Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Oh yes.....before starting treatment on an AI I had moderately high blood pressure, say around 140-150's, handled by drugs. The first AI I tried to reduce my chest wall tumor, Anastrozole, make it go up into the 160's & I had to add another BP drug. Doc switched me to Letrozole, which didn't seem to be raising it so fast. But 4 months in I started getting occasional "spikes" in BP at night up to 170. By the next month it was becoming spikes up to 190 even 200 nearly every night! I was visiting the ER. I told the Doc I was off all AI's & stopped. They threw me into "labile hypertension" which I still have & even with new drug Fulvestrant, I have to monitor my BP 8 times a day, and take a quick acting drug if it goes over 170. I am not a good candidate for hormone blockers; but the Fulvestrant is working well to shrink my tumor.
I've read that those with CVDisease should not be on AI's .
Patty

There are plenty of things you can do for these symptoms. Take more meds! They’ll give you Celebrex for joint pain, bp meds, lexapro, Ativan and a bunch of other stuff. There’s no winning with AIs.

I’m curious as to why you’re prescribed anastrozole. It lower estrogen in your body to starve your cancer cells. But yours is triple negative, what does anastrozole do for you?

Yes on the high blood pressure no on the cardiac

So glad you made that point - definitely ‘ not imaginary’!!

It’s 2 years now that I’ve been taking Anastrozole, and yes I’m still having problems with hair loss plus other side effects

Hello srkellen,
I can totally understand the side effects you’re going through. I have been on Anastrozole for the past 2 years. I definitely have developed some mood issues, depression and anxiety.
I have also been diagnosed with osteopenia, high blood glucose & cholesterol which I never had before taking Anastrozole. I’m also experiencing extreme hair loss. And it seems nothing can be done for any of these side effects.

On Anastrozole now for 1 year 2 months. The drug definitely worked - reduced the size of my cancer and in some areas eliminated activity on the MRI. A blood test showed the estrogen feeding my cancer in my body has been lowered significantly. Some side effects initially - mood, hair loss, stiffness, hot flashes, fatigue, tummy upset most of the symptoms have seemed to dissipate over time - even my hair has mostly recovered. Still have the stiffness but find exercise/walking so beneficial also a good night's sleep is restorative. Would add definitely had some relief from acupuncture for the stiffness in the early days. As a side bar, have a friend who has been on Anastrozole now for 7 years - no side effects/feeling fine and NO RETURN OF THE CANCER.

I’m so sorry I had triple negative breast cancer 8 years ago. You must have been given a new drug. I hope they find some other drug you can use.

I had triple negative breast cancer and was prescribed this drug. It caused pain in every join escalating to the point of causing me to not function and ended up in ER. I was told taking it would be 50% successful. Not worth the effects. Not using