Anastrozole & joint pain

Hi Rosebud99 

I'm sorry to hear you're having joint pain on Anastrozole. I could have written your post after 9 months on Anastrozole! I'm on patient led follow up with yearly mammograms so emailed the breast clinic and had a telephone appointment with a breast care nurse. We agreed a 6 week drug holiday to check these were side effects ( they were) and then reviewed at the end of the 6 weeks. 

I wanted to try the branded version of Anastrozole  ( Arimidex) ahead of switching to Exemestane and she wrote to my GP to that effect which gave my GP the clinical rationale to prescribe the more expensive original version. I'm pleased to say 2 months on I'm tolerating it much better so far than the generic version with significantly less joint pain and a load less other side effects

I explain the above because because if your yearly follow up is through your local breast clinic ( or equivalent) i wonder whether that is a place to start to try to get a review as your GP may need that specialist direction ? 

I hope you get the support you need as  know first hand how miserable it can be xx

I haven’t experienced joint pain whilst on Anestrozole although I do have arthritis in my knees. I have been taking Turmeric capsules for about a year, longer than Anestrozole. I just wonder if this has helped me. Turmeric is supposed to be excellent for making joints more flexible and removing pain.  It might be worth trying turmeric to see if it helps. You do need to take it for a few months to feel the effect and if you are going down that route, buy the best you can. There is lots of research out there on Turmeric so worth looking at this. I am 74 and know my joints will not last forever but  I can honestly say that the only aches I get are in my lower back which has always been there. 

Thanks very much. The GP ruled out arthritis and a breast care nurse is calling Monday so thanks for the suggestion of the drug holiday, I will ask! 

I find paracetamol helps. And that sugary foods aggravate it. And also fatty foods like cheese. All the other things you have done are supposed to help too, but don’t for everyone. I hope you find a solution that works for you, even if a change to a generic brand. 

Thanks all. Spoke to breast care staff today, doing a drug holiday for 4 weeks to narrow down the cause. Fingers crossed!