Hi Giggs - Sorry your having memory issues as a SE. I noticed it on my Tamoxifen too, and though it is not directly listed on the Anastrozole pamphlet, many cancer support websites do have it listed as a SE that many patients experience. Uggh. No fun and like you say, a bit scary. Hang in there, you are not alone in it. Sometimes that's a bit of a little consolation. Do be sure to mention this to your team. There might be other meds they can offer that could help with that SE or at the very least to be aware of it and follow-up with you on memory issues. There are some studies, just from my brief Googling that show exercise may help with brain changes while on hormonal treatments. Keep us posted.

Memory Loss (From BCO.ORG)

"Some types of breast cancer treatment can affect your memory:

• chemotherapy (this condition is sometimes called "chemo brain" or "chemo fog")
  • Ixempra (chemical name: ixabepilone) is commonly associated with memory loss
• radiation therapy
• hormonal therapy:
  • Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole)
  • Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane)
  • Evista (chemical name: raloxifene)
  • Fareston (chemical name: toremifene)
  • Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant)
  • Femara (chemical name: letrozole)
  • tamoxifen
• ovarian shutdown or removal"

Cognitive Effects of Aromatase and Possible Role in Memory Disorders

"Several negative cognitive side effects, such as difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness, are commonly reported among women in AI therapies (138). The main cognitive impairments associated with AI therapy are verbal episodic memory and executive function impairments (139). The mechanism by which AI induce cognitive deficits presumably involves suppression of E2 signaling, with AI therapy in postmenopausal women resulting in undetectable blood concentrations of E2 (140). Tamoxifen (TAM), a competitive inhibitor of ER, has also been linked with cognitive dysfunction when used to treat post-menopausal breast cancer (138), suggesting that memory deficits associated with AI may involve suppression of ER signaling. Indeed, the vast majority of studies that have compared the cognitive effects of AI and tamoxifen have concluded that they result in analogous cognitive disruptions (27, 139, 141–143), although one study reported enhanced disturbances with TAM (142). Another study showed no cognitive alterations with AI therapy, but that study also found no changes in circulating E2 (144).

Unlike TAM therapy (143), AI are also associated with musculoskeletal problems, including joint pain and arthralgia. However, both treatments are associated with bone health impairments (145). AI therapy among breast cancer patients was most likely to cause forgetfulness, followed by difficulty concentrating, hair loss, and numbness/tingling of extremities (138). A meta-analyses of 911 breast cancer patients treated with various AI treatments or TAM compared to control women further revealed that those treated with AI or TAM showed similar verbal learning and memory impairments (146). Treatment of breast cancer patients with the AI, An, has also been associated with memory deficiencies, especially in verbal memory, mood disturbances, somnolence, anxiety, fatigue, and hot flashes in some studies (14, 147–149)."

"....It is thus reasonable to postulate that enhanced physical activity may be a critical adjuvant to AI therapy in humans, at least among women. Not only might it offset the musculoskeletal symptoms that occur commonly with use of AI, but it may also mitigate against the cognitive side effects of these drugs. Select animal data suggest that AI may adversely affect nocioceptive behaviors (158, 159). Similar findings have been reported in women treated with AI (176–178). One study assessing the effects of exercise to offset such symptoms associated with AI showed that exercise reduced pain sensitivity among women taking this therapy (179). It is unclear whether the CNS-specific changes with AI therapy may mediate the subjective musculoskeletal, cognitive, and nocioceptive responses in humans or animals, but both AI and exercise have been shown to directly induce brain changes."

Giggs, definitely a side affect, difficulty coming up with a word and having to insert another instead. Annoying to be sure, but don't think of it as memory loss, it's not. Perhaps just think of it as a vocabulary hiccup.

I just completed 10 years on Arimidex (Anastrozole). I don't know if having trouble with using words went away during that 10 years or I just got used to it. Used to drive me crazy. Now, 10 years later, I still, only occasionally, have trouble coming up with the right word, but now I think it's caused by age! Don't sweat the small stuff, you're not going crazy.

sorry for cross-posting on the other Arimidex board....I have been following this one too!

Hi all!

I've been following this thread for a year or more, while I was taking tamoxifen and waiting to get firmly menopausal. Well, my MO tomd me that we are ready to start Arimidex. I know the general side effects but, here is what I would love to know: What is the best thing that you found useful when first starting Arimidex? I expe that there might be a transition phase for my body before it presumably gets used to the drug. Any transition tips?

Thank you ruthbru! I do exercise regularly. So, I hope to continue while on this drug!

I do believe that Arimidex was preventing me from doing most physical activities, because now that I am off, I move better and have longer days of activity. My oncologist retired and my family physician is caring for me now. I guess I will need to be more observant of my symptoms and care.

I have had the same experience with blanking on certain words I want to uses or even remembering someone's name. I have started training myself with remembering names of people and places with word association. This has been helpful. Good to know that this may be one of the side effects of AIs. However, one of my sister's has the same issue and not on this drug. So, it may be age related as well. Good to know that this may resolve when off the drug in 4 1/2 years from now.

To me, the most troublesome SE is the knee pain and outer shin pain. I am very active and refuse to stop weight training and walking. But, I will be meeting with my oncologist and pap today to discuss other possible causes and pain management. OTC tylenol not helpful and I do not want to use NSAIDS if I can avoid them. I am trying turmeric as well. Any other suggestions, I would greatly appreciate. I am even thinking of asking for #10 pills of tramadol to see if it is effective. It is miserable when sitting for a long time in a car or at a restaurant. It is all I can do to stand up and walk normally for a few minutes until the pain works it's way out.

Thanking you all in advance. I was diagnosed last August, 2018 with Stage 1A in right breast. I elected to have bilateral mastectomy followed by 12 weekly Taxol/Herceptin TXs. Now on Herceptin/Perjeta every 3 weeks until December (YAY!). Started Letrozole 2.5 mg daily about 6 months ago and just now experiencing significant knee and outer shin pain.

Hello everyone,

Has anyone tried Glucosamine Sulfate for SE from anastrozole? I have degenerative disk as well but I'm afraid of the glucose and that may not be good for cancer or diabetes.

Thank you,

Hello Nativemainer,

Thank you for your post. I'm kind of concern with the glucose and breast cancer. I read about how we should avoid sugar and carbs because cancer cells love sugar. Has anyone taking glucosamine for their se. Thanks.

I have so many side effects not sure what to do

Dear Lmmorison64,

We are sorry that you find yourself here but glad that you reached out for support. We hope that you will find this community to be a helpful resource for you. We notice that this particular thread has not seen recent activity. You may want to check out this other thread on Arimidex which sees a lot of activity. It may help you to get the information that you are looking for. Let us know if we can be of further assistance as you find your way around.

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