Anastozole

Hi 

I am 2 months in in Anastrozole and effects appear to be settling down. Nurse told me things should settle around 3 months but I have also heard 6 months. 

Whilst it is true some woman do experience difficulties others do not. Understandably the ones experiencing problems are more likely to post on forums seeking support. I have asked to stay on the brand I'm on ( Accord) and the GP has stated that on my prescription as brands seem to make a difference due to the coatings used I believe. I didn't want to be settling on one brand and then have it change again ! 

Best wishes xx

I've been on Anastrozole for just over two months and no horror stories!   I feel more tired than usual and have stiffened up a bit I think, but so far none of the other things you read sometimes read about.  Like JurassicgirlI'm on Accord and have stuck with them from the start. 

Don't be afraid, there are alternatives to try if you don't get on with them x

I took them for a month before my op. Told to stop them now until after treatment ends. I had a few achy joints, but was fine, settled down quickly 

Hi I’ve been taking Anastrozole  (Accord) for 7 months…I’m also having Zoladex injections so hard to say which is causing which side effects.  I’m getting hot flushes throughout the day & night, though these seem to be worse the week or so after my Zoladex injection, brain fog, tiredness /low energy & joint aches especially my hands at night which I find worse than the hot flushes to be honest.  I’m trying some vitamins to help with the joint aches, checked it was ok with my bcn.  Overall though I’d rather be taking them as feel I’m doing what I can to reduce the risk of recurrence. 

Hi

I started Anastrozole in June last year. I spent weeks worrying about whether to take them or not. I was going to say no way, but after asking people on this forum for advice I decided to go ahead and give them a try.

I could always stop if they were horrendous so what could I lose?

I had my last chemo at the end of January last year and my last treatment of herceptin & pertuzumab at the end of November.  I was already suffering from aching joints and legs before I started the tablets.  I was also having hot flushes as the chemo had put me into menopause, but at 54 I was due it anyway.

So after the weeks of worrying over whether to have theAnastrozole or not. I finally started on them and I can happily say, I have not noticed any difference whatsoever!

I still have my aches and flushes, but no worse than before.  So I guess they are here for the duration but as I haven’t suffered anything worse I will continue with the tablets for the prevention benefits they will hopefully provide!

Good luck and take care x

Hi I was placed on Anastrozole in June last year and have been fine. I'm also on Accord. I was advised by the BC nurse that I should read the leaflet in the box when I get them, which I did. 

This helped me make up my mind on what time of day to take them, I take mine as I go to bed, yes I'm still tired but this could have been down to the radiotherapy as well. 

I would advise you to try them and if you feel horrible then speak to your GP,  if you can get to see them, your BC nurse and/or your consultant.

Good luck for the future 

Get started on hjem, give yourself the best chance. See how they go. I also take mine around 10pm 

I would concur and I also take mine in the evening around an hour before I go to bed 

Hi

I've been on Anastrozole for 4.5 years.  I nearly didn't take them as I'd read about so many side effects, but in the end decided to 'give them a go'.  

I have been fine on them. I use Accord or Teva brand as once upon a time I was given a different brand and the coatings of the tablets were different - it felt like I'd been run over by a bus!  I now have "Accord or Teva brand only" on my prescription slip, so if you find a brand which suits you, get your doctor to write it on your prescription slip as often pharmacists just give whatever brand they have to hand.

This is the research I did and it seemed to be the Magrogol difference that did it for me - The Consilient was the one that disagreed (very badly) with me and it has more Magrogol in it.

This isn't an exhaustive list, but I stopped researching when I'd found 2 brands that suited me.

I take mine first thing in the morning with a pint of squash.

Best wishes, Lesley

Hello, I've been on it since January and so far been ok. I do get a little nauseous some days, but nothing that stops me doing things. I was already having hot flushes and taking Anastrozole has not increased them. I started taking it in the morning, but found I was just not feeling well, so now take it at night and am fine now.  For me it's early days, but all ok at the moment. The BCN did say not to listen to how it affects others as I may tolerate it, but that if I couldn't, they could swap me to something else.