Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

You could ask your Oncologist about Tamoxyfen which has been on the market for many years and is very well tolerated and has very little side effects to none compared to Anastrazole with terrible side effects. One sometimes wonders if some Doctors have a personal interest in this prescription!
Ask for a second opinion without mentioning Anastrazole.

also be sure to ask about possible interactions with other drugs that you might be taking. I am beginning to think that some of my side effects such as joint pain are from an interaction between atorvastatin (Lipitor) and the anastrazole… Sometimes things happen that are not within the doctor's usual scope of knowledge.

@brianphilip
Tamoxifen is prescribed to pre-menopausal women and has many side effects (some especially serious like blood clots, stroke, endometrial cancer, etc.). AIs are prescribed to post-menopausal women.

@oilermama
I had similar concerns regarding my statin and recently asked my GP if I could take a break from it to see if I feel better. Yes, some of the muscle pain issues are better, but the bone and joint pains remain, *sigh*

I am post menopausal and am on Tamoxifen. I was on anastrozole over 2 years and it weakened my bones to the point of osteoporosis. My Oncologist switched me over to the Tamaxifen.

@veras
I'm surprised that your oncologist didn't treat the bone thinning with biphosphonates when signs of osteopenia first were evidenced.

Dear Eliz
I am 78 and a long while postmenopausal and taking Tamoxyfen
now for a year without any noticeable side effects. I had a cancer removed from my right breast last year and a single Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)
My present Oncologist is 65 years old and was the top Professor of the Main Hospital and retired. He consults today in a private clinic.
He is the one who changed my medication to Tamoxifen 20 mg a day and explained to me that in my case Tamoxifen will have the least side effets as compared to all other recent inhibitors.
I have been taking Tamoxifen for a year now and feel good without any side effects.
I only miss my Female Estrogen which the Tamoxyfen inhibits which gave me a lot of energy and pep.
Maybe Tamoxifen is not meant for all breast cancers but am shocked as to the side effects of anastrazole
Thank you
Celia Brianphilip

Dear Elize
I do not have osteoporosis. Before the Oncologist decided to switch me to Tamoxyfen he sent me to do all kind of tests including “mineralometry “ (checking the density of my bones) and told me that I still have solid bones and in order to keep them in good shape we will switch to Tamoxifen.
I was only 3 months on the other drugs which luckily did not affect my bones.
Celia

I was not given a choice between tamoxifen or anastrozole because when taking a certain type of birth control pills when I was 19 I begin having blood clots. I am now 64 not so sure about the clotting anymore..but because of that incident supposed to be taking ai.
Sorry, but I am taking my chances...I am taking nothing. I am exercising more and trying a better diet but he will not answer my questions or listen to me...I am an individual and want to be treated like one.
We will see how the appointment goes in a few weeks.
I want to be able to get down on the floor and play with my grandkids. I don't want to live on the couch or in bed.
Good luck to all! This is a crazy journey!

I have been on Letrizole for over three years I have not had any hair loss, nor any significant side effect until recently. In the past two months, however, I have had significant pain in my right finger wrist forearm and elbow bicept and shoulder. A little of similar pain in my left arm but negligible. My right arm is significant and really gives me trouble.