Anastrozole User Reviews & Ratings

• Rabbit
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 17, 2021

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer, estrogen receptor positive, in May 2019; had lumpectomy, radiation and have been on anastrazole since September 2019. I am so sorry to hear of all the negative side-effects being experienced. Fortunately, I have had no side-effects since starting anastrozole and I just wanted to make a statement so that all patients are not disheartened and there can be positive experiences using anastrazole. I'm not sure why so many have side-effects, although I can't seem to find statistics. I am now 71 years old, in otherwise very good health, eat a healthy diet, walk, hike (strenuous), dance, read a lot of novels, and watch a lot of movies, volunteer at a food pantry 3x/week. Please keep a positive attitude and keep an active lifestyle as much as possible. Good luck to all of us survivors!!"

• Kkano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2020

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Taken anastrazole for 4 years. Having debilitating joint pain, difficulty walking. Will definitely need to consider stopping this medication. Need quality of life. Don’t let the physicians make you feel like your crazy!"

• Polly
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 17, 2019

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed stage 1b Lumpectomy, 4 weeks of radiation then Arimidex. Well the side affects are too much for me. The bone pain was excruciating, it woke me up at night. Fatigue, headache, nausea, foggy brain, I do yoga and walk 3 days a week. I have decided to go a natural path. Do the research for yourself before you make your on decisions. I just want a good quality of life back! I wish you all well."

• Wedne...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I have just had a lumpectomy for a very small, 4mm, hormone receptive cancer. I have almost finished my 3 weeks of radiation and now they want me to take this drug. There are very few positive remarks pertaining to it and at this stage I am pretty active with no aches and pains, breezed through menopause and am well. I was told even without the radiation there was a 95% chance that the cancer would not reoccur. They got clear margins and my sentinel node biopsy was clear. The radiation is supposed to have gained me another 2.5%. I am having trouble convincing the medical personnel that I don't want to take this drug due to all the side effects. I am 68 and don't want to experience 5 years of pain and discomfit for the minuscule benefit this drug is going to bring. Am I wrong?"

• caramel
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 4, 2018

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Diagnosed at with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 1-no lymph nodes involved. Had Lumpectomy, Brachial Therapy Radiation and 5 rounds of chemotherapy. I was ER-Positive, therefore, chemo was recommended because after Oncotype DX done, it showed I had a 16% chance of cancer coming back. I have been on Arimidex going on 7 seven years. Initially, lots of stiffness, but I hired a personal trainer, I weight train, run, and do yoga. Praise GOD, I'm doing very well and no stiffness!! Don't settle for what the drug is doing-work on you and you may be surprised how much better you will feel if you incorporate some exercise into your routine! God Bless!"

• Dano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2019

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I took Arimidex for 6 months. I have been off it for almost a month. My hands ache and I have trigger finger in both hands. I have joint pain in both my upper and lower extremeties. I have had weight gain and my blood pressure stays high. My doctor change my prescription to tamoxifen. My side effects from the Arimidex are not going away. I can barely use my hands. My job is very physical and hands on. I am 57. Too young to retire and all my back up skills require my hands. This medication is what will kill me, not the cancer."

• Arones
• November 7, 2019

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I took it for 5 years and just stopped on October 31st. This drug is TERRIBLE. It destroys your bones, causes hip joint pain so bad that you lose your balance, causes hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, constipation, heart palpitations, spinal pain, loss of bone density which causes OSTEOPENIA which can lead to OSTEOPOROSIS and more. Its disgusting that this is basically the only one you can take other than tamoxifen. Your oncologist SHOULD tell you what the side effects are going to do so that you can somehow prepare for them. Mine prescribed GABAPENTIN for the hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia. Arimidex has to be taken for only 5 years and no more. Hopefully the weakness in my hip joints will ease, the pain in my bones, the constipation, heart palpitations. You will never get back the bone loss. I'm taking high doses of OTC vitamin C & D."

• JoJo
• April 4, 2019

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I lasted 5 weeks on Armidex for my breast cancer. I stopped taking it because of the side effects. I’ve been off it 5 weeks while I research & decide what to do before discussing with my oncologist. I’m 58 years old & had no significant medical history. I have occasional neck pain a physically active job from which I am retired. This drug caused extreme joint & bone pain. Before surgery I was flipping tires & doing box jumps at the gym. This drug made me feel too bad to go for a walk. Other side effects included all over itching, dry hair, dry skin, dry eyes, insomnia, nightmares, nausea. The pharmacist told me the only side effect would be dizziness which I did not have. I didn’t research further. I was so happy the radiation was done & thought taking a pill would me no big deal. I’d experienced hot flashes and night flashes for years so those were not new. When I googled the drug I found many women had the same side effects. The bone density issue is alarming."

