Has anyone stopped anatrozole because of carpal tunnel symptoms??

I support you 100%. I agree with you that quality of life is more important. After reading my bone density report there is a good possibility that I would get broken bones. I'm 80. I decided not to take this Medication. I also have back and shoulder issues. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your life. Let's go on this journey together.

I’ve been taking Anastrozole for 1.5 year. I recently started wearing a wrist brace at night and physical therapy. While not completely gone, Carpal Tunnel symptoms have improved. Good Luck to you.

I only took anastrozole for 10 days because my hands and feet were in so much pain. I am now trying letrozole and I’m on day 8 and I’m starting to feel pain but so far not as extreme. I decided I would try them all, and if I feel awful with all of them, I will just take my chances because of quality of life even more important to me than quantity.

I am 70. HadDCIS in 2003 with L mastectomy Neg nodes. In April had a fluke bilateral mammogram. Now invasive DC in L breast. I have agreed to try tamoxifen as it spares your bones deterioration. The normal dose is 20 mg. The lowest dose in pill form is 10 mg. My MD doesn’t know it yet but I will start tamoxifen at 2.5 mg. I have a pill cutter. I will tell her. If 2.5 doesn’t cause problems then I will go to 5 mg. They are doing a large study on lower doses because of side effects being so prevalent. I have pain issues from arthritis already that I can manage quality is most important to me too. I honestly don’t understand why MDs don’t start people at lower doses and build up anyway.

@part I cut a 10 mg tamoxifen pill in half. I use the terms “cutting” and “in half” loosely. Those pills are not designed to be cut, the pill is not packed tight and it crumbles easily. I’ve tried 3 different pill cutters. The pharmacy refuses to cut the pills - my guess is because they know it will crumble.
I have found some success using a single edge razor blade with the pill on a padded surface.

I had started with the 20 mg and could not tolerate it. So I had extra 20s when they switched me to 5mg. For a while I cut the 20s into quasi 1/4s and used the best pieces from that.

I am now using the 10mg cut in half-ish. I’m okay with taking a little more one day, and the other “half” the next day. That is no different than the method they say I can do, which is a 10 mg every other day. But the cut pill does have a crumbly edge and loses small pieces when storing it. I’m kind of okay with the idea that I may only be taking about 4.5 mg but I may not be getting enough everyday to meet that endoxifen concentration that is therapeutic and needed to block the estrogen receptors.

I do not want to take 10 mg every other day as it could potentially bring back the worst of the side effects I was having on that dose. (When I couldn’t tolerate the 20 mg, I reduced my dose myself to 10 mg everyday to see if it helped. It did not.)

More info, maybe helpful?!? I was 69 when I started tamoxifen. A few side effects within the first couple of weeks. It took 3 months to fully feel the effects of the drug. I never had full blown hot flashes, only poor thermal regulation. If I did over-heat from a hot car or exercise it took an uncomfortable amount of time to finally cool down. Some mood swings. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause disappeared (yea!) No body aches/pains. After 3 months on 20mg I developed headaches 24/7. No cause could be found. A brain MRI was done, nothing extraordinary (haha). It was decided it was the tamoxifen. On 5 mg headaches went away.

Thanks so much for the info. It seems ridiculous they won’t make a 5 mg tablet. Very helpful

I have almost identical situation . I went as far as refusing the 2nd shot. A whole team came in the room to persuade me to continue. The more i think sbout it i feel there is a slight benefit and after the second shot I have had no side affect problem so far except tiring easily and sometimes itchy skin. Im 75 and i find my memory in spurts not kickin in.im not dure its my sge or the shot

I “forgot” to add i worry about future bone issues. If i develop any i will stop the shot. Bone issues I observrd while taking care of my 80 year mother convinced meds may have contributed to her 2 thigh factures following falls. She did become totally wheel chair bound due the her fear of falling and im sure inactivity contributed to that.So im trying to be sure and do bone strengthening things like goin for walks and doing more to keep weight bearing activities going