Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

@feistylf
I had horrific headaches with anastrozole and letrozole. Since going on exemestane, I have had no more headache and I also haven't had any bone or joint aches. Headaches are a side effect of anastrozole and there is no shame in changing medications. If one doesn't work, don't be fearful of trying another. Check and see if your facility has a "Strength After Breast Cancer" program. I belong to Kaiser which promotes this twice-weekly exercise program of warm up, stretching, core training exercises, weight training exercises, followed by stretching again. It only takes me about 30 minutes to do and I feel so much better afterward. I had a thalamic stroke on Memorial Day and recovered rapidly to the amazement of hospital occupational therapist, doctors, and my physical therapist, but attribute it to all the benefits from that exercise program! In addition, I was instructed to walk every day and my hubby takes me out for a 2 to 3.5 mile walk now.

@dianamiracle
After all the side effects from anastrazole and letrozole, I went on exemestane and haven't looked back. I don't seem to have the bone and joint aches as with the first two, nor do I have the horrific headaches I had with them. I've been on exemestane now for about 9 months. I do get "heat bombs" and sometimes have trouble with insomnia but have a Nook so don't fight the nights with that and just read. For constipation, I eat about 3-4 prunes a day and haven't had a problem since starting that. What we have to learn to do with these drugs...crazy!

For insomnia I got a vape pen from local marijuana dispensary with a little oil product and have two or three tokes when I climb into bed. It’s a miracle! Ask for the kind that helps you sleep. It’s legal in Michigan.

Thank you everyone for your replies, your feedback is very helpful. I was able to email my doc and he also feels the headaches are unrelated to the anastrozole as they came on so suddenly. He said It could be due to viral illness or other issues and if doesn’t resolve on its own they can do additional testing. I have my 3 month appt in a few weeks so hopefully I can hold out until then. Today no headache, so fingers crossed. I want to try to stay on anastrozole if I can, but I did write down the other meds you mentioned to discuss with my doc to see if those could be better. And I do need to exercise more and maybe add yoga. I feel more sluggish than I did when I was on the chemo :-/

To everyone - I was on anastrazole - horrible side effects immediately so I had to stop. Took letrozole and after two weeks could not handle it. Started eximestrane two weeks ago and so far so good. Only side effect is a bit of constipation. Good luck!

On anastrozole one of the strange side effects was my toes and shoulders were achy - but after about 6 months that side effect went away. The pain in my hands only got worse - so after 12 months I switched to Exemestane. My hand pain is either 0 or 1 now, where before it was about a 7 for 24/7. Still suffering insomnia and hot flashes - those never go away. Closing in on 2 years now. I hope to go the full 5 years.

On anastrozole one of the strange side effects was my toes and shoulders were achy - but after about 6 months that side effect went away. The pain in my hands only got worse - so after 12 months I switched to Exemestane. My hand pain is either 0 or 1 now, where before it was about a 7 for 24/7. Still suffering insomnia and hot flashes - those never go away. Closing in on 2 years now. I hope to go the full 5 years.

Hello, I am wondering if anyone on anastrozole developed new side effects after several months on it? I have been on it about 7 months. Developed stiff hands and joints pretty quickly, that didn’t go away. I also had some back and side aches early on but it quit after a month or so. But now I have been getting headaches for the last 3 days. Is it common for side effects to shift over time with this drug?