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

Posted by pnnyh @pnnyh, Feb 11, 2023

I was on anastrozole 1 mg. for 28 months. Clear mammograms last 2 years. (Had cardiac bypass surgery 20 years ago. Have dealt with blood pressure issues for 50 years. I'm 82 . )Had side effects (carpal tunnel syndrome/ slowed urination/hair loss/etc. etc .Unfortunately there was a pharmacy error and I took 2 mg. for 3 months. Blood pressure spiked (203/102) . When I realized error, of course I quit medication. I'm now on twice my usual cardiac meds. No anastrozole for 8 weeks. Blood pressure remains elevated. Most side effects remain.
For those of you who quit anastrozole because of side effects, how long did they remain? Oncologist wants me to restart anastrozole. I'm reluctant.

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chaya242424 | @chaya242424 | Aug 28, 2023
In reply to @celestebradham "I am new to taking anastrozole, been on it for two months. Having a few symptoms:..." + (show)
Profile picture for celestebradham @celestebradham

I am new to taking anastrozole, been on it for two months. Having a few symptoms: stiffness in hand joints, tiredness, and off/on dull headache. Ibuprofen has helped a bit with joints and sometimes headaches, oncologist ordered a brain MRI. Waiting for results. ( I had lumpectomy and double reconstructive in April 2023).I am able to stretch and swim which seems to help with tiredness. I’m hoping side effects go away soon.

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It's actually helping with sleeping longer. I take it at night before bedtime. My pharmacist said not to drive for 1-1 1/2 hrs after taking bc it can make one dizzy, the reason for taking it at night. The first week I was dizzy when I woke up but no problem now. Check side effects online. I think headaches are listed. Not sure.

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celestebradham | @celestebradham | Aug 28, 2023
In reply to @chaya242424 "It's actually helping with sleeping longer. I take it at night before bedtime. My pharmacist said..." + (show)
Profile picture for chaya242424 @chaya242424

It's actually helping with sleeping longer. I take it at night before bedtime. My pharmacist said not to drive for 1-1 1/2 hrs after taking bc it can make one dizzy, the reason for taking it at night. The first week I was dizzy when I woke up but no problem now. Check side effects online. I think headaches are listed. Not sure.

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Yes, headaches are a side effect.

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celestebradham | @celestebradham | Aug 28, 2023
In reply to @celestebradham "I am new to taking anastrozole, been on it for two months. Having a few symptoms:..." + (show)
Profile picture for celestebradham @celestebradham

I am new to taking anastrozole, been on it for two months. Having a few symptoms: stiffness in hand joints, tiredness, and off/on dull headache. Ibuprofen has helped a bit with joints and sometimes headaches, oncologist ordered a brain MRI. Waiting for results. ( I had lumpectomy and double reconstructive in April 2023).I am able to stretch and swim which seems to help with tiredness. I’m hoping side effects go away soon.

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Brain MRI came back clear. Talked to oncologist today, asked about percentage that anastrozole would benefit me. They weren’t able to do an onco test due to my cancer being less then 2mm. But cancer is H+. Side effects seemed worse today, headache, fatigue, fogginess and then nauseous started. I’m going to take. 2-3 week break. To see if side effects go away- I may or may not try another drug. I know I can’t/don’t want to feel this way anymore.
I’m looking forward to feeling good again!!

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nanna1948 | @nanna1948 | Aug 29, 2023

Try voltaren it helped me. You can’t use this if you are on blood thinners. Ask doctor first. It helped me

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marthamar | @marthamar | Jul 30, 2025

I went off anastrozole two months ago after 5 years of using. After a week I started experiencing severe inflammation on my skin and scalp and knee. If a hair touched my skin there was pain. I felt like I had head lice. I went to dermatologist. He says d no bugs. Men going through menopause experience this but I am a woman now getting more estrogen. He put me on Allegra and it helped a little. My oncologist- no comment. After two months the skin reaction of itching is gone and not on Allegra anymore. The part n in one 1️⃣ ss better. Would love consult from endroconologist

