Anastrozole experience: Any tips for managing side effects?

Gosh, I would really love to steer you towards another discussion where there are hundreds of comments or hundreds of pages of comments. In reviewing a few of those conversations, I decided against it because there is so much negativity. Unfortunately the people who manage their side effects well, or have very few or no side effects are hardly ever the people posting. There is also many more people taking this drug than you will ever see in a forum.
Remember this is a cancer fighting drug, and you and your doctor should make this decision based on what is best for YOU.
I took it for 10 years, I managed my side effects, walking for joint stiffness, and fans for the hot flashes. I do try to have a sense of humor about it 🥵🥵. I will never have to look back and say I didn’t do everything I could to stop this cancer.
I hope you will be willing to try it, if you and your doctor decide it is best. If you have been on HRT, you will likely feel a few menopause related effects.
About those discussions I mentioned, if you want to read them, just scroll up and click on the little “< breast cancer” top left and use the search for Anastrazole.

I started anastrozole in July. I'm 57, was in menopause but had never had a symptom (other than cycles off), confirmed by lab. Now with AI -- Joint pain and stiffness, yes, but to me it is manageable. I have not taken any meds for it. I stretch my legs and flex my feet before standing if I've been sitting for awhile, and that helps. LOTS of walking, movement is when I don't notice anything. I was a walker before bc, so I was quick to get back out there. I'm on vac right now at theme park with college age kids and we've been doing 12-14 mi a day, and I tell you, I've slept so well and no pain this whole time!! I won't do that many miles at home, but it proved to me how much it helps. Hot flashes were new to me and i do not like that, especially middle of the night and have a hard time getting back to sleep. But again, manageable, I nap when the days feel long, and I've recently started sleeping better, so maybe it actually does improve with time like they said.
Good luck, let us know how you do.

@jessicanell sorry to hear of your breast cancer. I happy to hear you and/or Dr. Is having a Dexa scan Don prior to your Anastrozole treat. This will give you a baseline on your bones and the possible effect Anastrozole has on them. Unfortunately, not all doctors are proactive like that. Was your estrogen levels baselines too? The best of luck to you.

For joint pain because of anastrozole and fosamax meds I take two 500 milligrams of turmeric daily. Recommended by an oncologist. No side effects and it helps especially with arthritis in hands. Maybe this will help you.

I take anastrozole and manage any effects well. I had joint stiffness for six months but not any longer. Exercising is key to help with this. I still have some hot flashes and sleep disruptions but I manage those with bamboo sheets and a bamboo blanket. They really help! Effects peak at six months; that's demonstrated from studies. After that, your body starts to adjust to the medication.

One word BAD for me. After 18 months in Anastrozole I fought with my oncologist to change me meds. I was put on exemestane and I take this 4 times a week. I read an article by an oncologist who said that he didn’t think it necessary for women like myself who have a bad reaction to the meds, to take it ever second day. My back pain has improved, slightly, and I’m walking and swimming again. At the beginning of treatment I could hardly walk. Joints are painful but that is wear and tear age related. I had mri onn13 july for my back and all is good. Best of luck with your treatment. Xx

Hello … do I understand correctly that you are taking exemestane every other day? And that you’re tolerating it well? Also can you direct me to article you mention?
Thank you and my best to you!
Lisa

I don’t know how to get the link to you but if you Google ‘oncologist who maintains that taking Anastrozole or exemestane every second day’. Oncologist says that the meds stay in the system a long time and that every second day is sufficient fir women, lije me, and I emphasise, that it’s my decision, no one else, including my oncologist! It’s my body and it’s either take exemestane every second day, and have quality of life, or stop taking it altogether. Let’s also factor
In brain fog which is very real. That’s another side effect I have plus my eyesight has deteriorated too. Best of luck with your meds. You could b one of tge very lucky women who don’t get bad side effects. X

Check out Dr de Censi. He is on utube too. Tge more info you have the better. Xx

I will look for it ! It’s heartening to hear this. I did not tolerate Letrozole and then have tried taking anastrozole every other day. My oncologist balked a bit saying there wasn’t evidence to support that that is effective. However, I don’t believe there is evidence to support that it isn’t effective … I do not believe it’s been tested.
Thank you again!!