Anastrozole User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Rocky
• February 28, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I'm 66. I've been on Arimidex for 6 months. That was following a lumpectomy (stage 1 invasive ductile carcinoma, 1.6 cm) and 33 radiation treatments. The first month I had no side effects. The second month I started to experience sleep disruption and mood swings. Now I've progressed to having joint pain, worst in my left shoulder and elbow (surgery side), pain in the left chest/breast where the tumor was removed. In the last two weeks, my right thumb started to stiffen up - trigger finger. Sleep disruption went away after a month but returned during the sixth month. I was taking Arimidex 2 hours before bed, and I'm going to try taking it first thing in the morning to see if it stops the sleep disruption. In the last month or two, I have started to feel basically unwell and very stiff, especially when I wake up in the morning. I'm feeling kind of depressed. I do yoga twice a week and try to walk twice a week as well. Perhaps I will increase my exercise. Blessings. Good luck to you."

• survi...
• February 28, 2017

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I took Arimidex for five years. Three years in, I began having serious issues in my hands: trigger finger in both hands. Two years after stopping the medication, I am still having serious issues with my hands. The side effects are cumulative, and I decided to discontinue taking it."

• Nijimon
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2016

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I have been taking Arimidex for 2 months. Within the first two weeks, my osteoarthritis has deteriorated from tolerable to barely able to walk. I cannot stand for long periods. My knees get stiff each time I sit. I have received a series of Ortho Visco injections and am hoping for a miracle. I must keep working for insurance coverage. I have vision changes, chest and muscle pain, also. I have added Fosamax due to the risk of calcium loss since I was diagnosed with osteopenia at the same time as stage 1 breast cancer. I am experiencing more fatigue with Arimidex than after radiation. I am not sure if I can tough this out for five years!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 24, 2016

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I'm on year 12! Large weight gain. Horrid bone pain...especially bottom long bones in legs and right arm. Neuropathy. Weak hands as far as gripping. Getting up and moving after sitting awhile is not fun. Headaches. Walk the floors at night, because being up on my legs makes the pain a little better. I was stage 3c, ER+, scared to death to come off it. I'm 45 and want to stick around, but wish I didn't feel so crappy."

• oma...
• August 10, 2015

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Fine initially but within 2 weeks, severe ankle pain, insomnia, hot flashes and severe sweating. Thinning hair just after it all grew back beautifully. Difficult eye prescription, moody, tingling nerve pain in right thigh, tired and now have a hiatal hernia. Lack of interest in sex, which still has not returned. I just wonder what the long-term effects could be. This medication was one I loved to hate. But my cancer is gone and it has been 6 years that I am cancer-free."

• Dann...
• March 31, 2011

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Within a month of taking Arimidex, I had so much joint pain. I mentioned it to my oncologist, and he said it was arthritis. I said, 'No way,' arthritis does not show up in one month. I stopped taking it after 1 1/2 years. I could not endure the pain."

• Charlie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Anastrozole was terrible for me. Carpal tunnel, insomnia, inflamed joints, constipation, muscle aches, skin irritations, hot flashes, and more. I took it for just over 3 months, and am still experiencing side effects 6 weeks after stopping. For only a 2% reduction in risk of recurrence for me, it's not worth feeling miserable all the time."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2012

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I've been on Arimidex for 4 years and 1 month, prior to which I took Tamoxifen for 5 months. During the first year, I developed a frozen shoulder, which my oncologist said could be due to the Arimidex. I experienced extreme joint stiffness, which gradually subsided after 9-12 months. I had intense hot flashes, which are now lessening. Other side effects include insomnia, vision issues (detached retina - but am also very myopic), pronounced facial aging, dry skin (I am 57 years old), and thinning hair. Additionally, I also experienced depression and mood swings starting 3 months after starting Arimidex. I did not take medication for it, but I have noticed that it has gradually lessened over the last 1 1/2 years."

