Do aromatase inhibitors (like anastrozole) cause weight gain?

Posted by riverwatcher @riverwatcher, Sep 8, 2020

Is there any connection between anastrazole and weight gain?

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@oilermama

I believe there is. As others have said, it is a side effect that I have experienced up close and personal. And it seems to be belly fat,predominantly. My activity levels are higher than a year ago but no weight loss is happening. Of course, I look at it as,”if weight gain is the most serious side effect I am experiencing,I can live with it (unhappily).

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That's the one side effect that I seem to have. In spite of more exercise (stationary bike, because I need to use a walker) and strict attention to diet. But I feel the same as you - if that's the worst side effect, I can live with it.

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I believe there is. As others have said, it is a side effect that I have experienced up close and personal. And it seems to be belly fat,predominantly. My activity levels are higher than a year ago but no weight loss is happening. Of course, I look at it as,”if weight gain is the most serious side effect I am experiencing,I can live with it (unhappily).

REPLY

@ riverwatcher
If you look at all the possible side effects of anastrozole on Mayo's website, weight gain is listed. On the other hand, I lost weight on it... about a pound/month for the first two years. It had been my practice for years, however, to walk a mile/day on a treadmill. Then came Covid-19 and the gym closed... and the weight loss ended as I was unable to walk outside due to chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy. One might conclude that the anastrozole did not make me gain weight, and that I lost weight on it when combined with the exercise.

A few pounds now are being added. However, I also note that I have not changed my diet in response to the lack of exercise. It's all a balancing act with trade-offs at every turn.

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