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Anyone on an aromatase inhibitor dealing with anxiety, cry easily?

Posted by momandrph048 @momandrph048, Jun 14, 2023

Has anyone else taking an aromatase inhibitor been dealing with crying very easily, and anxiety that comes out of nowhere?? It doesn’t seem to be related to anything, it just appears out of the blue.. My oncologist has me on Effexor, but it doesn’t seem to be doing that much and I really don’t want to increase my dose.. Can anyone share a similar story? Counseling isn’t really for me, I just need to deal with it on my own, and I really feel that the medication is the reason for it.. Mostly because my dr had me stop it for a couple weeks due to joint pain and everything got better.. Thanks for your input!

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ruffianfan55 | @ruffianfan55 | Apr 23 1:52pm
In reply to @momandrph048 "Just be careful about turmeric if you take an aromatase inhibitor , ask your oncologist because..." + (show)
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Just be careful about turmeric if you take an aromatase inhibitor , ask your oncologist because I think they can decrease the effect of anastrazole..

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@momandrph048
My oncologist said that turmeric is fine with aromatase inhibitors, but not with tamoxifen.

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marceille08 | @marceille08 | Apr 24 5:17pm

I too had the crying for no reason and very emotional reaction to so many silly things on Anastrozole when I first started it. It was like how I felt before I got my period! Yes I still can remember that far back. It did get better maybe 3 months or so in. Hang in there for awhile let your body try to adjust. I was on it 3 1/2 years and did ok. I'm on Exemestane now. Had nasty crying jags again in the beginning more like cranky menopause this time, but had been off an AI for 4 months. Body is adjusting. Everyone's body reacts differently. I wish us all well trying to get thru this precarious time. Hope and love

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jwmusic65 | @jwmusic65 | Apr 27 5:26am

Yes! Am interested. Am taking Anastrozole & need something to keep calm! I can easily drift into overthinking which is not helpful!!!

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jwmusic65 | @jwmusic65 | Apr 27 7:52am
In reply to @momandrph048 "That’s kind of the way I feel about the Effexor,also.. it helped in the beginning, but..." + (show)
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That’s kind of the way I feel about the Effexor,also.. it helped in the beginning, but not anymore.. I don’t want to keep increasing my dose.. How did you end up managing your symptoms?

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@momandrph048 I am also interested in how to manage symptoms!

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sally484 | @sally484 | Apr 27 9:29am

The AI you take will just about throw you into anything from achiness to bouts of crying. It's awful! I've been on 3 different ones and they are all AWFUL!! I understand they may be helping, but sometimes have to wonder about everything they do to you. I've had everything from necrosis of the jaw to aches and pain everywhere!!

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myoga | @myoga | Apr 28 9:44pm
In reply to @ccc1965 "I am sorry you are going through this. I did as well. At first just a..." + (show)
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I am sorry you are going through this. I did as well. At first just a little teary and full on "Ugly Cry" for absolutely no reason. My Doctor has switched me to Letrozole which I seem to tolerate better. Also changed from Verensio to Kisqali which at least stays down but the tiredness, headaches and nausea are debilitating.

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@ccc1965
Could the headaches come from Letrozole? I had Letrozole for 4 months. It was ok for the first 2 months, then I had aura headaches several times a week before it turned into full blown migraines/ headaches. One time it was so bad that it woke me up at night. I stopped it even before I talked to my onco. I’m on exemestane now for 8 months. So far so good. Just some joint pains here and there but tolerable. If you haven’t tried exemestane, give it a try. It seems better tolerated for lots of us.

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jwmusic65 | @jwmusic65 | May 25 7:46am
In reply to @momandrph048 "I have actually talked with my oncologist about it.. she wants me to increase my Effexor,..." + (show)
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I have actually talked with my oncologist about it.. she wants me to increase my Effexor, but I’m hesitant because I know it can be a tough drug to discontinue , when the time comes.. I’m also pretty sensitive to side effects of my meds , so I didn’t really want to increase the dose if I could manage another way..
She tells me anxiety is common with these drugs, but that sure doesn’t make it easy!!

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@momandrph048 I am struggling with anxiety related to Anastrozole… it’s a lot to deal with. My family doctor prescribed Zoloft but it made me more nervous. Appreciate responses on this site .. they are helpful!

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