Anastrozole experience: Any tips for managing side effects?

I’m also considering the effects of how long tamoxifen stays in my system, because it’s half life is 5-7 DAYS. By day 7, I have a full dose plus partial doses from the previous 6 days.
However, when the research is done they are looking at people who have accumulated that amount of drug in their bodies. Maybe it takes a whole lot of the drug to make a difference.
For example, if I’m on 5 mg tamoxifen then by day 7 I may have almost 9 mg of drug in my body. But that is what research is based on, so maybe it takes 9 mg to be effective. Does that make sense? Never sure if my explanations are clear.
For you if you’re taking 1 mg of an AI that has a half life of 50 hours, then 4 days after the initial dose you might have close to 2 mg in your body. But maybe 2 mg is what it takes to make a difference - and they prescribe 1 mg knowing that the effective level will end of being 2 mg.
That’s when I start questioning myself on whether I have enough information to self prescribe. I guess I like scary situations, because I do it anyway. Hopefully I won’t be proven so dumb that I made the wrong choice. In retrospect this might be one of those situations where I knew better but chose risky behavior (will I never grow up?!)

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my Left Breast and then 5 weeks of Radiation.
Then started on Femara which caused joint pain and my oncologist switched me to Arimidex.
I took it fatefully for 2 years and then I was having UTI’s one right after another and after I took medication for it. I mentioned this to my oncologist who laughed and said the Arimidex had nothing to do with it.
I decided to see if the UTI’s would stop after stopping the Arimidex and believe it or not, it did.
I did not appreciate my oncologist laughing at me for asking a question so I never started the Arimidex back and it’s been almost 3 years come July-August 2024.
I know the risks of it returning and some of the pathology reported Grade 2 & 3 and it read High Grade DCIS. My Ki-67 was 20.
Has anyone else had continuous UTI’s while taking Arimidex?

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my Left Breast and then 5 weeks of Radiation.
Then started on Femara which caused joint pain and my oncologist switched me to Arimidex.
I took it fatefully for 2 years and then I was having UTI’s one right after another and after I took medication for it. I mentioned this to my oncologist who laughed and said the Arimidex had nothing to do with it.
I decided to see if the UTI’s would stop after stopping the Arimidex and believe it or not, it did.
I did not appreciate my oncologist laughing at me for asking a question so I never started the Arimidex back and it’s been almost 3 years come July-August 2024.
I know the risks of it returning and some of the pathology reported Grade 2 & 3 and it read High Grade DCIS. My Ki-67 was 20.
Has anyone else had continuous UTI’s while taking Arimidex?

Thanx for the info. Personally I believe most women are being overdosed, especially since the drug stays in your system for 50 hours. Taking the drug EVERY DAY? I believe it's overdosing. Does cutting back to dosing every OTHER day still prove effective? That's what I'm doing - testing out that theory. Now your statement about AI intrigues me. OMG, how wonderful is that!!??

I think you make a good point. Are they looking at an original dosage or are they looking at a buildup of a dosage. When I told my breast center surgeon and reminded her of the 50 hours of half life she seemed to pause. I feel certain that the research is always based on long-term use, like a control group going on it for one year or something like that. Very curious. Right now I am sticking with every other day which has only been about 4 days now. I just want my symptoms to be lessened.

Hi! saraabrooks@saraabrooks:

Thanks for sharing your valuable experience with us! I am so glad that the Anastrozole pill effectively shrank the size of the tumors for you:) Could you please let us know what is the dosage of your Anastrozole pills per tablet? 1MG?

Thanks again for your wise advice!

When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in April 2019, I had a Lumpectomy to my Left Breast and then 5 weeks of Radiation.
Then started on Femara which caused joint pain and my oncologist switched me to Arimidex.
I took it fatefully for 2 years and then I was having UTI’s one right after another and after I took medication for it. I mentioned this to my oncologist who laughed and said the Arimidex had nothing to do with it.
I decided to see if the UTI’s would stop after stopping the Arimidex and believe it or not, it did.
I did not appreciate my oncologist laughing at me for asking a question so I never started the Arimidex back and it’s been almost 3 years come July-August 2024.
I know the risks of it returning and some of the pathology reported Grade 2 & 3 and it read High Grade DCIS. My Ki-67 was 20.
Has anyone else had continuous UTI’s while taking Arimidex?

Wow! I hate to say unkind things about your Doctor but showing some major ignorance on the subject of female health. In 2023 there was a study stating that vaginal estrogen does not absorb systemically so there is no additional risk for breast ca. Both my Oncologist and gynecologist agreed that I can use estradiol without raising my risk for reoccurrence. It is KNOWN to help with vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence and lowering the risk for UTIs. Best of luck to you getting the help you need and deserve.

MD Anderson does not recommend topical Estradiol cream if someone has had ER+ cancer. They will not prescribe it. My Baylor Scott & White PCP also will not prescribe topical cream but will write a prescription for the vaginally inserted tablets. I believe the research that says little is absorbed systematically is based on the inserted tablet.
I have not found the tablet to be very helpful to me. It may increase moisture inside, but does little to nothing in the outer area that gets a lot of friction.

MD Anderson does not recommend topical Estradiol cream if someone has had ER+ cancer. They will not prescribe it. My Baylor Scott & White PCP also will not prescribe topical cream but will write a prescription for the vaginally inserted tablets. I believe the research that says little is absorbed systematically is based on the inserted tablet.
I have not found the tablet to be very helpful to me. It may increase moisture inside, but does little to nothing in the outer area that gets a lot of friction.