• Hobber
• August 10, 2017

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "The first year of taking anastrozole, I experienced hair loss, weight gain even though I was having difficulty keeping food down. It wasn't really nausea; it was more like a reaction. Itchy skin, foggy head, aches and pains. During the second year, I found one morning that I could barely walk; severe knee pain, sore legs, sore bones...this is still the case, but I started gradually to start a yoga routine, which helps some days. It doesn't erase the pain, but seems to make it more manageable. It's like a different set of side effects every few months. I will stick with it, as much as I don't want to. The surgery and radiation are two things I never want to deal with again. Good luck to all of you; keep strong!"

• freidia
• June 16, 2009

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Initially, I tolerated the drug well. About 4 months into treatment, I had a lot of problems: dizziness, disorientation, joint and muscle pain, and stomach upset. Also, my hair started to thin, and nails cracked due to dryness. Within a week of stopping the drug, I was feeling better. One month out and I was very well."

• linnash
• March 26, 2011

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Have been on Arimidex for 7 years as my oncologist says that the trial period has only been up to 5 years and she wants me to continue as extra insurance. The only side effect that I have noticed beginning about a year ago is hair thinning, and it is starting to bother me. Three of my friends who had started taking Arimidex the same time I did and who had other oncologists, were taken off the drug after 5 years. They had noticed hair thinning during the time they were taking the drug and it has reversed since they stopped usage."

• sissyy
• June 19, 2013

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Took tamoxifen for 9 months. Extreme bruising. Switched to Arimidex. After 4 weeks, extreme pain in hand. Next, severe headaches. Each month brought increased pain in thumbs, hand, feet, long leg bones. Joints hurt, wrists weaken every month. After 10 months, I became depressed and had insomnia. Finally, I had enough and stopped. Within 2 weeks, long bone pain went away. I still have some knee pain, trigger finger, and wrist weakness and it's been 3 months. Doctor is switching to Aromasin next month."

• Anonymous
• January 31, 2012

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I started taking Arimidex about 4-5 months ago as a breast cancer patient. I'm supposed to take it for 5 years. The side effects I've experienced are insomnia, hot flashes, headaches, weight gain, joint pain, and severe loss of grip in both hands. My hands are stiff in the morning and evening; it's just crazy. Well, even throughout the day. I asked my oncologist about this, and he said it was arthritis, which I do not believe. The onset was too quick. It was about 6 weeks after I started taking the Arimidex then the hand stiffness showed up."

• Trick...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2012

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I have been on Arimidex for 4 years 4 months. I have had the hot flashes, vision issues, bone density weakening, joint pain and stiffness, depression, mood changes, insomnia, back and bone pain, thinning nails (of already thin nails), weakness in hands and now, my hair is breaking off and drying out. My doctor wants me to hold on until the end of the 5 years. Not sure I can."

• keytalk
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2016

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "6 months into taking this drug, I had to stop. Side effects: painful weakness in both hands, hurts to grip, trigger thumbs - bad when waking up in the morning. Took medicine in the morning. Dizzy, nausea, headache, heartburn, discomfort in the center of chest. Exhausted midday, bone pain. Lost sex drive. 62 years old. Since stopping 2 weeks ago - hoping hands and sex drive return, other problems have stopped. Feeling more normal, weakness and pain in hands still bad."

• Eeoyr...
• May 31, 2020

For Breast Cancer "DX: breast cancer (BC) stage 1, lumpectomy w/lymph nodes removed followed by radiation. Started anastrozole after radiation. Initially had substantial hot flashes & insomnia but these stopped after 3 weeks. Then joint pain started, increasing so that after 6 months I could not sit or stand for more than 1/2 hour w/o being in terrible pain. If I had to squat, my knee joints would freeze & I could only stand by pulling myself up using my arms. After 1 year I’d gained 20 lbs & shuffling a mile was all I could do for exercise. Doc was skeptical that anastrozole was causing the symptoms but suggested going off it for 2 weeks. At the end of those weeks most of the joint pain had gone! Went back on anastrozole. In 2 months the joint pain to return but I was determined to tough it out. Saw the doctor this week, year 2. So thankful no BC recurrence, but have gained 20 more lbs. My mood is down. My hands & ankles are swollen like sausages. Simple chores are agony & exhausting. Now switching to tamoxifen..."

