Anastrozole: How long do side effects last once you've stopped?

@tenayalake86, my story is same as yours, but I took Anastrozole for about 2 1/2 yrs. Hip pain so bad couldn’t get in or out of car or hardly walk. My onco said same thing about trying other meds. I’ve been off Anastrozole for 1.5 yrs snd doing great. Took about 6-8 months for me to get back to my normal. I’m checked every 6 months. Blessings.

Hi Sequoia, I'm so thankful it's not just me. I am sorry to hear you cannot take Anastrozole or anything else. I didn't take it as long as you. I was only taking it for about 6 months. I started feeling better almost immediately. Maybe part of that was psychology. I felt like I was ingesting poison. I also did such a lot of online research. At one point, my onco's nurse gasped on the phone because I told her I had a couple of pages of questions. Well, of course he handled my questions beautifully. If all providers were as nice as he is, I wouldn't have nearly the problem with going to the doctor. I have one real-life friend who had a small lump like mine only hers was right next to her nipple so they did a mastectomy. She had reconstructive surgery about a year later. She took tamoxifen for 5 years with no problem other than going through menopause. She is about 10 years younger than I am. And for her this all happened in 2007. I wish I could have taken something with no bad side effects, because there's always that worry. I am trying to find a surgeon now who will do a total hysterectomy so I don't have to worry about those organs at least. Good luck and blessings to you also.

@tenayalake86 hope you find a good doctor for your hysterectomy. Please come back and let us know that you are doing ok. Glad your side effects subsided from Anastrozole quickly.

Thanks, Sequoia. I will let you know. I asked the NP to find a surgeon close by, but it may be a longer wait. They also offered to find one in one of the nearby cities which would mean a shorter wait. We'll see who they come up with.
Thanks for your note.

I was on anastrazole for five years went off cold Turkey most side effects left in a few weeks especially diahrea. Sleeplessness gone so has night sweats

My experience was exactly the sane.

Did brain fog, word retrieval side effects go away after stopping it??

Mine side effects are almost gone in a few weeks especially diarrhea and sleeplessness. Good luck keep up the great work

Anastrozole for me was heinous! The side effects were worse than having breast cancer. Within just a few weeks of taking it, my memory and cognitive function turned to mush. Brain fog was so bad, I was sure I was heading down the road to dementia. My husband and son made fun of my forgetfulness to the point I just shut up and kept to myself. Finally my doctor switched me to Exemestane and that was better.

I’ve just stopped Exemestane. I was on Anastrozole fir 19 months and had no quality of life. Thought Exemestane woukd b better but I started getting spasms in my hands and fingers and my back was just as bad as it was on Anastrozole. I’m going to take a break and will go back on it every second day. Can’t live like this at 71!! Xx