Anastrozole side effects

HI Bobbiboo, I have just posted about this after taking it for 5 years i have been told to stay on indefinatly. I hope some one can come back with an alternative to this awful drug 

Hi, I’ve been on it 10 months and it is still awful but apparently it improves my chances of preventing a recurrence by 3 % over 5 years.  I shall be having a break from it for 6 weeks when I have reconstruction soon.  Apparently, short breaks have been shown to have no negative effect over the long term, but check with your oncologist to be sure. Good luck

How long after starting Anastrozole did the side effects begin?  I've only been taking it for 2 months and it's not too bad - so far!

About a week before I got side effects. I've only been taking it for a bit less than 3 weeks. I hope it will calm down.  Seems variable day to day. 

Xx

I'm the same. Started at the beginning of April so am coming up to the end of my third month. I've got a few achy joints but once I get moving I'm ok. Hot flushes are no worse although I'm taking Fluoxetine for them. Just hoping it stays this way. 

What brand are you taking? Different brands have different side effects on all these hormone blockers.  I've only taken Letrozole (Accord, Cipla, Femara and Sandoz) and Exemestane.(Aromasin, the original make not generic). 

With Letrozole I was given Cipla first from the hospital. It made my hands so painful that thei clicked within five days of starting! I then tried Accord, as lots of people find this the best generic. After three months I had a retinal detachment and bleed, but less joint pain.  I then tried Santoz bought in Spain which is the generic brand made by Femara (the original brand) and it made me dizzy and have backache.  My doctor gave me Femara as a named drug, and that made me really dizzy.  In the end I decided that Accord every other day was best for me 

Could you ask what brands people find the best ones for Anastrozole?

Good morning Londonmumof2. I am on Aromasine/exemestane at the moment . I have been on various different brands for 4 and a half years. My worst side effects are anxiety and lack of sleep due to a minimum of 4 hot flushes a night. I'm really interested that Kiki1 has said she will be having a 6 week break. This would be wonderful so i will ask my oncologist about this at my next appointment. The thought of being like this for at least another 5 years is difficult.

Can you tell me more about Fluoxetine please?

I had joint pain on letrozole so switched to anastrozole and have been fine for 5 years.  Maybe you could ask to switch to letrozole?  There are different formulations of the same drug available and some work better than others for some people.  Rather than give up you should always ask to switch to another brand!  I hope this is helpful, sending love x

I ve been taken various brands for 4 and half years but the hot flushes and anxiety have increased with time.