for a few months and I son't want to talk to just any oncologist. I am taking it every other day. When I first started taking it I had Itchy hives on my face. Mostly a swelling spot under my eyes. Since taking it every other day the spot/hives have disappeared. This also happens when I eat things I am sensitive to--mostly tomatoes. I've been taking this for about 2 months. Occasionally I have hot flashes but nothing I can't live with. So far I'm doing well. Just a note, I have a hard time with medications. It seems like if I take 1/2 of most I do better and have no side effects. I see my oncologist in 2 weeks and i will try to get back about what she has to say about every other day. Hugs

REPLY
Profile picture for roscop
roscop | @roscop | Mar 17, 2025
In reply to @sueinmn "Hello Ruby, It seems that a number of antihistamines have an anti-inflammatory effect. When you think..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

Hello Ruby, It seems that a number of antihistamines have an anti-inflammatory effect.
When you think about the mechanisms of allergies (your body is flooded with irritating histamine) and inflammation (overactive immune cells causing irritation) it makes sense that "quieting" reactions helps.
In our family we have long been aware that an allergy flare is often accompanied by a worsening arthritis pain, and that promptly and consistently treating allergy symptoms can avoid a major flare-up. We just didn't know why.
So someone undertook a study to figure out why:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8999734/
I don't pretend to understand the whole thing, but it seems "... Loratadine Targets the AP-1 Signaling Pathway to Reduce Inflammatory Responses..." meaning it actually reduces the inflammation, doesn't just mask the pain.
Well, now we have an idea - I can no longer use NSAIDS, so I will be talking to my docs about trying this route!
Sue

Jump to this post

Thank you for commenting because I'm thinking environmental triggers. My pulmonologist mentioned the Loratadine also. I also cannot take Nsaids. I also now have Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis and can't take Prednisone. I'm 57

REPLY
Profile picture for roxanne1414
roxanne1414 | @roxanne1414 | Apr 18, 2025

I started taking it 2 weeks ago. At first I felt like they snuff out my spark and then I started having nightmares, not super scary but vivid dreams for sure. I was taking in morning and may switch to night and see if better.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for katrii
katrii | @katrii | Apr 18, 2025
In reply to @roxanne1414 "I started taking it 2 weeks ago. At first I felt like they snuff out my..." + (show)
Profile picture for roxanne1414 @roxanne1414

I started taking it 2 weeks ago. At first I felt like they snuff out my spark and then I started having nightmares, not super scary but vivid dreams for sure. I was taking in morning and may switch to night and see if better.

Jump to this post

I, too had trouble taking Anastrozole, for several reasons. Exemestane works better for me, every other day. Bedtime.

REPLY
Profile picture for sally484
sally484 | @sally484 | Apr 19, 2025

I do the same as you Katrii. I take Exemestane every other day before I go to bed. When I was on Anastrozole, it made me miserable!!

REPLY
Profile picture for jsparkle42
jsparkle42 | @jsparkle42 | 6 days ago

I have completed chemo for stage 1a breast cancer . Lumpectomy completed 7 mos ago. I completed radiation and am now to begin Anastrozole 1 mg. Curious if less side effects appear in AM or PM?

REPLY
7 replies
Profile picture for ltlov93
ltlov93 | @ltlov93 | 6 days ago
In reply to @jsparkle42 "I have completed chemo for stage 1a breast cancer . Lumpectomy completed 7 mos ago. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for jsparkle42 @jsparkle42

I have completed chemo for stage 1a breast cancer . Lumpectomy completed 7 mos ago. I completed radiation and am now to begin Anastrozole 1 mg. Curious if less side effects appear in AM or PM?

Jump to this post

I take mine in the am. No side effects except the start of osteoporosis after 3 years of taking it..

REPLY
Profile picture for wendysiegler
wendysiegler | @wendysiegler | 6 days ago
In reply to @jsparkle42 "I have completed chemo for stage 1a breast cancer . Lumpectomy completed 7 mos ago. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for jsparkle42 @jsparkle42

I have completed chemo for stage 1a breast cancer . Lumpectomy completed 7 mos ago. I completed radiation and am now to begin Anastrozole 1 mg. Curious if less side effects appear in AM or PM?

Jump to this post

I take mine in the morning. No side effects other than Osteo decline. I am 2 1/2 years in and I am getting ready to start Prolia injections twice a year for my osteopenia and osteoporosis. I should mention I am very cautious with diet, routinely exercise, and take supplements as needed. I too had lobular breast cancer stage one a and invasive ductal cancer stage one a.

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.