What happens when you stop taking anastrozole?

What is DIM ?

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dim-supplement

I have had 3 oncologists, to date: one in Illinois (bad); one in Iowa City (vote is out) and one in Texas (good). I quit going to the Illinois one after his complete indifference to my condition became clearer and clearer. The "minions" also made it clear that their only concern was keeping you coming back for that scheduled visit.

When I had my Oct. 3, 2022, first post-operative mammogram I was in a wheelchair, thanks to the side effects of Anastrozole, coupled with my fragile left knee and old age, The symptoms were consistent with a meniscus tear, and I gambled that it would get better if I stayed off it for a period of months (it did). However, I anticipated a bit of "owning up" to the fact that drugs like Anastrozole (any of the A.I. drugs) will inflame arthritic joints and damaged joints. No such luck. The Illinois oncologist simply chalked it up to old age (77 at the time) and left the room with no discussion at all of alternatives to taking a pill or pills (A.I.) that were guaranteed to give me excruciating joint pain. He acted like he could have cared less and didn't want to be bothered.
As I left the last appointment with "the minions" they talked about my fast-declining bone density, as measured on a recent test, and urged me to "make an appointment on your way out." I explained---for the umpteenth time---that I could not make an appointment until I knew when we would be back in town. I told them I would call when we returned to the Illinois Quad Cities. That was in October of 2022.
Imagine my surprise to be sitting on my couch in Austin, Texas in April of 2023 and to receive a phone call telling me that I had an appointment on April 19th. My response was, "No, I don't." It seems that the minions had simply made an appointment for me without any input or "okay" from me. This seriously rankled me, and I quit going to the bad Illinois oncologist from that point on. I had had a second opinion from an oncologist in Iowa City at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and I now drive an hour and a half to doctor there, if I need to doctor at all. I prefer to be supervised by my Texas oncologist, who seems on top of things and listens to what I tell him. He recently sent me for a CT scan with contrast when my LFT (liver function test) scores spiked. I now have a Texas driver's license and will vote in Texas in November. I do not ever want to have to have anything to do with the Illinois oncologist whose attitude is seriously narcissistic and godlike. Getting up and walking out while proclaiming, "I won't order that for you. You'll have to get someone else" is pretty bad when the "something" was a test suggested by the attending surgeon, primarily because the oncologist hadn't ordered the oncotype he should have ordered at the beginning of the entire saga. (With the oncotype, I would not have needed the ki67, which also gauges the aggressiveness of the tumor.) I am still in search of tests that will help a breast cancer survivor to know if her disease has recurred. I haven't had much luck having any of these physicians order up MRIs for me, and yet the mammograms are said to miss many instances of cancer if the patient (i.e., me) has a history of dense breast tissue.

I had to stop take ng Anastrazole as I had another surgery scheduled. Had the surgery an eventually resumed takin Anastrazole. Don’t recall any reactions to stopping for the short term. In the long term the risk of NOT taking Anastrazole would be increased of metastasis if breast cancer.

Due to side effects regarding joint,leg muscles and cognitive issues I stopped taking Anastrolzole. Can there be side effects from stopping and how long before I feel like me again?

I had the same issues I had to stop as well. Put me into osteoporosis. I still have lots of joint pain and still have some brain fog. I was only on the pill for five months and I’ve been off three now. I’m gradually getting my strength back And feel much better now. Taking my chances for now, they wanted to put me on another pill. I just couldn’t deal with it right now so I’ll make a decision in a few more months after I have my next mammogram. I’m 73 with an active life and don’t want to.🙏🏻

Thank you for responding. I made it about 9 months. I kept thinking side effects would go away as some did.
Being dizzy , nausea , most hot flashes. Started having more pain and didn't quite know if it was from meds
or older injuries getting worse and new joint pain due to maybe using that other arm or leg to compensate. Have had issue of occasional muscle cramps in my knee replacement leg in my sleep and have a routine of walking around and or riding my stationary bike to help. I have been having muscle cramping more frequent and had 4 in the knee replacement leg in one night which has never happened before. About a week later i awoke and had cramping in the other leg. Was taking sleep meds at night because was having issues getting to sleep but once leg cramps start I'm up. Now taking magnesium and wearing compression socks and have stopped Anastrolezole. I am thankful my oncologist spent about an hour with me going over what's been happening with me and truely listened . I am taking a medication vacation and will be talking to Dr. about options next week. I am still having joint issues as well as feeling out of sorts but think it is getting a bit better. I just want to feel like me again!

@kewt, you may be interested in these related discussions:
- Anastrozole: How long do side effects last once you've stopped?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anastrozole-side-effects-1/
- Completed 5 years of anastrozole. Withdrawal symptoms? Side effects?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stopping-anastrozole-after-5-years-withdrawal-symptoms/
- What happens when you stop taking anastrozole?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-happens-when-you-stop-taking-anastrozole/
Has your doctor ruled out any other possible issues causing the symptoms?

I saw this was a couple of years ago but I really appreciated what you said about side effects. I'm 8 years in remission with recurrent metastatic endometrial cancer and on letrozole for two more years. I just finished 5 years of fosomax. My hip is-2.6 my dr wants me to start prolia I have been totally stressing about side effects. I go tomorrow for first shot. I really liked what you said about reevaluating things and not feel pressured. Make the best not perfect decision for the time. Thanks again

Wishing you all the best tomorrow. Eight years of remission is so terrific! I'm glad this was useful. I'm still on letrozole and recently had a bone density test, which was normal. I have no side effects so far, after two and a half years.