Anastrozole: Is it worth it?

@debds sorry to say but I had little to none side effects my first two years...my side effects gots very severe in yrs. 3 and 4...Oncologist stopped anastrozole after 4 years...BUT remember everyone re-acts differently to the drugs.

@debds Hi - I’ve been on Anastrozole for almost 18 months . Was ok for first couple of months then severe bone and muscle pain .I persevered for three more months then oncologist said take an 8 week break. Resumed again last September,still with some muscle effects. From Oct this year I seem to have had a surge in symptoms almost taking me back to the situation I was in when I took the respite break last year. A dispiriting experience but I have seen reference in some of the literature that it is not unheard of for some people to have this happen, just keep hoping things will level out!! Best of luck.

@geet69

I was on Anastrozole for 5 months before side effects hit. My hands hurt so bad, fingers didn’t work. They were frozen unable to shake hands walk my dogs no gardening. I spoke to my oncologist and he switched me to exemestane. Which caused immediate side effects
I stoped immediately.
I’m 71 had stage 1 breast cancer Went through surgery and chemo for 3 and half months and 20 sessions of radiation.
I still have a difficult time using my hands but they seemed to be getting better.
Good luck on your journey

Thank you all for your comments. I am so sorry that you have had unpleasant side effects. I read a lot on line and some referenced that when the "brand" of the Anastrozole was changed for them, they too experienced terrible side effects. I did look back at the brands that I have been given, this year, and for April and the past three months the brand has been Aurobindo. All of the other months was the brand Accord. I contacted my Oncologist and he had me stop taking the Anastrozole a week ago and most of the side effects subsided within 2-3 days. I let my Oncologist know that the pharmacy had given me another brand and he asked that I let them know to only prescribe the Accord brand for me since I seemed to be getting along o.k. with that brand. I did go to my pharmacy and shared my concern and I was told that they have another customer that had the exact same side effects from the Aurobindo brand that I was experiencing. I am to start taking the Accord brand again, so we will see how I get along with that brand now after being on the Aurobindo for the past 3 months.

I hope that you too can find a brand that works for you and thanks again for your messages.

@biddle1267 Hi there! May I ask if you quit Anastrozole completely?
I just started it after having terrible side effects from Letrozole and Exemestane. I'm taking 1/2 dose every other day to begin as I am SO sensitive to pharma meds (oncologist doesn't know yet). I've been on it for one week.
I had stage 2, but similar treatment to yours....surgery, chemo and 25 sessions of radiation. I am SO on the fence about these AI's and wish I didn't have to take them, so I'm curious if you're off them altogether?
Thank you,
Brightlight

I started Anastrozole last month, & have had a sharp increase in arthritis pain (particularly hands & feet). It seems as though every injury I've had from childhood on has flared up, & the scarring from my mastectomy (performed 6/20) is tightening faster than I can stretch it out. The "I don't care anymore" component of estrogen loss is also apparent. I'm hoping this will diminish over time, but it sounds as though it's gotten worse for some of you.

@brightlight66
Yes, I'm off all of them. I have a MRI once a year and a Mamo once a year, so every 6 months I'm under an exam. Hopefully this will help keeping me informed of any changes.

I am going into year three on Anastrozole. The only side effect is arthritis in my right hand. I will suffer this rather than another bout with cancer. A friend chose not to go on Anastrozole and had a recurrence 10 years later. My opinion, it’s worth the pain. And I do understand I am lucky that my side effects are minimal. Good luck with your journey.

was on anastrazole for 4 years then it started making me ache soooooooooooooooooooooooo much everywhere , oncologist dropped the dose and that fixed that problem. Im now finished with it.