Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Each of the aromatase inhibiters bring terrible joint problems and fatigue. There's no getting away from the significant symptoms while taking them.When conferring with your oncologist, ask them to describe how the physical and emotional symptoms different from one another.

to @islandelder and @samanthavon and @roch : I'm guessing that the radiation was not a direct cause of the emotional upsets... rather the AI is the culprit. AIs mess with our hormones (and cause a dozen or so other side effects at times). I haven't acquired trigger finger (yet), but I do get infrequent bouts with carpal tunnel syndrome from the Anastrozole. Luckily, I know how to treat it by soaking it in warm water and wearing a wrist brace at night.

As noted a few months ago in this forum, because I am so hypersensitive to most pharmaceuticals, I made the decision to take only half an Anastrozole/day... much to the disgruntlement of my oncologist. I explained that most women give up on AIs after about 2 years because of the side effects. I can manage a half dose for the seven years he has prescribed. In addition, getting one's Vitamin D3 to a high level also reduces circulating estrogen and other sex hormones, according to a Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center study in 2016. I don't mind taking 2000 IUs of micellized D3 with the half dose of Anastrozole to achieve the goal.

For those whose hair may be thinning... my oncologist prescribed 50 mg/day of Biotin (50,000 mcg) for me when I was post-chemo. My hair has come back thicker than before chemo. I recently reduced the dose to 10 mg, which is still a lot. [A word of warning: if your doctor ever decides to test your thyroid, stop taking the Biotin a few days before the test or the result will imply that you are hyperthyroid which causes all sorts of pandemonium. It's just the Biotin messing with test.]

For the emotions component of estrogen reduction, the remedy which seems to suit me best is good ol' exercise... at least 4 times a week I do a fast mile walking on the treadmill which is about all I can handle with the chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy... but it does the trick for mesamanthavon I'm guessing that the radiation was not a direct cause of the emotional upsets... rather the AI is the culprit. AIs mess with our hormones (and cause a dozen or so other side effects at times). I haven't acquired trigger finger (yet), but I do get infrequent bouts with carpal tunnel syndrome from the Anastrozole. Luckily, I know how to treat it by soaking it in warm water and wearing a wrist brace at night.@

As noted a few months ago, because I am so hypersensitive to most pharmaceuticals, I made the decision to take only half an Anastrozole/day... much to the disgruntlement of my oncologist. I explained that most women give up on AIs after about 2 years because of the side effects. I can manage a half dose for the seven years he has prescribed. In addition, getting one's Vitamin D3 to a high level also reduces circulating estrogen and other sex hormones, according to a Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center study in 2016. I don't mind taking 2000 IUs of micellized D3 with the half dose of Anastrozole to achieve the goal.

For those whose hair may be thinning... my oncologist prescribed 50 mg/day of Biotin (50,000 mcg) for me when I was post-chemo. My hair has come back thicker than before chemo. I recently reduced the dose to 10 mg, which is still a lot. [A word of warning: if your doctor ever decides to test your thyroid, stop taking the Biotin a few days before the test or the result will imply that you are hyperthyroid which causes all sorts of pandemonium. It's just the Biotin messing with test.]

For the emotions component of estrogen reduction, the remedy which seems to suit me best is good ol' exercise... at least 4 times a week I do a fast mile walking on the treadmill which is about all I can handle with the chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy... but it does the trick for me.

Trigger fingers come about because of the shortening of tendons in ones fingers, impacting the flexibility of the joints and fingers get stuck and pop vs free movement. They exacerbate the joint pain side-effect that I experienced as a side-effect from AIs (Aromatase Inhibiters). There's a knot that presents at the tendon, below the joint of the affected finger and are very painful. I had my orthopedist "treat" it, which reduced the inflammation and also did some massage therapy on my own.

Yes, we're all different and what works for one may not work for another. My calcium levels were good at the last test but that could be from a diet that has enough calcium. Who knows? The Boniva is expensive--$103 for three once-a-month pills--not covered by my insurance, but necessary. But staying cancer-free is most important.

Years ago my gyno recommended Tums but Oncologist does not. If you google it, Tums reduces stomach acid which apparently isn’t good for calcium absorbsion. We all get diff advice from diff doctors. I have to get an infusion twice a year, wish I could just take something oral. I sure don’t need osteoporosis on top of everything else. I guess we all have our breakdowns at different points! I thought I’d just breeze thru all of this. Boy was I ever wrong!

Trigger finger--I've had something like that but I think I had it a time or two before chemo/radiation so I didn't make the connection. Always something! I'm sorry about your hair. I'm hoping it's temporary.

I didn't realize there were side effects like that from radiation. I had the last of 30 treatments on Sept. 11, 2017. (a date to remember!) Until last week I had no emotional problems, so I guess I was lucky. I take Boniva once a month for my bones, and my "calcium supplement" is two Tums a day. Very inexpensive and two docs seemed to think it was just fine. You could check with your doc to see if Tums would work for you. Thanks for commenting.

Trigger finger is happening to my middle finger, the joint is cramping and every time I close my hand or move fingers it feels like the joint gets stuck. It hurts after it keeps happening. It’s supposedly common I read about it and didnt understand but if it happens you will know. I’m not getting g bald but hair is thinning a lot. I used to have thick hair and now I probably have half what I had a year ago. I was lucky that I started with so much. I have a small bald patch hpjust above my ear, I cried when I found it. So far I’m able to cover it up.

I’m also very concerned about the emotional side effects of radiation followed by Anastrozole.I don’t think that the oncologists have a good understanding of the emotional side effects. I was given 30 Xanax for anxiety (3 months ago) I took a half tablet and then quit, I decided I did not want to take more drugs, I would deal with it! I went to a breast cancer support group a few times which I liked but I’m not sure I’m going back. I felt like the most talkative and negative one there. I can’t tell if I put everyone off or not...Then I called 5 different therapists from the cancer center’s recommended list, none are taking new patients and one didn’t even return my call after I was asked to leave a detailed message which was a bit unnerving. Anyway, I’m still a mess. Two weeks ago I thought I’d try going gluten free to see if I’d have less joint, bone, muscle pain. Not sure if it’s making much difference. A few weeks ago I had Zumata which is a bone infusion to strengthen bones due to effects of treatments and make it harder for cancer to get into bones or something like that. Then was told to take calcium supplements. I bought the most expensive kind which are supposed to be easiest to tolerate. I need a few days off the calcium because it has the side effect of making me constipated, a problem I didn’t have before. So, not only am I emotional I’m becoming an angry person as well!

What do you mean by "trigger finger"? I hope I don't start losing my hair. I was bald a year ago--don't want that again!