Arimidex (Anastrozole): What to avoid

mcgis

There are lots of posts but I just can't seem to read through soon many pages of info. I thought maybe we could start a new one regarding what foods, OTC medicines, and other things... we should be avoiding on Anastrozole.  Anything come to mind?

Thanks!

Bullet

I was told No grapefruit by my MO at the Cancer Center.  On the other hand, pomegranates/juice, cherries, mushrooms, are natural aromatase inhibitor.  There are quite a few listed  - can't hurt, right?

JeniferMiya

Wait a minute!.... I wasn't aware that there are foods we should be avoiding.

Pessa

I was never cautioned to avoid anything!

ritaz

I was never told to avoid anything either - HOWEVER - if you develop joint pain, like so many taking an AI do, what I do avoid is gluten. I learned it on one of these boards and as much as avoiding gluten is a PIA, it has saved me from horrible joint pain. And, there are so many more gf options even now than there were 4 years ago when I started going gluten free...You say, I can't give up gluten? Oh boy, if all the pain in your knees, hips, hands and feet goes away, trust me, you'll give up gluten. The only crap shoot now is - once I'm off the AI in January, will I be able to eat gluten again? With all the nasty stuff I've read about what Monsanto has done to the wheat seeds and the farmers spraying the fields with Round Up to dessicate the crop a couple of days before harvest, I'm no so sure that staying gluten free isn't a bad idea...

muska

I don't think we should necessarily be avoiding anything. If you develop any side effects you might want to avoid certain things that contribute to those side effects.

As for grapefruit juice, I think it changes how the body absorbs a number of medications - not just anastrozole - hence it is sometimes recommended not take them at the same time, however I read somewhere there's no harm in drinking your grapefruit juice or eating a grapefruit two hours after you took medication (it was not about anastrozole though.)