Anastrozole side effects

Hi Carrie. We are similar age. I am 74. I don’t really get the tiredness but feel a bit paranoid every time I have a slight ache or pain.We can’t wait to go away but I start five days of radiotherapy on Monday so waiting to see how I feel after that.  Have a super 70th birthday tomorrow and forget all your worries and just enjoy yourself!

Evajean xx

Hi Carrie, just wondered how you were doing. I finished radiotherapy three weeks ago. I have struggled with sleep and mood swings but generally coping with anestrozole. Last night I had awful sleep and went to the loo three times. Now I feel as though I might have a UTI developing. Have read that Anestrozole can cause this. I really hope it goes away and doesn’t develop full on. Just wish I wasn’t taking anestrozole and at times feel I want to stop taking it. Feel quite fed up this morning but tiredness is not helping.

Evajean x

Hi Evajean,

I am so sorry to hear about your struggles.  I found that period just after radiotherapy very difficult.  It was not clear whether my fatigue, etc was caused by the radiotherapy or the anastrozole.  My Oncologist took me off anastrozole for 6 weeks and everything settled, so it was clearly the anastrozole.  I discussed with my Oncologist reintroducing anastrozole slowly, so I took it twice a week for 3 weeks, and gradually built up to taking it every other day. A year on I still can’t cope with it every day but am working towards that.  I had a very early stage 2 tumour.  I read all the background research on anastrozole and found that the reduction in recurrence reduces from 4 in 1000 to 2 in 1000 with anastrozole.    I, too suffer with urinary frequency.  I take my anastrozole at night as that works best for me with the side effects.  I do need to go to the loo 2 or 3 times overnight.  To encourage you, I can say the side effects have reduced drastically over the last 3 months in particular as my body gets used to the drug.  I take a fan with me always in case of hot flushes and occasionally take paracetamol for painful bones and joints.

I do hope your symptoms improve over time, and depending on what your oncologist advises, maybe a phased approach might work for you.  The one dose fits all approach does not sit well with me.  We are all different sizes and metabolisms.  Let me know how you get on and I am always happy to share notes x

Thank you so much for replying so promptly.  We sound very similar as my cancer was very early stage 1 grade 2. I will phone the surgery this morning as I am pretty sure it is UTI and they will test a sample for me. I don’t get hot flushes and my joints seem ok now. It is just the lack of stamina but as you say that could be after effects of radiotherapy. I might phone oncologist and ask whether that might be an option to reduce anastrozole and then build up again.It is all new to us and as you said one size doesn’t fit all. Will let you know how it goes. Xxx

The surgery phoned back quite quickly and have prescribed antibiotics. She said she wouldn’t think it was due to Anestrozole but who knows. I used to take Optibac for Women as a precaution against UTI’s and they certainly seemed to work but stopped taking them when I was diagnosed with cancer. Have just ordered some as  I am prone to UTI’s. What’s another tablet in the great scheme of things? I was going out with hubby today to one of our favourite places but it is so damp and misty. The weather really affects my mood, roll on the Spring. Xx

Hi Evajean, 

how are you getting on with Anastrozole?  I have been building up my dose and now can manage almost daily but occasionally miss a dose if the nausea comes back.  I can say that nine months on the side effects are settling down much more, especially the nausea and fatigue.  I still get the joint pain and urinary frequency but generally things are improving.  I have my first check mammogram on the 30 December so fingers crossed for that.  I do hope you are feeling better and able to enjoy Christmas.  I feel well enough to do a bit of entertaining which feels like some normality.  This time last year I was preparing for surgery.  What a difference a year makes!  

Oh that is good to hear, getting back to some sort of normality. Well I am struggling. The first antibiotic didn’t clear infection so prescribed different one for seven days and sent sample off to lab. Just taken my last tablet today and infection hasn’t gone completely so Dr phoning me this pm. The lab results were posted on my records yesterday and at the bottom it said infection is resistant to prescribed medicine.I don’t know whether that is the first antibiotic or second. I stopped taking Anestrozole soon after starting first antibiotics. I just needed a break and felt more energetic after a few days. I will chat to my Dr as I have a face to face appt tomorrow to discuss my blood test which showed raised cholesterol. Never had that before but read that Anestrozole can cause it. So wishing this year was over. I put on a brave face for family but feeling sorry for myself which makes me cross because in the great scheme of things I am so lucky.  Fingers crossed for 30th, you are doing so well. I will enjoy Christmas being with my family. Speak soon. Xx

Evajean, I am so sorry for all the issues you are having.  I finished Radiation back in April and started on Anastrozole after radiation.  I have been lucky to only suffer some mild side affects and some of them have subsided over time.  I suffered from UTIs a lot in the past and was told by my GP "it is just part of aging" sorry I called BS on that, I am currently 60 (I had a hysterectomy at 23, so went into menopause early).  I started taking D-manos capsules and ordered Uqora, target.  it is a pink lemonade flavor packet that you drink every three days and after sex.  I finally broke the cycle, haven't had one in years. Now I only take the Uqora after sex, I continue to take the dmanos.  I also make sure to drink as much water as I can, I discovered that if I skipped my water intake I made myself susceptible to a uti.  I read that UTI bacteria can lay dormant in the lining of the bladder and get reactivated by lack of water.

best of luck, I hope you find some relief.

Thanks Holi for all that info, will check it out. I am a horror for not drinking. I always have a pintglass of water but my husband is always nagging me to drink.Will make an effort and try and drink more.

Hello,  just a little FYI on D-mannose powder.  Great for UTI caused by e-coli.  It is a sugar and it goes into the bladder snd all the e-coli germs eat it up and then when you urinate out the germs go.  Gotta catch the UTI early and sometimes doesn’t work but worth a try.  Some take it on a routine basis if bothered by frequent UTI’s.  Evajean is right drink your water.

Barbara