Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

Hang in there if you can, maybe the next one will be the winner.

Hello, @blue850! I tried Anastrozole and within 3 days I started having side effects and by day 10 my oncologist took me off of them because the side effects were so bad. I purposely did not read the side effects before I started them so not to make any up in my head. 🙂 I definitely had side effects. It took 3 weeks to feel better. Then I tried Exemestane (sp). Same thing happened. Not quite as bad but I did develop a really bad rash along with the other side effects. I’m now waiting for 2 weeks to get that out of my system so I can try something else. I would rather not take anything but my chances of my cancer coming back is 25% and the hormone blockers will cut that in half, so I’m going to do my best and try all my options. Good luck with yours. I pray you don’t have any side effects and you breeze right through it! 💕

Sounds like a labor of love 🙂 and one for a very strong lady at that. I did an equine therapy series a few years back and totally understand how working and just being around horses can be so therapeutic. And thanks for reminding me it is about time I look for a farm to visit around here.

So nice to hear someone that hasn't had side effects! Hope that doesn't change for you. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you cerwin for sharing this information. I think I am already feeling more sluggish then normal, for past few days felt like taking a cat nap in the afternoon which has been quite some time since feeling that. Hopeful that part of it is an adjustment...hopeful. Thanks for the tip on the bloodwork. I was a bit surprised that providers in this area (Tampa Bay area of Florida) don't seem to feel more then the normal once a year on the bloodwork is necessary, whereas my old providers in New Jersey took blood work more frequently. But now that I am actually taking the Anastrozole, maybe that will change. I have a follow up with the prescriber in 3 months to see how I am tolerating it. Thank you for your prayers and good luck with your journey.

I started Anastrazole 1mg several months ago. I didn’t have much of any side effects for about a month; then, muscle/joint pain, hot flashes, insomnia, GI issues, and depression hit me! I already have severe fibromyalgia and sleep issues, so the AI hit those areas hard.

My Oncologist took me off of Anastrozole for a week and I saw some improvement. Then he started me back on it. I decided not to try another AI because they had added symptoms like headaches, nausea & dizziness, which would be horrible.

So, I’m still taking Anastrozole.
Effexor helps with hot flashes, gabapentin with nerve pain and I’m trying Flexeril for chronic fibro muscle/joint pain. You have to be careful with any new drugs because they can have their own impact on liver and other organs. Be sure your Primary is evaluating your bloodwork often.

Praying you’ll have minimal side effects! 💕🙏

I have been on it for 2 months and have not noticed any side effects yet.

I agree with quality of life vs years. My active lifestyle means mucking stalls, bucking hay, running behind with long lines during training. Pushing wagons, and lifting harnesses or heavy saddles, and fixing fence. Lol . I do find that even after my 10 years on AI was up, I still get much stiffer after a day off at the barn. We are exactly the same age, but I have much worse bones. Please don’t give up on getting that 4% gain too easy, there are still a few more choices if you can’t stand this one.

Thank you @auntieoakley for this information. Yes, would consider myself active, always have been my whole life. I'm 55 now. I run about 10 miles a week average, in the summer now swim almost daily, mix in some basic weight moves and in general don't sit down for very long. I just naturally prefer to keep moving, so for that I am thankful. Despite all that I am about 15 lbs. overweight all gained during chemo treatments. I am 6 years past all that now. After the surgery, chemo and radiation I was put on Tamoxifen but couldn't handle the side effects after a year. At that point the plan was Anastrozole but I opted out as just reading the side effects sounded like it wouldn't be much different. Lately been feeling actually quite good, energetic and clear headed. I moved and found new providers which caused me to rethink the hormone therapy decision. I am told with 4 years of Anastrozole to get me to the 10 year mark I can halve my reoccurrence margin from 8% to 4% probability. If I can tolerate the 4 years it likely is worth it, but now all the memories of how terrible I felt that 1 year on Tamoxifen have me concerned. I will monitor the situation and if I am finding myself with low energy, aches, pains, brain fog, thinning hair, etc. I am sure I will reevaluate once again. The quality of life vs number of years certainly is serious and I don't know if any of the pharmaceuticals or anyone else is working on addressing this but it certainly would go a long way for many women. For now I am taking a magnesium/calcium/zinc with every meal and making sure not to skip the other daily's especially the D. Basically trying to counteract any accelerated bone mineral loss. I did have a baseline Dexa right after chemo and 2 since then including the last a month ago. They show healthy bones for my age. I had not heard about stomach trouble or nausea until your reply, so yay 2 more ;things to watch out for, ha, ha.. thanks again for responding and cheers to you at 17 years and many more to you.

Welcome @blue850 , there is a wide range of side effects from almost not even noticing it to cannot tolerate it. I had some increased stiffness in my joints within a month, and then there is the long term side effect of losing estrogen. Gray hair, wrinkles, and yes bone density loss. All things I don’t love, but……..I am still here 17 years later to whine about it. That being said, if I had been nauseous and had stomach problems like some people, I would have asked for a different drug. There are several different choices and every body acts differently. Depending on age. I would ask my doctor for a baseline bone density test if you haven’t had one. It just never occurred to me that that would be the thing. I thought I would just get fat and my heart would pop. Lol. Actually all the activity I do each day helped with the joint stiffness. Are you an active person?