Anyone experience mood swings and nervousness with Anastrozole?

I chose not to take any hormone treatment with my specific breast cancer. The numbers simply did not add up as a benefit for me. However for some it's a must but I also wonder if maybe the drug is simply too strong for some. I've found less is more for me personally when it comes to meds I am super sensitive to them and try to always get the lowest dose and if that is not low enough I will split pills. And to me it seems like if you are on these pills they should be able to monitor your estrogen levels to see if they are effective or not at a micro dose vs "regular" dose.

@gigipatula I am taking Anastrozole & really wonder its value. I see less is more but sometimes I think oncologists pile on to protect themselves from future litigation should cancer return. I have completed both chemo & radiation and currently have 4 more Herceptin infusions plus this pill.

@jwmusic65 Perhaps Dr's just follow protocol and whatever that is, and that treatment plan seems to be a one size fits all mentality. I understand why they do it however I think as patients and being our own advocate I don't think it's a bad idea to ask lots of questions and point out different options to them. I've found most Dr's are receptive to my doing that or at least they act like it 🙂 However I have had 2 Dr's in the past who simply said they would no longer be my Dr. and I personally am very OK with that.

@gigipatula - I totally agree with the desire for more research & testing to determine what doses of what medications are best for each of us. I don't regret my decision to not take the estrogen blocker in 2010 when I had DCIS; at the time my oncologist said it was 50-50 in terms of it making a difference in recurrence. Now that I've had invasive DC & a mastectomy in 2025, of course I wonder, but I think the answer is ahead of us in specialized testing & treatment.

I had been on Tamoxifen for a couple of years when my dr. switched me to Anastrozole. After another couple of years he suggested staying on it for two more years for a further reduction in breast cancer of 12%. So it will be 7 years total of both. While on them have developed arthritis of fingers, toes, and legs. Researched Anastrozole and find 17% risk of arthritis. Just can’t win. I wonder if I should stop the Anastrozole. To add to complexity I had a blood test which revealed I have a rare hereditary pathogenic gene called Li Fraumeni syndrome with 90% cancer risk. I had cancer every four years since 2016, all small amd treatable. many tests suggested to catch anything early. Now I am hesitant about continuing the Anastrozole because of arthritis - but if it prevents more breast cancer maybe. Dilemma.

I will be starting it after radiation… a bit scary

Absolutely have been experiencing anxiety and mood swings. I had lobular breast cancer, lumpectomy, and 33 radiation treatments. I was supposed to start on an AI but after a couple of try’s with two different ones, I stopped taking anything. Five years later I now have metastatic bone cancer and am taking Anastrozole and will be starting Ibrance this week. I should have endured the AI’s after all. I pray you do well and God bless you.. .

gd bless your amazing strength when you had lumpectomy did you have n nodes did they do an onco test? Thx

@shoefly I am very sorry to hear that you have metastatic bone cancer. Please don't look back and blame yourself for not taking anastrozole. We all make decisions that seem right for us at the time. Everything, that I have read, indicates that taking anastrozole, letrozole or exemestane, reduces your risk of recurrence by 40 to 60%. With breast cancer, there are no guarantees. One of the many frustrating factors regarding aromatase inhibitors, is that we have no way of knowing, if they are working. Had you taken one of these drugs for 5 years, you could still have developed bone cancer. One wise and honest nurse practitioner told me that the chance of recurrence is never 0%, no matter what we do. If you were able to enjoy a good quality of life for 5 years, think of that time as a gift. I truly wish you and others, who are faced with a rough road ahead, better health in the future.

@bloncape
God bless you for your wonderful and kind words. Yes, I had five very good years and I don’t feel defeated now. No matter the future, I find something to enjoy in each day God gives me.