1. < Breast Cancer
Profile picture for tinalove

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for sessioja
sessioja | @sessioja | Mar 3, 2024

I’ve been on anastrozole about9 months; after 4 months I had had enough of the side effects— joint pain, hot flashes, trigger thumbs— and had decided to ask my oncologist to change my AI when things got better… all but right knee pain at night on and off and occasional hot flashes. After reading responses here I checked my prescription label .. CVS had changed the manufacturer that they used. This one works for me..the difference is phenomenal.
Jas

REPLY
Profile picture for exk
exk | @exk | Mar 2, 2024
In reply to @anjalima "When I realized that my sudden major increase in side effects after one year on Anastrozole..." + (show)
Profile picture for anjalima @anjalima

When I realized that my sudden major increase in side effects after one year on Anastrozole may have been related to a change in manufactured… I found a pharmacy where I could revert back to Anastrozole manufactured by Accord ( the original generic). My increased side effects faded back to the original manageable and mitigated ones… mostly joint stuff and interrupted sleep ( awake 2-3 hours in middle of night).

While figuring this out I found a route to try the BRAND ANASTROZOLE … ARIMIDIX !

Even less side effects and especially sleeping through the night!

Generics are not regulated by FDA… they have their own regulation body but the main ingredient ( Anastrozole in this case ) can vary up to 20% in either direction and fillers can be very different.

The BRAND is tightly regulated by FDA and cannot vary in ANY way from pill to pill.

The brand has worked for me.

Jump to this post

I just posted a few days ago about how my issues started after my brand was switched. I had only minor issues my first 15 months with Anastrazole. Long story short, my digging showed that the first 15 months were Accord, and then I was switched to Breckenridge. Starting again on Accord after a month break. However my cancer provider tells me that my aggressive palpitations that went away after 9 days off of Anastrazole were NOT related to the meds. Hmmmm , we will see.

REPLY
Profile picture for anjalima
anjalima | @anjalima | Mar 2, 2024
In reply to @islandgirl60 "I can’t find any info on that. If that is true, that would be very dangerous..." + (show)
Profile picture for islandgirl60 @islandgirl60

I can’t find any info on that. If that is true, that would be very dangerous and people would be getting very sick on generics…any generics. I know that different companies use different fillers. Also, some people just do better on brand. I am glad that you found a solution that works.

Jump to this post

Best to you too

REPLY
Profile picture for anjalima
anjalima | @anjalima | Mar 2, 2024
In reply to @islandgirl60 "I can’t find any info on that. If that is true, that would be very dangerous..." + (show)
Profile picture for islandgirl60 @islandgirl60

I can’t find any info on that. If that is true, that would be very dangerous and people would be getting very sick on generics…any generics. I know that different companies use different fillers. Also, some people just do better on brand. I am glad that you found a solution that works.

Jump to this post

I was told this by a drug rep and I corroborated it with my son in law who works in pharma

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for islandgirl60
islandgirl60 | @islandgirl60 | Mar 2, 2024
In reply to @anjalima "Generics can fluctuate ingredients 20% in either direction whereas BRAND has to be exactly the same..." + (show)
Profile picture for anjalima @anjalima

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

Jump to this post

I can’t find any info on that. If that is true, that would be very dangerous and people would be getting very sick on generics…any generics. I know that different companies use different fillers. Also, some people just do better on brand. I am glad that you found a solution that works.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for anjalima
anjalima | @anjalima | Mar 2, 2024
In reply to @islandgirl60 "Generic drugs are regulated by the FDA. Supplements like vitamins are not." + (show)
Profile picture for islandgirl60 @islandgirl60

Generic drugs are regulated by the FDA. Supplements like vitamins are not.

Jump to this post

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

REPLY
3 replies
Profile picture for islandgirl60
islandgirl60 | @islandgirl60 | Mar 1, 2024
In reply to @anjalima "When I realized that my sudden major increase in side effects after one year on Anastrozole..." + (show)
Profile picture for anjalima @anjalima

When I realized that my sudden major increase in side effects after one year on Anastrozole may have been related to a change in manufactured… I found a pharmacy where I could revert back to Anastrozole manufactured by Accord ( the original generic). My increased side effects faded back to the original manageable and mitigated ones… mostly joint stuff and interrupted sleep ( awake 2-3 hours in middle of night).