• Ukey
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2019

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Finished my 5 years of therapy May 6th & was counting down the last 6 months leading up to that date! I would sweat so bad while on it, very intolerant of heat & now that I am off it I feel pretty warm sometimes but the sweat doesn't drip like it used to, thank goodness! Have been getting a little more sleep since stopping it (was only sleeping at the most, 4 hours at a time, while on the anastrozole), I am noticing much less hair loss in the shower, I don't get the odd, slight queasy feeling in the mornings anymore & my general mood has improved- at least, I think so! "

• Tekte...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 24, 2016

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Taking Arimidex for just short of four years. Horrible bone and joint pain. Pain meds leave me unable to function. Insomnia, shortness of breath, chest pains. Thousands of dollars on tests that show nothing. Treated like a nut case. Oncologist finally said stop taking it, but gave me nothing for pain. Trip to ER , prescribed oxycodone which works, but knocks me out and grog continues for two days after taking it! Oncologist says recurrence is 8% without Arimidex, 5% with it. I will not continue this torture for a mere 3%! This is no way to live."

• Grammyp
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 14, 2019

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I am 60 and have been on Arimidex going on 4 years now for stage 2 invasive lobular breast cancer. Initially I experienced trigger finger but that went away after a few months. I have also experienced slight weight gain (5 lbs), insomnia & hot flashes regularly. I exercise everyday to keep my bones strong and luckily I have no joint or bone pain. I just noticed recently thinning hair after 4 years on this. My Dr. says they recommend another 5 years after next year so it will be 10 years total. I think for me the worst side effect is the hot flashes but it’s ok! I’m still here! :)"

• LENA
• November 17, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I had 2cm stage 1 breast cancer, a lumpectomy, 4 radiation treatments which caused lymphedema, then started this drug. Within 6 weeks, the pain in my hips & legs woke me up in the middle of the night. I stopped the drug, & after 7 weeks, the side effects went away. My oncologist then put me another AI, & within two days, my entire body hurt & I couldn't eat. I restarted this med in in June 2019. This time the hip & leg pain returned, along with the feeling of extreme mania, severe irritability & poor impulse control. I stopped the drug in late August. It's now November 2019, & I'm still am having pain in my hips & thighs. I'm opting not to take any further meds to prevent the cancer from returning. I'm 67, & refuse to spend the next 5 years feeling like I'm 90. My oncologist wasn't happy, & I fired her. I have a new oncologist, & she understands where I'm coming from & will not force me to take the meds."

• Angry...
• September 20, 2015

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I only took Arimidex for 1 month, after having a mastectomy. During that month I experienced severe joint pain, nausea, headaches, shortness of breath, and finally, a severe asthma attack which convinced me that I needed to stop this drug. Almost immediately, all side effects disappeared. Now, eight months after stopping Arimidex, and taking nothing else, I have quite severe Rheumatoid arthritis. I was previously fit and active. I am 70 years old. I would rather take my chances with the cancer returning than take this drug again."

• Stella
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2019

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I’m finally off Arimidex. Every time I mentioned one of the many side effects I was experiencing, my oncologist said it not from the drug. Read the flyer that comes with it. I’m hoping my joints and bones will stop hurting, that I won’t sweat through my insomnia and that my hair will come back. What a miserable 5 years."

• malia
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2020

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with breast cancer Stage 1, Grade 1. Lumpectomy and radiation no chemo. I am 7 months into taking Arimidex and joint and muscle pain horrible. I am a very active person with running all my life and hiking. I am sore from head to toe in both the muscles and joints. Also fatigued way more than usual. I just told my oncologist that I was stopping the Arimidex for now. My onc said to stay off the Arimidex for a month. I will then call back and let them know my status. May then put me on another AI."

• Frenc...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 5, 2014

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I took Arimidex for 5 years and only recently stopped. I had quite a few side effects, however, the joint pain and stiffness was the hardest. I heard about something called Ubiquinol, which is apparently something that is naturally produced in your body, but slows down quite a bit as you age. I've been taking it daily now for a few months and I have to say, the stiffness and joint pain has mostly subsided. I say mostly because I forget to take it some days. I'm trying to get better about taking it daily with a multivitamin. It's kind of expensive but it's way cheaper and better than any of the medicine alternatives I was offered by my doctors. I don't like taking medicine for every little thing. Plus there's a hundred side effects to worry about."

