Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Posted by tinalove @tinalove, Jan 31, 2016

I completed all treatments for breast cancer but now I am supposed to take hormone blocker, named anastrozole. im concerned about the side effects. Has anyone here taken it and did anyone have hair loss?

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francine6829 | @francine6829 | May 30, 2019

Better than me. After 8 weeks, my feet and legs hurt so much from Fermura. I am on Tomoxifen now. No joint pain

trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | May 30, 2019

In reply to @francine6829 "Better than me. After 8 weeks, my feet and legs hurt so much from Fermura. I..." + (show)

@roch
I've been on letrozole (Femara) for 2 weeks now. Having joint pain and some fatigue, but strength training exercise seems to be helping with that, in fact, I actually worked in my vegetable garden yesterday harvesting a crop of fava beans and planting tomatoes, basil, and bell peppers! Hoping the horrific headaches and disequilibrium from Arimidex don't start up.

appaloosagal | @appaloosagal | May 30, 2019

In reply to @francine6829 "batm - I am with you! We are the same age and I tried the AIs..." + (show)

I started out on Tamoxifen Sept. 2015 it damaged my Liver. After being off of it for 6 months my Liver enzymes returned to almost normal. I then started Letrazole. The side effects were bad . So i started Anastrozole a year ago. The headaches, insomnia, and overall not feeling well.
I went off of it in March to give my body a rest. And got to feeling better. Could get the saddle on my big ole horse with no problem, months ago I could hardly lift it up there. I just started it back up May 11, and my headaches are back, tired, can't sleep at all. Joints hurt. I refuse to take another pill to help side effects, that have other side effects! I have hot flashes all the time.
I am trying to decide if I want to go off the meds permanently.

gwinter | @gwinter | May 31, 2019

In reply to @appaloosagal "I started out on Tamoxifen Sept. 2015 it damaged my Liver. After being off of it..." + (show)

@appaloosagal as my new oncologist would say:"You gave it your best. Decide on quality of life"

kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | May 31, 2019

In reply to @appaloosagal "I started out on Tamoxifen Sept. 2015 it damaged my Liver. After being off of it..." + (show)

I started on anastrozole in November. Only side effects so far to EASE, is dry eyes. No headaches, but I have the bad joint pain in my hands, shoulders and toes; insomnia (my doctor recommended benadryl at bed time); hot flashes have gone down from 15 a day to about 4 a day; Exercise does seem to help overall. But I swear my hands hurt so much sometimes, I want to stop taking it. But I do not want cancer again. One study compared people who had surgery & took an AI, vs. people who had surgery & took no further treatment. The re-occurrence rate was 40% in the people who took no AI's. So I guess that keeps me from stopping the meds. Hang in there.

cindylb | @cindylb | May 31, 2019

In reply to @kathyomaha55 "I started on anastrozole in November. Only side effects so far to EASE, is dry eyes...." + (show)

Hang in there. It's a tough choice. I believe the rate of recurrence vs taking and not taking the AI's is based on the surgery, other treatments and stage and type of cancer.....so percentages vary by patient, but if you can tolerate the drugs you reduce recurrence.

francine6829 | @francine6829 | May 31, 2019

In reply to @kathyomaha55 "I started on anastrozole in November. Only side effects so far to EASE, is dry eyes...." + (show)

Try getting plugs and prescription drugs for the dry eyes and cortisone shots may help your hands

trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | May 31, 2019

In reply to @kathyomaha55 "I started on anastrozole in November. Only side effects so far to EASE, is dry eyes...." + (show)

@kathyomaha55
This may sound dumb, but I've been using Blue Emu cream on my hands which seems to help the joint pain somewhat. I also take turmeric capsules which help with pain as it's an anti-inflammatory. In addition, I do take magnesium glyconate which helps not only with constipation because it's a type of relaxant but may help with insomnia. I haven't had much trouble sleeping because I go to the bedroom about 9 p.m. and read with dimmed lights and then tend to fall asleep. I used to stay up watching TV and then had trouble sleeping. If you decide to trying any of the above though, check with your doctor first to be sure it's okay.

kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | May 31, 2019

In reply to @trixie1313 "@kathyomaha55 This may sound dumb, but I've been using Blue Emu cream on my hands which..." + (show)

Yes - I've tried Blue Emu as well as Aspercreme with Lidocaine. They both work for a while. My hands seem the worst in the morning when I get up. I will look into turmeric. THANKS!!

trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | May 31, 2019

In reply to @kathyomaha55 "Yes - I've tried Blue Emu as well as Aspercreme with Lidocaine. They both work for..." + (show)

@kathyomaha55
By any chance, are there any activities you can do, such as knitting or just wriggling your hands, to keep your hand joints lubricated? I finally went back to knitting just little things like dishcloths and scrubbies when I'm watching TV and that seems to help a little.