Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I was on anastrazole for almost eight years. My most difficult symptoms were hand issues, fatigue and some joint pain. All of those were manageable for me-I ended up getting shots in my hands from an amazing pain management doctor at University of Michigan.
Best wishes as you tackle this change.

Hello. I have been on anastrozole about 4 years. It will be 4yrs in Aug of 2026. My sides effects are low sex drive and dry vajay vajay. Small amount of hair loss let’s say thinning. Fatigue usually after a few hours of taking it after dinner. Maybe it’s a combination of working and pill. My breast cancer was estrogen positive. ( high amount 90 percent and prog was 89 percent was 58yrs old. So estrogen positive and her2 negative. 1 lymph node. Stage 2. I heard that if your estrogen is high you might not have too many sides effects. I am taking mine until my team says so. If this tiny pill helps reduce my chances of it coming back I will keep going forward. I celebrate each year with I can beat this cancer. I’m a fighter and I am going to win 🥇

@chickenmom10 Thanks so much for sharing.
Mine was 90% estrogen and 90% progesterone her2 negative and Stage 2 with 3 lymph nodes. I did not know that if one's estrogen is high one might not have too many side effects. That's very good news for me!

Do research on this for your symptoms?? There are many side effects. Check it our! Knowledge is power!!

Out!*

If it is true that if your estrogen levels are high, you will most likely have fewer side effects from anastrozole, why aren't our estrogen levels checked before we are prescribed the drug? I am 84, my estrogen levels are very low, I have had a very bad time with shoulder and arm pain and weakness. I stopped taking it more than 6 weeks ago, and I was three times given a form of prednisone to help the pain when no pain medications, except tramadol which made me sick, worked. The pain and weakness return as soon as I finish the prednisone. I have finally talked my doctor into prescribing a low dose of estrogen - I told him I would rather have the cancer return than go through what I had been suffering. For context, my tumor was very small, located away from any lymph nodes, and I did not have to do chemo or radiation. It was estrogen positive her-2 negative. I am hoping the estrogen will begin helping in a few days, as my doctor said it should.

My oncologist automatically prescribed Anastrazole, but I did research and found that with my family and personal medical histories Tamoxifen was a better fit, so that’s what I’m taking.

@grandmaccs Thank you for sharing the important information about estrogen. Please let us know if it helps you!

@spud62 what about your family made it a better fit, if you do not mind sharing. I have health issues that make anything I do risky, so I am trying to figure out what is best to do.

@grandmaccs

Always read up on your diagnosis and medicines tha they (doctors) wan tto give you. Always ask about side effects. What medication can they give you with the least amount of side effects. Be pro active at any age. It's a teaching moment for you. And maybe a teaching moment for them too.