Aromatase Inhibitors and Escalating Blood Pressure

I just read your post, and I can sympathize with your dilemma. I'm 82 y/o. I've lived with moderate b/p elevations and moderate cholesterol elevations for the past 15 years. I underwent a lumpectomy last May for BC, underwent 1 week of radiation therapy, and am now on anastrozole for 5 years. My b/p is gradually going higher, glucose levels are beginning to elevate quickly, and so are cholesterol levels. My meds have been increased to no avail. My diet is reasonable...NO SODIUM elevations. I exercise daily using cardio and mind/body formats, and I weigh 130 lbs. It's very frustrating. If there is anyone on this forum that can make suggestions for treatments that don't exacerbate existing conditions, I'd love to hear from them.

I completely understand. My blood pressure started elevating while on anastrozole, also my glucose increased, I could get through the joint pains and sleepless nights, but this was something I couldn’t seem to control. I addressed it with doctor several times and was asked, if you stop taking anastrozole, what’s your alternative? There is a list of side effects and possible side affects that seem to be the standard with anastrozole. I’m feeling if your symptom is not in that list, it’s almost dismissed. There are so many women gaining weight , yet it’s not listed, so it must be from our lifestyle. Elevated blood pressure and blood sugar are also major complaints, but I found no resolutions. The effects~ of anastrozole, I’m sure vary, but there seems to be some common ones. I’ve completed my five years and it’s improving, slowly… we are all in this together.

Have you tried Letrozole or Exemestane or tamoxifen? Sometimes people react better to one of these. Ask (tell?) whoever prescribed anastrozole that you want to try something else. I'm no doctor but as far as I can tell, people switch all the time.

Same here, on Anastrozole for 2+ years now and consistently high blood pressure, which I suspect is at least partly due to the med. When I brought this up recently with my radio-oncologist she said it was not one of the side effects...which I don't think is accurate, as cardio effects are recognized effects, as my surgeon oncologist has admitted.
So it is reassuring that I am not alone, but I really wonder whether the AI is necessary as I've read it stops working in about a third of women, so am I risking a stroke for nothing??
Anyone else have Dr. recognize bl pressure effects from the med? I really hate getting inaccurate info from doctors....

My heart goes out to all of you struggling with anastozole. I had mastectomy after IDC diagnosis and have been on anastrozole for 6 weeks. So far only a few hotflashes and no other side effects. Just want to give hope to others…hoping all of you can find a different estrogen inhibitor that works better for you.
Question: how soon did side effects start after you started anastrozole? TIA 🤟❤️

My BP was going up slowly on Letrozole (switched from Anastrozole which was worse). I thought I'd just deal with it until I started with giant BP spikes at night to 190/90. Then they were every night, 3 times a night. I decided I wouldn't add heart disease to my list of problems just to maybe shrink the tumor, so stopped. I am the same weight as you, good diet, exercise, so it must be the drug. Some people don't seem to be affected that way. Doc wants me now to try Verzenio tabs and a Fulvestrant injection to block hormones. I don't know; am looking at all the info I can find on these two & will ask here soon. At my age,75, it seems like I have to make choices between quality of life and tumor suppression. I don't want to feel sick with side effects for years. The chemo I had at age 43 for 6 months with my first BC had an end; it worked for 30 years. Hard decisions.

Thank you for this thoughtful post and I am in the exact same position. I have stage one ILC with clear lymph nodes and margins which means a 5 to 10% risk of recurrence in the next five years after lumpectomy. Having a hard time deciding to create havoc with my bones as I'm already osteopenic, blood pressure, hot flashes, and feeling bad when who knows how many years are left. I am supposed to make my decision in the next three weeks as I just hadthe lumpectomy. Anyway, let me know what you decide, I certainly understand what a tough decision it is.

For myself, bone discomfort and hot flashes began around 2 months after beginning anastrozole. 3 months after that, my b/p began fluctuating, and my blood work showed increases in cholesterol and glucose...but not sodium. I eat a reasonably healthy diet and haven't changed that...but the increases are only since anastrozole. Very frustrating.

Well, just keep an eye on that BP; I knew mine was going up even on 2 blood pressure meds, but was surprised when I got huge spikes. It is a risk for some people, not everyone. For some reason my Doc isn't checking cholesterol, glucose.....will ask for that soon. I thought I read if cholesterol is going up they could put you on a lowering med, I guess that means a statin.