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Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole
Breast Cancer | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (2025)Comment receiving replies
Oh yes.....before starting treatment on an AI I had moderately high blood pressure, say around 140-150's, handled by drugs. The first AI I tried to reduce my chest wall tumor, Anastrozole, make it go up into the 160's & I had to add another BP drug. Doc switched me to Letrozole, which didn't seem to be raising it so fast. But 4 months in I started getting occasional "spikes" in BP at night up to 170. By the next month it was becoming spikes up to 190 even 200 nearly every night! I was visiting the ER. I told the Doc I was off all AI's & stopped. They threw me into "labile hypertension" which I still have & even with new drug Fulvestrant, I have to monitor my BP 8 times a day, and take a quick acting drug if it goes over 170. I am not a good candidate for hormone blockers; but the Fulvestrant is working well to shrink my tumor.
I've read that those with CVDisease should not be on AI's .
Patty
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@jardinera25: Well, welcome to my world, unfortunately.
On Anastrozole for 4 months, severe back pain, joint pain, inside of mouth (lower gums) sloughing off, daily headache beyond annoying, blood pressure range up to 150-155, just like you, my B/P medication doses increased x3 and still not going below 140, usual 120-130something and the start of osteopenia.
Changed breast oncologist...now my new doctor stopped the Anastrozole x3 weeks and going on Letrozole. I am beyond frightened to read your story about Letrozole!!
O! Plus I have ischemic heart disease and you are right...AIs are NOT GOOD for my heart!!
It's noted right in all the literature. My cardiologist grudgingly gave his OK for the AIs.
BM - oncotype score 14 - chemo not indicated - out of 12 lymph nodes, 1+ - no radiation indicated.
Invasive cancer in both breasts plus in-situ plus atypical hyperplasia - both breasts.
Stage IIa. Is there anything else women like us can do?? Must we take these AIs to survive??
I am 70. Yes, with some serious health issues but I don't feel 70!
There is lots of life worth living in me yet! Blessings for us all!