Do aromatase inhibitors (like anastrozole) cause weight gain?

Cerwin, I believe @elizm @gwinter @buckimom and @trese5524 have fibromyalgia and are or have been taking an aromatase inhibitor. They may be able to share the side effects they experience or symptoms of fibro that may have been intensified.

@cerwin
Although I do not have fibromyalgia (I do have extensive chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy, however), I went through all the AIs... each presented various problems for me. (I was allergic to Exemestane, had extreme insomnia with Letrozole, and probably had a gzillion adverse side effects with Anastrozole (which I was on for 3 years)). Interestingly, I lost weight with the Anastrozole... around 20 lbs. I now am on a SERM called Evista (raloxifene). I have to take a diuretic with it as it otherwise makes my feet swell up, but the muscle, bone, joint pain is tolerable, and I can sleep.

The thing about these drugs is that each of us reacts differently to them. And often time (like 3-6 months) changes how one reacts. We can share our experiences with you, but they may have nothing to do with your experience. Do keep notes and bring your lists of symptoms and questions to your oncologist and rheumatologist or neurologist (and get them talking to each other...) who will work with you on the issues. It's complicated, as they say.

Wishing you a successful resolution to a sticky wicket!

I’m suppose to start it too but do the the benefits outweigh the side effects? Statistics aren’t that high.

I asked my oncologist this same question regarding effective dosage. I’ve been taking Anastrozole for almost 2 years. 1mg for everyone does not seem right. I had never had my estrogen level tested, so how do doctors know if Anastrozole is working. I’m 68 snd ‘maybe’ my estrogen was fairly low when I had my surgery. There was not a baseline to compare to now. My oncologist said ‘he takes it for granted’ that it is working. I requested estrogen test and had test June 24th. Waiting on results. I’ll post when I get results. Good luck.

I gained 30 pounds. Catch 22, because the joint pain it causes and the weight gain are strike 2. Took me a year to get it off. after I quit the drugs altogether.

How long were you on Anastrozole before you quite? I started two months ago and have gained 15 pounds.

Has anyone had Her2 breast cancer that metastisized ti the liver? If yes, what treatment did you use?

Did you take anastrozole for the full five years or did you quit early. Just wondering because I have only been on the drug three months and have gained 15 pounds.

In reply to Crazy Daisy:
Each of the medications recommended to breast cancer patients following treatment to prevent recurrence lowers our estrogen if the cancer was estrogen driven. Anastrozole was the first drug I was prescribed and it awful for me! I had horrible memory issues and couldn’t think straight! Then, my doctor prescribed tamoxifen-the brain fog got better but I broke out in miserable itchy hives. It seems I was allergic to something in the tomoxifin. Then my oncologist prescribed Exemestane. So far, that’s been the one with the least amount of side effects for me. I do have some joint pain, but what I do have is relieved by my chiropractor. For most of us here on this web site, it’s been a trial and error process to find what gives the least side effects for us individually. I have learned though…that even the side effects are much more tolerable than breast cancer recurrence. Talk to your oncologist about trying another drug that may be better for you. I’ve learned to just put up with ‘tolerable’ side effects as best I can. Keep trying other options until you find something that works fairly well for you. Best of luck and keep us posted to how you are doing!

Thank you!