Anastrozole Fatigue????

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Wondering if anyone has experienced extreme fatigue after taking anasterzole?? I have been on it for about 6 months and about a month ago I became irritable, isolated and all I want to do is sleep, I also have stabbing joint pains and my face looks puffy now??? wondered if anyone has been through this??? I am considering stopping the anasterzole to see if I feel better???

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited January 2018

    My doctor switched me to exemestane I traded one set of problems for another.

  • JKL2017
    JKL2017 Member Posts: 437
    edited January 2018

    Justbnme, I have similar fatigue & when I asked my MO's PA about it she said it's the most common complaint she hears. She also said there's nothing you can take for it & just recommended regular exercise (which I'm already doing). She offered to let me change AIs but for now I'm sticking with the devil I know. At least my depression is gone.😃

  • powerthruit
    powerthruit Member Posts: 59
    edited January 2018
    Similar experience the first 6 - 8 months. My feet, joints, just hurt and the cycle of fatigue. Thought I was going to break in half. 😬 For me, getting back into strong cardio exercise (sometimes it ends up to be just an hour of challenging cardio once a week) or just walking AND I started on the antidepressant Effexor to diminish hot flashes and keep me from losing my mind. Both have really helped. It all takes a while.
  • Stillme54
    Stillme54 Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2018

    I have been having similar experiences. I have been on Anastrozole since March of 2015. I had very few side effects for most of the first two years, but it has been getting really hard to “tough it out”. I also take generic Fosomax (Alendronate) because I already have osteopenia. I have been on that since 2012. My most recent dexa scan, a year ago, indicated no change, which I guess is good! I started taking Claritin five days ago because others on this forum recommended it to help with the pain. So far, I have not noticed any difference. I take melatonin for sleep, but that only lasts a few hours. Living with the pain might be easier than the lack of sleep. I have noticed my memory is getting worse, too. Does this get better after quitting Anastrozole? My oncologist told me me would switch me to Tomoxifen if I wanted him to. He says my risk of recurrence is so low that he would be comfortable with that, but it is up to me. It seems to me that Tomoxifen has it’s own side effects that might not be any better. I am wondering if an antidepressant might help

  • Snickersmom
    Snickersmom Member Posts: 926
    edited January 2018

    I take Arimidex and have all of the side effects you all have! My MO said i could switch to Tamoxifen but I agree with JKL207- I'll stick with the devil I know. The aches and pains have gotten a little less. Worst thing for me has been the weight. I haven't gained anything at all but it all has shifted to my stomach and hips. Exercise - mostly.walking - has helped me feel better, along with Sertraline. I do take Melatonin (3mg) and that really has helped me stay asleep most nights. I've just started to take Claritin and hope that helps with the aches and pains.

  • Stillme54
    Stillme54 Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2018

    Been doing more looking at side effects of Tomoxifen. Some of them are far worse than aches and pains! One is heart problems! My mother never had cancer but she had heart disease, so I should probably stay away from that. So far, my heart is the least of my worries! Is the 10 mg. Claritin over the counter,with no decongestant what I should be taking for the pain?

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