1. < Breast Cancer

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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nanna1948 | @nanna1948 | Dec 30, 2023

I had mild hair loss. My only issue was stomach problems but then I am prone to that. Very mild hot flashes living in florida didn’t help. I got through five years with little problems. I walked every morning 30 minutes big help with any joint pains which I never had. Keeping weight down was difficult Good luck I hsve been told it is the choice medication.

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cfetoday | @cfetoday | Dec 30, 2023

I had 3 lumpectomy's for DCIS. Just finishing radiation. They wanted me to take anastozole for 5 years. I am not going to take it as there are too many side effects. Bone loss, hot flashes, sleep problems. My chances for reoccurence have dropped to 14% taking the drug would drop it to 8%. With all those side effects and taking something for 5 years. Not worth it for me. I am 66 years old in good health. I just can't see taking a drug with so many side effects. It also can cause blood clots.

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2 replies
1ek | @1ek | Dec 29, 2023
In reply to @windyshores "It is not always the medicine causing a reaction, but sometimes the fillers. I switched from..." + (show)
@windyshores

It is not always the medicine causing a reaction, but sometimes the fillers. I switched from anastrazole to letrozole and when I still had a sensitivity, switched to another manufacturer and finally to the brand name, to which I had no reaction. You find an aromatase inhibitor you can take but I encourage you to try different manufacturers- and/or brand name- before giving up. (There is also tamoxifen....)

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The same is true for Tamoxifen brands/fillers. I was fine, very mild side effects (annoying but in no way life altering) until one prescription was a different brand. Leg/foot cramps woke me 3-4 times a night, and night sweats & joint pains were crazy. After a week I was so sleep deprived I couldn’t think straight, so I reached out to my Oncologist. She had me stop taking & we would discuss in 8 weeks at my next appointment.
I did some research and there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that different brands can increase side effects. I had already filled the next prescription, which was the same one I was on before. After a 2 week break, tried the “old” brand, and back to very mild side effects.
The pharmacist was skeptical, but when I told her that I would only take this particular brand & would not pick up any other, she agreed to only order my preferred brand. She asked that I have my oncologist revise the prescription to reflect the specific brand in case insurance pushed back.
My oncologist was glad I was back on Tamoxifen, but also kind of skeptical since there aren’t any studies that prove this … she’s great & we had a nice conversation about how Tamoxifen for prevention after invasive BC hasn’t been studied beyond the standard 20mg dose.

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nanna1948 | @nanna1948 | Dec 29, 2023
In reply to @frantik223 "I did not have hair loss but I did not tolerate Anastrozole well. Poor sleep, more..." + (show)
@frantik223

I did not have hair loss but I did not tolerate Anastrozole well. Poor sleep, more intense hot flashes, dry skin and tendon problems. Took a month off of medication advised by my new oncologist and then started letrozole and taking it at night. 2 months in and I think psychologically (knowing this oncologist will work with me) maybe all that’s different as letrozole and Anastrozole are basically the same drug. But hot flashes are better ( the weather has changed so I don’t get to my
flash point as quickly. I’m taking a magnesium supplement for sleep issues. Dr also suggested acupuncture specifically for ‘women’s health’ to reduce the menopausal symptoms and yoga. Living in a rural area, it is quite difficult to find a women’s health acupuncturist but I am on the search. I guess my take away is if you don’t trust your dr- switch and look for alternatives in conjunction with your medication

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I stayed I. Anastrazole Accord manufacturer for five years I am off for eight months. No more flashes. Less hair loss and best of all no stomach issues. Good luck there is light after the tunnel.

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meomurian | @meomurian | Dec 12, 2023
In reply to @tullynut "I’m over 4 years on Anastrazole and have had no issues with it. I was post-menopausal..." + (show)
@tullynut

I’m over 4 years on Anastrazole and have had no issues with it. I was post-menopausal however. I had ER+ PR+ breast cancer with lymph node involvement. My range of risk of recurrence is 17-38%. I look at it this way…use of an AI keeps me at the lower end of risk. Losing weight keeps me at the lower end of risk. Healthy eating ( upping protein, lowering carbs) keeps me at the lower end of risk. Hopefully you can take advantage of every possible thing that can lower your risk of recurrence. That way if one piece is truly impossible for you there will still be other actions in place to help reduce your risk of recurrence and keep you well. JMHO

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I too am ER+ and PR+ with 15% proliferation. I have been on Anastrozole for 2 months now with zero side effects. My oncologist said this drug is the one most tolerated by her patients. So far, I don’t have any problems with the drug.