• Lealmck
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 26, 2014

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I took it for 5 yrs. and 2 months. I cannot say if the changes were from chemo or from Arimidex. Changes in taste and smell persist. Frontal headache, blurred vision, cough, calcium loss - osteopenia. Stiff joints, long bone pain, sciatica pain of right leg, fatigue, wicked insomnia, hot flushes & flashes. Neuropathy in hands and feet, specially balls of feet and very sensitive tips of toes. Very dry skin, aged face, hair is very thin and breaking easily. Never got back full eyebrows, very SAD! I loved my eyebrows."

• WV lady
• April 10, 2014

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I've been on Arimidex for 10 weeks. Although I had arthritis prior to taking Arimidex, my joint discomfort has increased substantially and now I find that my joints (especially my hands and hips) are swollen and always painful. My fingernails have thinned and continually split and tear off, often below the quick (ouch!). I'm also disheartened to notice that my eyebrows and eyelashes, which had just grown back after my last chemo session, have started to either break or fall out again. Bone and muscle pain are always with me now."

• Oregon...
• March 20, 2013

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I have had the hot flashes, and the weight gain. Not much of the other side effects so far. Not willing to keep gaining the weight, talked to my oncologist but he says the weight gain is not from the Arimidex. I know better, I have always been very very careful with my weight and going on this medication is the only time I have had the weight gain. I stopped it for 5 weeks and lost, went back on the Arimidex and the weight came back. I work out 5 to 7 days a week so I am very active. "

• McD
• January 9, 2013

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "Started taking Arimidex in June and have lost 45lbs. Vomiting and diarrhea have left me homebound. I keep starting and stopping this pill. Oncologist thinks I'm crazy, but when I stop the pill the vomiting and diarrhea stop. Just stopped taking it before Christmas and I'm feeling so much better. Have had two lumpectomies and a mastectomy. Don't want the cancer to return, but the side effects are too much for me."

• Kacie
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 21, 2020

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I've been taking Arimidex for 4 years for breast cancer mets. I was diagnosed with the mets to the bone in Jan/16. I'm to the point that I feel I just can't take this drug anymore, so I stopped today. I want to stop hurting so bad. I feel terrible in the morning when I try to get up. I can no longer manage steps, standing for any length of time, walking is history. I'm on major amounts of narcotics but don't get nearly as much relief as I'd like. I just can't do it anymore. My life has no quality, this drug is not worth the amount of pain it causes!! So long Arimidex!"

• Jackl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 5, 2013

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I've been on Arimidex for 4 years. Side effects are insomnia, joint pain, painful sex or no interest in sex, forgetfulness, anxiety and depression. One year to go and hopefully I will not have to take it. Maybe still on it because of a family history of breast cancer."

• Indyg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 21, 2019

Arimidex (anastrozole) for Breast Cancer "I have been taking Arimidex for six months. Insomnia is the worse part for me. Some hot flashes and moodiness. Weight gain of ten pounds due to fatigue and pauses in working out. Just recently I up my walking to 80 minutes a day a cut out all sugar. This has helped me with the insomnia. Some joint discomfort, but not bad. Just trying to figure out what is best way to help with side effects."

• Rocky
• February 28, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I'm 66. I've been on Arimidex 6 months. That was following a lumpectomy (stage 1 invasive ductile carcinoma 1.6 cm) and 33 radiation treatments. The first month I had no side effects. Second month I started to get sleep disruption, mood swings. Now I've progressed to having joint pain, worst in my left shoulder and elbow ( surgery side) Pain in left chest/breast where the tumor was removed. In the last two weeks my right thumb started to stiffen up - trigger finger. Sleep disruption went away after a month but it has returned during the sixth month. I was taking Arimidex 2 hours before bed & I'm going to try taking it first thing in the morning and see if it stops the sleep disruption. In the last month or two I have started to feel basically unwell & very stiff, especially when I wake up in the morning and I'm feeling kind of depressed. I do yoga twice a week and try to walk twice a week as well. Perhaps I will increase my exercise Blessings. Good luck to you."

• Moni
• January 6, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I had stage I lobular breast cancer, with clear lymph nodes. I chose a skin spearing mastectomy and no radiation or chemo. I will complete my five years of anastrozole treatment in two months. I am 67 years old, and I have to say, I did not have all those side effects as I many women in this site have had. I did loose a lot of hair( but Rogaine has helped a lot). I I am tired often but still have a lot of energy once I get up. The medicine has affected my bones, since before I started taking I had osteopenia. Although this medicine is very hard on your bones and joints, I have never thought of stop taking it. Maybe because I never had hot flashes or insomnia I have been able to tolerate it and I personally don't think it's so horrible. I highly recommend to stick with the treatment. Five years go by pretty quick."