Anastrozole Brain Fog

I had horrible brain fog from all the breast cancer medications. Exemestaine was the one with the least brain fog. I believe our brains need estrogen to function properly. Many women have these symptoms while going through menopause; and these breast cancer drugs lower our estrogen levels very similarly to the changes of menopause-and often even worse! It’s awful! I felt like such a fool when I first started on Anastrozole! My family made fun of me often, and I thought I was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s! I was terrified! I kept my mouth shut most of the time and refrained from joining conversations for fear I’d say something wrong and make a fool of myself. Unfortunately, I made mistakes at work also due to my forgetfulness.

Talk to your doctor, there are other medications you can try to see if they are any better for you. Most of all… Hang in there! Many of us on this website have been through what you are experiencing. Though we may not have a solution, we Totally understand! The support on this website made a big difference in helping me feel better emotionally, and realize that I wasn’t crazy because they had similar symptoms too.

This is so helpful. It’s frightening experiencing brain fog and groping for words. My optholmolgists older mother was also experiencing this and thought she was going through dementia. Sharing your experiences certainly help. When she understood I was also having these issues, she felt so much better.

Hello everyone. I'm 59. I've been on Anastrazole since July of 2023. The hot flashes are nowhere near as bad as they were. I've been noticing that I'm more and more that I have no self confidence now. I can learn new things fast like I used to, I feel as if my co workers are smarter, learn faster and have no real use for me in my position. I have always been someone in the workplace that learned fast, was a trainer to other, a supervisor and now. I feel useless almost in everything I do. I've been going through menopause for a while and then diagnosed in 23 with breast cancer. I can't think straight, can't make decisions, over analyze everything. My Oconogist told me being on Anastrazole is like Menopause in overdrive. Can anyone relate?

Yes! I have been taking it for 6 months and the brain fog plus anxiety is overwhelming.

@lorettaflowers65 Yes! Am
struggling with this med and have only been taking it for 6 months.

@jwmusic65 Yes. Same with me. Are there alternatives?

Yes! And the brain fog has continued for 8 months! The oncologist has given me a 6 week break from this medication & I’m feeling much better just one week into the six! I do wonder the value of Anastrozole since the chemo & radiation “supposedly” wiped out the cancer.

@jwmusic65
The decision not to resume Anastrozole is a good topic to discuss with the oncologist after 6 weeks. Discuss pros and cons. I had surgery, chemo, radiation, and then Anastrozole. I could not tolerate the Anastrozole. The oncologist and I discussed the risk factors, and based on statistics and research, my recurrence risk only changed by a few percentage points without AIs. So, for my quality of life, I decided not to take.

But every person is different. The decision may be based on age, type of breast cancer, or other factors. That is why it needs to be a shared decision-making between you and the provider.

I am glad you're feeling better.

I appreciate your response.
I have taken anastrozole for three years..I had a partial masecetomy (sp)and radiation therapy. I was stage 1. Brain Fog is really affecting my job and home life. I am so tired it. It is listed as a side effect of anastrozole. I had to stop and think of that word ( affected! how weird)!!! My Internist has prescribed Memetine ( a dementia drug) only makes it worse ! I have an appointment with Cancer Doc soon. I am going to ask to be taken off of it atleast for a while to see if it makes a difference!

@green1 I am on week one of my “.reprieve “, interestingly, there are withdrawal side effects that creep up. Didn’t really notice anything until Day 4. Then it hit. These are powerful drugs!