Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Yes, I am wondering if it will eventually go away or lessen. I also wonder how people are dealing with it. Do you take it at night or in the morning?

Omg, I took 2 times at 3 week periods...thought I was going to die! The second time I tried I could barely get out of bed anymore! I have fibromyalgia and thought that was painful...ha!
I could barely move my fingers. Needless to say after reading through all my paperwork and finding I am at a 3% chance of recurrence and due to quality of life I have chosen to take nothing! I have 4 grandsons and want to be able to get down on the floor and play with them not lay in bed for the next 5-10 years!
My oncologist is not happy but my primary and pharmacists say otherwise-they know me!
It is a tough call.
Blessings and hugs

@ellenveragilmor
My hair returned similarly, but that also may be because of my age. Many women's hair thins on top as they age and it likely was thinning before chemo. As to worsening arthritis and weight loss on anastrozol, I would encourage you to speak to your oncologist and ask if you can switch to another AI and see if that helps (there are several other choices). I also lost weight at first with anastrozole, and then my weight leveled-off after 8-9 months. I attributed the leveling-off to the initiation of a strenuous exercise program which helped me sleep better, eat more, and regain lost muscle mass.

@islandelder
One more tip re acid reflux which didn't occur to me the other day (because I've been doing it for so long, I guess)... sleep on your left side. Stomach acid will empty and not flow back into your esophagus (which can happen when you sleep on your right side).

My hair is growing on the sides and in the back not real fast on the top thin hair no bald spots no hot flashes worse arthritis in my fingers losing weight on anastrozol i eat once a day. I don’t think i can take this for five more years

@islandelder
I, too, have had a flare-up of acid reflex, but I have been attributing it to a supplement I've been taking for my neuropathy and I take a Beano with it which seems to help. Have you started anything new since the initiation of Anastrozole? (Nothing surprises me, however, as Mayo lists something like 80 possible side effects of Anastrozole....) Just don't be tempted to take one of those OTC acid reflux pills long-term as they are anticholinergic.

@oleander
My heart aches for all that you have been through. I'm surprised that you oncologist did not recommend chemo at some point as the chemo supposedly kills off the circulating cancer micro cells which might have helped.

With respect to the Anastrozole: Are you wearing support hose to help with the leg swelling? Have you asked your oncologist to switch your AI to see if an alternative might help? The arthralgia (bone and joint aches) comes from the Anastrozole, and there likely is nothing you can do about it except to exercise daily which seems to help some of us.

As to a preventive-mastectomy, and if your oncologist agrees, just make sure (via your surgeon's office) that your health insurance will agree to it. Best of luck in future (and luck always has something to do with it, I fear).

I had some symptoms when I first started taking Anastrazole but after three months they've calmed down. Bone pain and depression is almost gone but I'm wondering if my acid reflux flare-up is caused by this new med? Anyone else?

I was mistake know'st back in January of 2017. Needless to say one lumpectomy later and lymphnode removal stage 2b right breast. At 32 left breast lumpectomy adenosis. 48 years old history widow maker survivalist with a cabg LAD at 44. Cervical Ca at 44 with hysterectomy and one ovary removed. Worked as a nurse every weekend 36 hours a week during radiation. Tamoxifen wasn't working and I guess that's why I had no side effects. Took this during radiation. Oophorectomy 2 months ago back to work two weeks later on Anastrozole. I am so fatigued, aches and pains, leg swelling, nausea and palpitations. Just so exhausted. Does anyone have any suggestions to help with this? It gets worse when I get home from work. I am waiting for my follow up next month with oncologist to see how the medicine is working. I also have another question. Can you get a mastectomy after lumpectomy and lymph node removal? Because I was misdiagnosed with stage 1 no lymph node involvement I choose that option. If I had known stage 2b lymph node involvement I would have a mastectomy.

I couldn't tolerate the AI type drugs (but then I can't take most drugs...too many allergies and negative reactions). At my last oncology follow up my new doctor said I should just move on because some people are so sensitive to chemicals and I am one of those people. If there is a side effect, I'll get it. That can be very frustrating because I can't use most antibiotics, pain meds, etc. That said, most women experience side effects of some type with the AI's because they remove the hormones from your body and those same hormones which feed the cancer have protections for your joints, heart, etc. It's a classic double edged sword for sure. Before you stop taking the AI's discuss with your doctor and see if another drug might be easier for your body to tolerate AND ask that they test your hormone levels (not once but initially and about 6 months down the line) to see how high your Estrogen and Progesterone and Testosterone levels are. The AI's prevent the hormones in your body but your body may be ramping way down anyway (mine certainly have). The AI's can eliminate hormones and therefore the fuel for the cancer. Even if you hormone levels are extremely low, they are still there.....so there is risk the hormones will start the cancer back up and building. It's nice to know where your hormones are sitting however. I'm grateful I had an oncologist who suggested that when I was unable to tolerate the AI drugs.
Another consideration - If the AI's make you feel awful all the time you can choose not to choose them. There is a 'quality of life' consideration with all treatment. You have to weigh the current and on going issues the drugs cause with the longer term hope the drugs will stop the cancer from recurring. I chose not to take the drugs..........only time will tell what that means. It's a worry for me but other than the cancer worry, I feel generally pretty good every day.. I may be trading today for tomorrow, don't know yet but that was my decision.