• annie...
• May 30, 2013

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Been taking Arimidex for nearly 6 years now. Side effects for me are joint & bone pain, weird feeling in my chest that wakes me up. Weight gain, hair thinning & occasional hot flushes. I take calcium tabs and alendronic acid for my bones. Apart from that I'm grateful to be alive."

• EJano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 1, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I took Anastrozole for 7 months. I had radiation after a lumpectomy for DCIS and started the drug during RT. The side effects were extremely hard to handle. I had severe joint-muscle pain. The pain was in my small joints as well as back and hips! I also had numbness in my hands and feet. After consulting my oncologist, I decided that my risks of recurring breast cancer are very low, and the drug therapy cut that low risk in half! I discontinued the drug on 9/11/19 and have noticed some improvement in the pain and hope it decreases the longer I am off Anastrozole!"

• Giggl...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 19, 2017

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I have been taking Arimidex for 4.5 years, coming up on my 5-year post-treatment check-up. Side effects for me have been: hot flashes, neuropathy, intense joint pain, insomnia, and 30% loss of bone density. I take 2 ibuprofen daily to manage pain and power through. New clinical data indicate staying on longer may reduce risk further. I was so looking forward to getting off this drug, not sure how I feel about that."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2019

For Breast Cancer "55 year Active female thru experience of breast cancer diagnosed Oct. 2018 with HER-EST+, 8 Rounds Chemo, Bilateral surgery, 23 Lymphnodes removed & 30 radiation treatments. I took Anarozole for 20 days and called to let nurse know symptoms that experienced ~ I had shortness of breath, I itched, I hurt in toes, knees, hips, bones popping, could hardly get up & down sometimes stumbling. I wasn’t active bubbly self with family or friends. I had brain fogs and was so fatigued I couldn’t even do the ten minute PT exercises I had been doing daily for past 2 months without wanting to fall asleep! I had cloudy urine and UTI. My nurse told me to stop taking it for 2 weeks. I have been off of it for 8 days and feel so much better!!! I’m thank God for his blessings in my life also a support group of family and friends who have prayed /loved and been there for me.I will continue to trust in God from here for my health! :))"

• Dips
• July 10, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I have been taking Anastrozole for the past 10 months. I had breast cancer and was treated with radiation for 6 weeks. I have decided to go off this pill as it has terrible side effects. The pain in my joints and hot flashes seem to have come full force just this week. I feel like I can't smile, I have no motivation, and just feel spacey all the time. I am a young-minded, spirited 70-year-old, and have always enjoyed life. I honestly feel that my quality of life is more important than living with such debilitating pain. I believe that the next ten years should be enjoyed with my family. I don't know if I will have the energy at 80, but I will do my best to enjoy every day getting there!"

• Roxan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2013

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I started taking the medication in March 2013 after chemotherapy in the fall of 2012 and then radiation in January-February 2013. I am experiencing joint and muscle pain. But as a migraine sufferer, it's a walk in the park. Whatever works to cure this cancer, I'm up for everything and anything."

• BJano
• December 3, 2017

For Breast Cancer "Had a bilateral mastectomy 9/18/17 and was told they got it all. My oncologist prescribed anastrozole, and I can't bring myself to take them. There are so many horrific side effects that I think I will take my chances without this med. I'd appreciate a reply for any suggestions and what you think I should do as to whether to take these pills or not. I need someone to talk to that has been hesitant as to what to do. Thank you, Bobbie"

• kenny...
• February 2, 2012

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I have been on Arimidex for just over a year and have experienced basically no side effects. The only issue I have is my left hand and fingers tingle occasionally at night - enough to awaken me; however, the doctor thinks it has more to do with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - which I never had before. I am going to be 70 years old soon, am in excellent health and shape as I work with a personal trainer. Life is Good!"

• Jane
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I wish I could sue Astra zenica. 3 years from finishing that drug my hair remains so thin I could pass as a 90 year old. I've been in a depressed daze since. It trashed my joints and I lost my gallbladder and spent a small fortune in physical therapy for the frozen shoulder...and guess what? I threw the drugs in the trash and no more frozen shoulder."