Anastrozole side effects

Hi NanaBetty, No, I only have anastrozole  to thank for the aches and pains but I shall carry on because I hope I can thank it for keeping the cancer at bay for the next decade (and more too) We do what we have to do. Best wishes

Hi all

this is an interesting chat. I’m now on Anastrozole for 18 months, previously on Tamoxifen for 12 years. I am on Amitriptyline too to help my sleep. My aches and joint ache is bearable as when I get moving it’s ok, though I have slowed down a lot. My weight and shape isn’t great, used to be slim now rounded!!
I’ve put that down to the meds and don’t see an alternative…some days I feel 10 years older.. I keep active…I will keep a note of the make of Anastrozole though, thanks 

Hi nanabetty I have my last herceptin today I to notice a difference with the herceptin and anastrozole regarding the aches and pains. xx

Hi Shaz52, so wonderful that you have completed the herceptin and hopefully you can look forward to your body recovering. The difference for me when the injections stopped was amazing, i was more like my former self. I'm still cancer free after 5 years but i am struggling with interupted sleep patterns which i feel is due to the arimidex ( hormone suppressing tablet as i was hormone positive) This seems to be an individual thing so hopefully doesnt happen to you and you can get on with enjoying the rest of your healthy life. 

Hi I am hormone er/pr positive her2 positive  grade 2 my lump was 20mm n negative nodes,  congratulations 5 yr free thats amazing, yr inspirational. What was yr diagnosis. Herceptin done, keep on with anastrazole now, best wishes xx

HI again Shax52. i was also er/pr positve, her2 positive and grade 2. But i had numerous lumps, the largest was 15mm , carcinomas "canulaire" and also carcinomas infiltrating something .....the nerves i think and also another carcinoma in situ. I'm a bit vague about this as i live in france and all my treatment has been in here. I think it was such a mess they operated very quickly and i had a mastectomy. I had complete node clearance with 5 out of 14 infected. Some of the 5 were "extra capsulaire extension" which i think means they have gone walk about. So i feel very bad about complaining about lack of sleep...... i am very grateful to be alive and to live at a time and in a place that my life has been saved. I am going to try acupuncture to see if it can help with the hot flushes. I am having a minimum of 4 a night !!! . I had a hysterectomy 12 years ago so i have no ovaries to make estrogen but i believe our bodies make it by other means. I was also on HRT from the hysterectomy so i'm wondering if this caused the cancer and whether i actually need the anastrazole. If only there was a method of testing estrogen on a daily basis......

I started taking it a week ago after a year on letrozole. With awful side effects I have started itching all over and headache already.  I’m ringing nurse tomorrow. !! 

I've got interrupted sleep too. I seem to sleep in 2-3 hour chunks. I listen to a boring podcast with one headphone in and fall back asleep quite quickly though.

Ive been on Anastrozole for four months. I've managed to lose 12lb in weight by watching what I eat and exercising, so it is possible. It's taken me ages though as we keep going out for meals

I have no sex drive however but I'm taking Fluoextine for the hot flushes which I know can affect that too.

If my symptoms stay the same then I can manage. 

Hi I have been taking anastrazole 3 months. Interrupted sleep is a side affect for me. Sleep about 4-5 then wake but do nod off again  I have had joint pain, some in my knees and wrist, but it is manageable at the moment. I have had some fatigue but I have just finished radiotherapy at the moment so some fatigue is from radiotherapy. As it is the symptoms are manageable xx

Hi

I started taking Anastrozole just over a week ago and so far i have been fine. I do feel tired and achy but that could be due to the effects of radiotherapy that i finished 2 weeks ago.

So hope it stays that way. I also take Citilopram for anxiety and they took a couple of weeks to settle but they reacted within a couple of days but i am fine now.

Hope it gets better in time but there are various makes to try.

Regards

Elsa