When did your SE start taking anastorzole?

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TimeForCure
TimeForCure Member Posts: 20
edited December 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I just started anastorzole three days ago. So far so good but I am sure it's too soon to judge.

Had lumpectomy, no chemo, just rads.

Can you please share when did your side effects start? Or didn't?

What were they?

God bless and thank you for sharing.

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  • mightygnat
    mightygnat Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2016

    I have been taking the accord generic for two months with no side effects. My onc said it takes 3 - 4 months for them to kick in, if they are going to. Fingers crossed.

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  • TimeForCure
    TimeForCure Member Posts: 20
    edited September 2016

    Thanks for for your response.

    I read on the Johns Hopkins Ask the expert that if side effects happen then usually they are full blown by the 3rd week.

    So you are in good shape!

    I hope I don't get them!

    Stay well!



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  • TimeForCure
    TimeForCure Member Posts: 20
    edited October 2016

    So it's been about a month since I started Anastrozole. I was very hesitant and fearful of the SE. Finally I decided that if I do get SE I can always stop. I was told that in the first three weeks I will know if I will suffer from the SE. Happy to report no SE to speak of that would effect my quality of life. At this point. (I am aware of course of the bone loss in the future)So I hope it continues for a while. I have no other health issues other than having had a low vitamin D, which I made sure to up before I started anastorzole. My D was a little over 15! Now it's closer to 40. I will continue taking D3 for as long as I take anastrozole. From reading about D it seem that women who have normal or high D do not get the joint pain etc. Also, low D is linked to cancer. Check you D levels,( hydroxy 25) ladies.Hope whoever reads this finds this useful and helpful. I will try and share my progress in the future.

    Wishing you all good health!

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  • TimeForCure
    TimeForCure Member Posts: 20
    edited November 2016

    I am about two months since I started anastrozole and decided to post an update just in case there is anyone there who is reluctant to take it. My main fear was of course the side effects and so far I feel fortunate that I have nothing to report. I know the pill does have certain side effects such as loss of bone and a slight sexual change but it does not interfere with daily my daily activities. I feel the way I did before the pill other than the two items I mentioned. Hopefully it is keeping the renagade cells at bay as it is supposed to. If it helps anyone to try and take the pill, my little contribution to the information sharing here will have been worthwhile. God bless you all and have Happy Thanksgiving.

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  • LADYnKY
    LADYnKY Member Posts: 58
    edited November 2016

    time...I DID have SE within 2 weeks of anastrozole. Extreme muscle weakness in my legs, headaches, worsening of insomnia than I already had. My ONC told me to switch from pm dose to taking it in am. After 2 months on it my lower extremity weakness and insomnia did not get better. He said I could stop taking it as my change of reoccurrence without is 10%. I feel if I had stayed on it I wouldn't be able to walk in 5 yrs. my leg muscles still feel funny after stopping but insomnia is better. I will say that after my second week off the pill I developed trigger finger in one hand in last three fingers which now happens every night and I have to rub them to get it worked

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited November 2016

    Immediately I felt swelling in my tongue. That went away it was a slow progression of joint pain after 1.5 years it got so bad I felt I couldn't get out of bed. Then switched to exemestane it was different but still got dry itchy skin, dry eye and arthritis. I am done.

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  • TimeForCure
    TimeForCure Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2016

    It's been about 3 months since I started taking anastrozole (mine is made in India).Thankfully the SE are not preventing me from my daily activities. I know the long term SE, bone loss etc., but thee is a SE that should be addressed by the drug co's and women should speak out more candidly about it. I mean the loss of libido. I am an older lady, but my heart goes out to younger women who are in the prime of their lives, might be looking for a partner and one of lives most important human activity is denied them or severely impacted. The effect on relationships must significant. I hope drug co's focus more of their research on this issue. This goes directly to the quality of life of women. We all want to live but time to find a cure that is not as punishing as this. Good luck to us all. God bless.

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  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited December 2016

    The vaginal dryness and low libido came on gradually after months. I've got fairly bad arthritis from sports injuries and have not ever noticed any joint pain from it.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited December 2016

    I had side effects within a few weeks. They were really bad for a while and then they went away. What is positive, and I hope this well help some of you--So, it can get better and mine sure did. I don't know if it is a coincidence, but the side effects went away when I stopped eating all sugar. I'm just about 7 years out and I will be on them for 10 years.


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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited December 2016

    Timeforacure....Finally someone who gets what I've been saying all along in regards to anti hormone therapy. Again I will say that I'm happy for anyone that does well on them. Unfortunately that's really not a big number. Only 50 percent of us complete the 5 recommended years. I'm advocating speaking up about QOL issues so there is a chance to get better treatment options in the future. Good luck to all navigating this disease.

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  • Houston2016
    Houston2016 Member Posts: 317
    edited December 2016

    Hello, I started taking Anastrozole since 11/21 and the next day I have joint hand and feet pain. It's more like discomfort than pain and I didn't take anything. I also have back of neck sore like get up in morning. When I get up from sitting in a chair lower extremities feel aches rather than weakness. I still go to work and walk and stretch daily. I knew right away the joint hands problem come from AI. The other problems I don't know. I also started radiation 12/13 and the tech wants me to stretch both arms overhead and that cause some pain in the back of both arms. That I realized later from rads. I also have a history of low vitamin D so I'm taking 5000 IU + calcium. I did vitamin D test in November and it shows 66%. Should I take 10000 IU? Maybe it will help with the aches. Another lady on discussion said to switch to Arimidex for less side effects. Any suggestions? Thanks, and Happy Holidays.

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  • TimeForCure
    TimeForCure Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2016

    HI,

    I also had low vitamin D. I got myself tested after the rads and before anastrozole. The level my doc prescribed was 50k once a week, then reduce to 2000 units a day. Trying to take enough calcium from food. I read that arimidex also has SE. You should discuss with your doc. I learned from this whole journey that you must also be well informed and assertive. It is I who requested the D hydroxy test, not the doc. I would have ventured into taking anastrozole with very low D levels, not a good thing. Sadly docs fail to inform or educate us about the diff. options we have. For example my docs didn't advise me as to how to treat the scar after surgery and how to rebuild strength in the arm. Had to do my own research and get therapy etc. They just want to get you out of their hair asap and move on to the next surgery or rads or whatever. The thing is working for them fine. Also the drug co's are happy to have customers for life, why should they bother to come up with something that will disturb their gravy train. Still, it is up to us to keep pressing and asking for better treatments. Best wishes for a Happy and better New Year!

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