I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

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NY30
NY30 Member Posts: 27
edited September 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

As the hair grows back after chemo, the eyebrows and eyelashes come back in, and reconstruction surgery is complete, it seems everyone expects me to be "getting back to the new normal". I've been on Anastrazole since the end of June and have been chalking up many of the mental/emotional side effects to simply having been through a lot, end of treatment, etc., but it's now seeming clear that these may be very real side effects of the pills.

I've seen insomnia, forgetfulness, and even anxiety and depression listed, but I'm wondering if anyone's experienced a sort of rapid speech, almost manic? The nights after AC treatment I had a similar feeling ... speedy, couldn't stop talking, definitely using the wrong words, not really being able to function. Those nights I chalked up to the steroids and just pumping a lot of stuff into my body, and usually by day 3 once the steroids wore off it would be gone.

This however, no steroids, can only really point to the Anastrazole. It's not constant, but it's been happening fairly frequently, and is really starting to freak me out.

Also, has anyone experienced an almost blackout during the day? I've been thinking and next thing I know everyone got off the elevator but me... or literally was walking the dog and didn't notice she grabbed a pigeon until I heard other people yell.


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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2016

    Hi NY30!

    We're sure you're not the only one experiencing similar effects -- in fact many similar cognitive effects are reported well after chemotherapy is over. Is it possible you're still feeling these effects? For more information, see our Research News articles about Cognitive Effects.

    Also, if you think your effects are caused by the Anastrozole, you may want to drop in on the Arimidex (anastrozole) users past, present, and ongoing thread to read about their experiences.

    We hope this helps and you're feeling better soon!

    --The Mods

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  • NY30
    NY30 Member Posts: 27
    edited September 2016

    Thanks so much Mods...you guys are the best as always!

    xx

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2016

    Happy to help!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2016

    Hi there, that sounds more like chemo-brain and less like effects of an AI. Chemo-brain is real, and lasted in my world for about 4 years...finally, I feel like myself again. Here's a blurb from MD Anderson, validating that it is a real phenomenon for many of us.

    https://www.mdanderson.org/patients-family/diagnos...

    As for being super foggy--zoning out, so to speak....yep, happened to me for quite a while. But it did go away.

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  • NY30
    NY30 Member Posts: 27
    edited September 2016

    Thank you so much Claireinaz. I just saw my oncologist on Monday and was shocked to hear that even the neuropathy I now have in my feet is a late on-set from the Taxol rather than a side effect from the anastrazole.

    Chemo-brain...OK. Looks like it's mind puzzles and some exercise for me for a few years! Geez.

    Thanks again. Didn't even think it could have been from chemo, was feeling so happy to be through one hurdle at least!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2016

    Hi NY30, yep...it lasted for a few years for me. But it seems to have finally resolved itself. I'm also taking theanine (2-300 mg a day), I wonder if that's helped me be able to find my words and remember things more easily? I've been taking it a year now.

    Here's a quote from the linked article: "These data indicate that L-theanine, at realistic dietary levels, has a significant effect on the general state of mental alertness or arousal. Furthermore, alpha activity is known to play an important role in critical aspects of attention, and further research is therefore focussed on understanding the effect of L-theanine on attentional processes."

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18296328


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