While figuring this out I found a route to try the BRAND ANASTROZOLE … ARIMIDIX !

Even less side effects and especially sleeping through the night!

Generics are not regulated by FDA… they have their own regulation body but the main ingredient ( Anastrozole in this case ) can vary up to 20% in either direction and fillers can be very different.

The BRAND is tightly regulated by FDA and cannot vary in ANY way from pill to pill.

The brand has worked for me.

Jump to this post

Generic drugs are regulated by the FDA. Supplements like vitamins are not.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for casbc
casbc | @casbc | Mar 1, 2024
In reply to @anjalima "When I realized that my sudden major increase in side effects after one year on Anastrozole..." + (show)
Profile picture for anjalima @anjalima

When I realized that my sudden major increase in side effects after one year on Anastrozole may have been related to a change in manufactured… I found a pharmacy where I could revert back to Anastrozole manufactured by Accord ( the original generic). My increased side effects faded back to the original manageable and mitigated ones… mostly joint stuff and interrupted sleep ( awake 2-3 hours in middle of night).

While figuring this out I found a route to try the BRAND ANASTROZOLE … ARIMIDIX !

Even less side effects and especially sleeping through the night!

Generics are not regulated by FDA… they have their own regulation body but the main ingredient ( Anastrozole in this case ) can vary up to 20% in either direction and fillers can be very different.

The BRAND is tightly regulated by FDA and cannot vary in ANY way from pill to pill.

The brand has worked for me.

Jump to this post

Hmmm, the manufacturer on my bottle of Anastrozole says BRECKENRIDGE from my pharmacy.
I hope that that's o.k.

REPLY
Profile picture for bjohnson511
bjohnson511 | @bjohnson511 | Mar 1, 2024
In reply to @sealskin "Yes, I had stage 1 small slow growing tumor as surgeon didn’t think I should be..." + (show)
Profile picture for sealskin @sealskin

Yes, I had stage 1 small slow
growing tumor as surgeon didn’t think I should be in a hurry to have surgery but recommended mastectomy! She seemed disappointed I opted for lumpectomy. She also took out
my main lymph node without consulting me. I wanted the lump out of asap!
She torched me for that request.
I had 20 radiations 6 weeks after lumpectomy. The radiologist said after the radiations I wouldn’t have to do medication. The hematologist said I must as the tumor was HR2 positive. So I’ve taken anastrozole for 2 years now. It has trashed the quality of my life.
Aching joints, hot flashes, and it’s
now been 2 years taking anastrozole and half my hair is
gone. I want to stop the medication. Dr C L said
“Your body is full cancer. You must take it. And I’m not your doctor anymore. I’ve had no support and have been tortured, lied to and
dismissed by her Issaquah WA cancer team. Take care and best wishes.

Jump to this post

Got a new doctor! Anastrozole I change my life as well. I hate it. I’ve been on it since Thanksgiving and struggle with our joint pain, headaches, and so warm. I said I’d take another month and asked the doctor to change it to another pill or a mini different types. I think they all have some side effects. Can’t be as bad as this one. Best wishes.!

REPLY
Profile picture for pbnew
pbnew | @pbnew | Mar 1, 2024
In reply to @sealskin "Yes, I had stage 1 small slow growing tumor as surgeon didn’t think I should be..." + (show)
Profile picture for sealskin @sealskin

Yes, I had stage 1 small slow
growing tumor as surgeon didn’t think I should be in a hurry to have surgery but recommended mastectomy! She seemed disappointed I opted for lumpectomy. She also took out
my main lymph node without consulting me. I wanted the lump out of asap!
She torched me for that request.
I had 20 radiations 6 weeks after lumpectomy. The radiologist said after the radiations I wouldn’t have to do medication. The hematologist said I must as the tumor was HR2 positive. So I’ve taken anastrozole for 2 years now. It has trashed the quality of my life.
Aching joints, hot flashes, and it’s
now been 2 years taking anastrozole and half my hair is
gone. I want to stop the medication. Dr C L said
“Your body is full cancer. You must take it. And I’m not your doctor anymore. I’ve had no support and have been tortured, lied to and
dismissed by her Issaquah WA cancer team. Take care and best wishes.

Jump to this post

I am under the impression that Her2 positive patients get Herceptin and chemo. Herceptin was developed for this type of cancer.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.