Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Fifteen months on the Arimidex. Gained twenty pounds - but really starting to fight back now. Assorted other side effects that come and go - I can deal with that. Major concern is hair thinning. Everyone (husband included) keeps telling me it's my imagination. It's not, but I could live with this level of hair loss if it stops here. Some are indicating that things seem to level off after six months or so on Arimidex. If this is my new normal, I guess I'm okay with that. I enjoy the feedback on this site. I wish everyone here the best of luck as they go forward.

Hi @wandering
Which oncologist did you choose in PH? I'm in that area.

I needed to switch to letrozole because of the aches and pains. I dont have them any more, but still have hair thinning, insomnia, weight struggles, flaky fingernails. Ive been on it about a year. You adapt to a new normal!

Shenriq ~ Thank you! It is through the experiences of others that I gather my strength and take an optimistic stance. I have several friends who are a number of years ahead of me ~ Diagnosis/surgeries/chemo or not/radiation and then Arimidex. These women have all done so well with all aspects of treatment.They are active and happy and living the good life...Some of them very mindfully. I am trying to live in the moment, deal with the side effects of whatever happens next....Hoping it will be sunny days and happy thoughts when possible. Sending peaceful thoughts ~ Molly

Afterthought: as I was "leaning" into the drug & feeling suspicious of the changes within, I was wrapping my head around the need for & power of this drug. It was as if the dude effects were sneaking up on me and I was seriously concerned about what was coming. I printed off what the range of symptoms, so that when I could sit quietly with myself and contemplate my symptoms, while having a quick reference to use and help me clarify my experience with this drug against the research, to process what was going on. Of course I was somewhat anxious about and scared of what was to come, but reading about it often helped stabilize me, helped further by reading blogs. It was 4-5 months before I felt mostly "normal." If you can, give yourself 5 - 6 months.

THANK YOU! I have not had major problems so far, although it'a only been 2 1/2 weeks and insomnia has been troubling. 'Still getting over the 32 radiation treatments and they have subsided too. I have a nice long list of questions for my oncologist, regarding Magnesium, melatonan and several other RX drugs I am taking. When I was first diagnosed, right before Christmas 2016 I truly thought I would never be able to get up off the couch. I struggled through a Christmas party that we give annually and did the traditional things with my family, including my sweet grandkids. I am now realizing that I will not be on the couch forever and there are times when I can forget I even have been diagnosed with breast cancer. When I take that little Arimidex every morning I think of it as one more strike against cancer. I had pretty bad arthritis and tension headaches before my diagnosis, so when unexpected hip, knee or ankle pain strikes, I can handle it. Hoping for continued progress...For all of us!

I began taking Anastrozole in January 2017. It was 6 weeks before I began to be very clear about the side effects. Extreme joint pain, particularly affecting my wrists and hands, fatigue all the time, and genital dryness;I'm still evaluating hair thinning. I read everything possible about the drug, but was genuinely able to get a handle on how I was doing, was what I was feeling normal, by reading lots & lots of patient posts -- very helpful.
By the time I was approaching the end of 3 months, I was feeling generally improved and felt I was beginning to tolerate it. The extreme joint pain was generally reduced, although my hands and wrists are tender, but slightly less painful. The jury's still out on the hair thinning and I was able to successful address the dryness problem. I began to do exercises for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and for a very short time, wore a wrist splint - for my right hand, but have since stopped.
My chief take-away from reading other's posts was that it takes about 6 months for the body to adapt, which isn't always the case. Currently, including myself, there are 6 of us who are taking Anastrozole, and we stated doing so around the same time, so I have lots of opportunity to check among my friends, to see how "we're" doing. Two of the 6 have decided to switch to Lextrazole and are tolerating it much better.
I'm continue to be tired, but if you can, give it 6 months, if you can tolerate it. Fortunately, I can stay with Anastrozole vs. starting over.
Document all your symptoms and look for patterns and take all to your Oncologist. I feel very lucky.
Wishing you every success!!!

Great to know about the magnesium option too. Thanks!

I've been on Anastrozole (Arimidex) for 3 mos, the first pain was in my knees but it wasn't significant or there all the time - I'd never had knee pain before. In the past 2 mos my hip and back pain (aching and stiffness) is pretty significant. Saw my oncology nutritionist a few days ago who added calcium, vit D and Glucosamine/Chrondroitin to my daily Alive Women 50+ Vitamin. She looked at all the dosage amounts, some I take in the AM others in PM. Will try this for a month and if symptoms don't subside might try a different AI. I also get a lot of calf cramps at night that can keep me from sleeping. I do Pilates 3x a week which helps on so many levels. I'm 53 so I wasn't used to aches and pains until diagnosis 14 mos ago. Diagnosed IDC, PR & ER +, HER2-, nothing in lymph nodes, stage 1. Did lumpectomy, radiation and full hysterectomy (minus the ovaries), no chemo luckily.

Thanks for the information. I also get bad leg cramps at night and I take 800 mg. of magnesium in the evening. I can always tell when I forget to take it because then my legs are restless and crampy all night long. Thanks again for the info.