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tullynut | @tullynut | Dec 12, 2023

I’m over 4 years on Anastrazole and have had no issues with it. I was post-menopausal however. I had ER+ PR+ breast cancer with lymph node involvement. My range of risk of recurrence is 17-38%. I look at it this way…use of an AI keeps me at the lower end of risk. Losing weight keeps me at the lower end of risk. Healthy eating ( upping protein, lowering carbs) keeps me at the lower end of risk. Hopefully you can take advantage of every possible thing that can lower your risk of recurrence. That way if one piece is truly impossible for you there will still be other actions in place to help reduce your risk of recurrence and keep you well. JMHO

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1 reply
jilly615 | @jilly615 | Dec 11, 2023
In reply to @tamtam24 "Has anyone found any significant difference in hair thinning between the various inhibitors? I've been on..." + (show)
@tamtam24

Has anyone found any significant difference in hair thinning between the various inhibitors? I've been on Anastrozole for about a year and a half. I have knee pain/stiffness when I get up from a chair or walk up and down stairs, but once I get going on a flat surface, no pain. I also have chronic tiredness and terrible insomnia. However, I can live with all those. The hair thinning is particularly tough for me because I already struggled for years with androgenic alopecia. Fortunately, it was mostly around the hairline and on top and I have naturally wavy/curly hair, so even the dermatologist I saw a few years ago had to get right on top of me to notice. I then started taking Rogaine, which seemed to stabilize my hair. However, since being on the Anastrozole, the thinning seems much worse. I don't lose hair, just each hair is so thin. I've had two really humiliating experiences recently where I was in a picture and shocked at how noticeable my thinning has become. I know that the hormone therapy is key, but, boy, I already felt so bad about myself and how I looked, and now I feel so defeated and depressed. Any insights? Experiences? Advice? Thanks for listening!

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I am also on Anastrozole and hair thinning with insomnia are my biggest issues. The drastically thinning hair is the hardest for me as well. Looking in the mirror is that constant reminder that I am not the same person I was before diagnosis in July 2022. I also have androgenic alopecia & frontal fibrosing Alopecia. This hair loss is all over my head. I do see my oncologist tomorrow and plan to ask if I can try another AI. Really discouraging, but then is this hair loss worth not being on an AI. For now my answer is no, but that could change if this hair loss doesn’t slow down.

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nanna1948 | @nanna1948 | Dec 10, 2023
In reply to @nanna1948 "I was also only on accord. I was very lucky on it. Never changed for five..." + (show)
@nanna1948

I was also only on accord. I was very lucky on it. Never changed for five years.

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Keep the faith you will get through this one. Easy peasy on anastrazole. My only issues was diahrea. I was on Metamucil fiber bar which helped. Always had a bad stomache anyway. Off it for six months back to myself. Stick with it. Blue skies ahead

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anjalima | @anjalima | Dec 9, 2023
In reply to @windyshores "@anjalima I make a distinction between "side effects" and "reactions." Aromatase inhibitors will, I would imagine,..." + (show)
@windyshores

@anjalima I make a distinction between "side effects" and "reactions." Aromatase inhibitors will, I would imagine, have some level of longer term side effects due to estrogen deprivation. My "reactions" (neurological) to fillers are immediate and short term. I had no reactions to brand name and at the end of my treatment I found a generic that also did not cause reactions. Too bad after I spent all that money on brand name Femara!

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Thank you. I totally get what you mean regarding deprivation consequences . Going to try brand Anastrozole, Arimidex
, found at a decent price. Hoping this helps with some sleep issues.

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whr | @whr | Dec 9, 2023
In reply to @windyshores "@whr of course any decision anyone makes needs to be respected. But what we post in..." + (show)
@windyshores

@whr of course any decision anyone makes needs to be respected. But what we post in forums is read by many. I am very sensitive to meds and tried to get on osteoporosis meds for years, without success. The consequence of that is 7 spinal fractures which, believe me, affect my quality of life. Forteo and Tymlos do not affect dental health. Many dentists seem not to know that. Reclast, Fozamax, Prolia and to some extent Evenity do have the potential to cause jaw necrosis and other dental issues.

I customized Tymlos with its adjustable pen and my doc will do a 20% dose of Reclast, at least as a test dose, due to my sensitivities and health conditions.

Again, I respect everyone's choices but also encourage folks at risk of fracture to consider individualizing treatment to make it at least tolerable. My hips are still low density so I am going to buy hip pads- another way to go!

Getting back to aromatase inhibitors: I did letrozole (brand name Femara actually) for 5 years. Docs recommended 7-10 years but I did the Breast Cancer Index test that told me there was no further benefit. I got the paperwork myself off the Internet and gave to doc to sign. Now it is part of the NCCN guidelines. Again, individualize treatment if possible!

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I took Anastrozole for 18 months until the side effects were so incapacitating I quit. The only alternative that was offered was Tamoxifen, which I felt had more side effects. I don't metabolize meds very quickly so they build up and cause problems. Today is my four year anniversary since surgery. So far, so good but still have issues remaining from the medication. I didn't feel like the oncologist treated me like an individual but followed "protocols". I would never tell others what to do with their treatment, just what I had to do for me.

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