Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Posted by tinalove @tinalove, Jan 31, 2016

I completed all treatments for breast cancer but now I am supposed to take hormone blocker, named anastrozole. im concerned about the side effects. Has anyone here taken it and did anyone have hair loss?

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@rc2147

I had lumpectomy, 33 radiation treatments last year. Started anastrozole Jan 1 - a few hot flashes - not big deal. HOWEVER mid February I started forgetting simple words, fact, date, lists and that has gotten continually worse. I see oncologist in April - I promised to do a 3 month trial - but at this point, not considering continuing. Switch for another 3 months? Take a break and see if my brain gets better? Anyone else have brain dysfunction? Thanks.

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It must be the Anestrozole. I've been using the wrong words for things. Yesterday I changed my sister's dog's pee pad. My husband noticed I put the plastic facing up and little Pom Pom went on it. I took it for 3 months after a lumpectomy and went off for 7 weeks. I had DMX and the surgeon had me stop. I waited a while too long to restart according to the Dr. I've only been back on it a week. Right away I felt like I am mixing up words.

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@bjohnson511

I spoke with the Cancer Society last week told me there are no clinical trials for new AI inhibitors due to the fact that the series of drugs helps the majority of people. I suggest we all start to call them at 800-227-2345 and continue to push them to do something that isn’t as bad as anastrozole. I feel your pain. I have all the same issues. It’s changed my life dramatically, and I’ve only been on them since Thanksgiving. I have been here anyway, but I have been using keranique spray from CVS for a year and taking biotin and so far so good on the hair.🙏🏻

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@bjohnson511 to me it seems that any drug, or any dose of any drug, that is effective in reducing estrogen to below detectable levels, would have the same side effects. The letrozole insert does say that a 20% dose was effective. Rather than studying different, new drugs, I think it would be helpful to study the best dose, perhaps based on weight and age. But if effective, I would speculate that side effects will remain the same. Interested in hearing otherwise!

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@otas

I have been taking Anastrozole for 6 months now and I have lost almost 30% of my hair (also with thinning) & still losing.
I’m also having arthritic type pain in my fingers and overall fatigue.
I did not have any of these health issues before.
According to my specialist The bottom line is all AIs have more or less the same symptoms. It is toxic but we have no other choice… or do we?

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I spoke with the Cancer Society last week told me there are no clinical trials for new AI inhibitors due to the fact that the series of drugs helps the majority of people. I suggest we all start to call them at 800-227-2345 and continue to push them to do something that isn’t as bad as anastrozole. I feel your pain. I have all the same issues. It’s changed my life dramatically, and I’ve only been on them since Thanksgiving. I have been here anyway, but I have been using keranique spray from CVS for a year and taking biotin and so far so good on the hair.🙏🏻

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I had lumpectomy, 33 radiation treatments last year. Started anastrozole Jan 1 - a few hot flashes - not big deal. HOWEVER mid February I started forgetting simple words, fact, date, lists and that has gotten continually worse. I see oncologist in April - I promised to do a 3 month trial - but at this point, not considering continuing. Switch for another 3 months? Take a break and see if my brain gets better? Anyone else have brain dysfunction? Thanks.

REPLY

I have been taking Anastrozole for 6 months now and I have lost almost 30% of my hair (also with thinning) & still losing.
I’m also having arthritic type pain in my fingers and overall fatigue.
I did not have any of these health issues before.
According to my specialist The bottom line is all AIs have more or less the same symptoms. It is toxic but we have no other choice… or do we?

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@otas

For the past 6 moths I was taking Arimidex around 8.00am and by 3/4pm I was getting very lethargic and sleepy, however I never took a nap during the day.
And at night I suffered from insomnia.
I could hardly get even a 3/4 hours sleep .
Now I’ve started taking the tablets at 7.00pm and I find that I have a much better sleep at night. Now I also go for a 1.00hour walk in the evenings which seems to help with my sleep.
Does anyone know what I can do to stop loosing my hair, this is also one of the side effects.
Best wishes

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Thank you for your suggestion on taking Arimidex at 7p.m.
I will give that a try. I also am losing a lot of hair, plus it has gotten finer. Do you know if it will come back once we're off It?

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@sterzi

I am wondering where you heard that taking anastrozole at night can make you sleepy. I have trouble falling asleep (but there has been a lot of stress in my life lately). My oncologist didn't give me an answer on when is the best time to take it. Thanks1

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For the past 6 moths I was taking Arimidex around 8.00am and by 3/4pm I was getting very lethargic and sleepy, however I never took a nap during the day.
And at night I suffered from insomnia.
I could hardly get even a 3/4 hours sleep .
Now I’ve started taking the tablets at 7.00pm and I find that I have a much better sleep at night. Now I also go for a 1.00hour walk in the evenings which seems to help with my sleep.
Does anyone know what I can do to stop loosing my hair, this is also one of the side effects.
Best wishes

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Fillers are different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some of us react to certain fillers used by certain companies. That is different from side effects from estrogen deprivation.

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@anjalima

Generics can fluctuate ingredients 20% in either direction whereas BRAND has to be exactly the same from pill to pill.

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FDA-approved generic medicines work in the same way and provide the same clinical benefit and risks as their brand-name counterparts. A generic medicine is required to be the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality, as well as in the way it is taken. Generic medicines also have the same risks and benefits as their brand-name counterparts.

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