Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

I did brand name letrozole (Femara) despite the added cost 🙂

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.

Everyone's experience is different, and you may have no or minimal side effects. I was on Anastrozole for 6 mo's and developed severe joint pain, insomnia and some memory issues and hair thinning. I had a one month break and just started on Exemestane 2 days ago. The joint pain and insomnia resolved once I stopped the Anestrozole. I had taken Tamoxifen 16 yrs ago for my first DCIS and the joint pain with the Anestrozole was more severe., But the hair loss was worse on Tamoxifen. There were no other srmotsse inhibitors 16 yrs ago, so I am very glad there are other options to try if you have difficulty with what was initially recommended . Wishing you the best with your experience you have no or very mild issues.

I can’t express the tremendous feeling of support from this site. While I try to keep a brave face for my husband, friends and family-I can share my honest feelings here. I don’t look forward to taking anastrozole for 9 more years and verzenio is really trying my patience to put it mildly. But! I will plug along until something better comes along. In the mean time, on rough days I will ask for support and on good days I will offer support.

I can’t express the tremendous feeling of support from this site. While I try to keep a brave face for my husband, friends and family-I can share my honest feelings here. I don’t look forward to taking anastrozole for 9 more years and verzenio is really trying my patience to put it mildly. But! I will plug along until something better comes along. In the mean time, on rough days I will ask for support and on good days I will offer support.

The BCI test did not apply to my case as I had 7 positive lymph nodes with extra nodal extension of nodes. That is the reasoning for AI 10 years. Anastrozole does cause some insomnia and joint aches but I am managing them most of the time. What I think is most important for all of us is that we find a physician we feel is a good fit and can communicate and educate .what we need personally. I’m also taking verzenio-that’s another story-so difficult to tell which med causes which side effects. I admire every breast cancer warrior, while we all have/had this unwanted change in our lives we are so open to help our new sisters and their families.

I agree it was really frustrating to not be allowed to get this test. It did not make any sense to me either. My original Oncologist had retired - so I filtered thru several replacements this last year. I wonder if I had the first one - who I really liked - if she would have explained more to me. I had Stage 1 IDC with no lymph node involvement. I got the Oncodx Type test & was a 22. So I could skip chemo but had lumpectomy & radiation. When the final doctor I saw told me that another 5 yrs would only reduce my reoccurrence by < 3% - it only confirmed my resolve to stop at 5 years. ONE other thing: Apparently all AI drugs (not sure if this includes Tamfoxin) - causes CATARACTS - makes the grow faster. After 5 years I now need cataract surgery as well. I'm 68.

The BCI test did not apply to my case as I had 7 positive lymph nodes with extra nodal extension of nodes. That is the reasoning for AI 10 years. Anastrozole does cause some insomnia and joint aches but I am managing them most of the time. What I think is most important for all of us is that we find a physician we feel is a good fit and can communicate and educate .what we need personally. I’m also taking verzenio-that’s another story-so difficult to tell which med causes which side effects. I admire every breast cancer warrior, while we all have/had this unwanted change in our lives we are so open to help our new sisters and their families.