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green1 | @green1 | Jul 30, 2025
In reply to @tenayalake86 "After 6 months of anastrozole, I just had a painful, sudden side effect yesterday. When I..." + (show)
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After 6 months of anastrozole, I just had a painful, sudden side effect yesterday. When I woke up, getting out of bed was very painful. I called the doc's office. He said to stay off the med until my next visit in mid-March. I'm now walking with a cane. I am managing the pain with one Aleve and one Tylenol every 4 hours. [Taken together they potentiate each other.] I had both knees replaced and that's where most of the pain is today. These replacements aren't new. One was almost 3 yrs ago and the other was 5 years ago. But they never hurt this much once they'd healed.
Yesterday I hurt all over. Today it's mostly in the knees. In addition I am very anxious and my appetite has increased. I think I might have gained 8 to 10 pounds, which I didn't need. Has anyone else had such painful joints after 6 months on anastrozole?

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Yes my osteo arthritus has increased so that using my hands is painful. They were usually stiff but I just try to keep them massaged and keep going

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green1 | @green1 | Jul 30, 2025
In reply to @marthamar "I went off anastrozole two months ago after 5 years of using. After a week I..." + (show)
Profile picture for marthamar @marthamar

I went off anastrozole two months ago after 5 years of using. After a week I started experiencing severe inflammation on my skin and scalp and knee. If a hair touched my skin there was pain. I felt like I had head lice. I went to dermatologist. He says d no bugs. Men going through menopause experience this but I am a woman now getting more estrogen. He put me on Allegra and it helped a little. My oncologist- no comment. After two months the skin reaction of itching is gone and not on Allegra anymore. The part n in one 1️⃣ ss better. Would love consult from endroconologist

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I had hives ( still do} cancer Dr seems unconcerned. This was following anastrzole. My dermatologist suggested claratin am and zyrtec noon and benadryl pm
Small doses of combo for a week . All gone. This also happened after radiation treatment a year earlier

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Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jul 30, 2025
In reply to @marthamar "I went off anastrozole two months ago after 5 years of using. After a week I..." + (show)
Profile picture for marthamar @marthamar

I went off anastrozole two months ago after 5 years of using. After a week I started experiencing severe inflammation on my skin and scalp and knee. If a hair touched my skin there was pain. I felt like I had head lice. I went to dermatologist. He says d no bugs. Men going through menopause experience this but I am a woman now getting more estrogen. He put me on Allegra and it helped a little. My oncologist- no comment. After two months the skin reaction of itching is gone and not on Allegra anymore. The part n in one 1️⃣ ss better. Would love consult from endroconologist

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If you would like to see about a consult at Mayo Clinic, this link is how you start.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments
I would encourage you to do this for sure if you are struggling with this. They were amazing with my husband.

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Tenaya_Lake | @tenayalake86 | Jul 30, 2025
In reply to @green1 "Yes my osteo arthritus has increased so that using my hands is painful. They were usually..." + (show)
Profile picture for green1 @green1

Yes my osteo arthritus has increased so that using my hands is painful. They were usually stiff but I just try to keep them massaged and keep going

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I'm sorry to hear that your arthritis has become inflamed. I have arthritis too, in my knees and in my thumbs. I have been off anastrozole for two years, so it's no longer related to the hormone suppressant. My oncologist took me off anastrozole immediately when I called him. And he said no other drug would be any better. I just had a blood test and so far I'm fine after three years. Good luck to you.

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trixieo | @trixieo | Jan 19 7:37pm

I was on Anastrozole for 2 1/2 months. I stopped taking it because the side effects were very severe. Severe vertigo, passing out and sometimes unable to catch my breath. MY doctor said to stay off a couple of months and now she wants me to take Letrozole.
Vertigo is gone but at night when I'm sleeping, I can wake up in the middle of the night unable to catch my breath. I told the doctor that I will be not going on the Letrozole.
I have telehealth scheduled with my medical oncologist and an appointment scheduled with my pcp.

I just want the trying to catch my breath in the middle of the night to stop.
I just don't feel like myself.

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