Anastrozole and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Aro...
• November 7, 2019

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."

• JoJ...
• April 4, 2019

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I lasted 5 weeks on Arimidex 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 be 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."

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

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."

• Uke...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2019

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "Finished my 5 years of therapy on May 6th and 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! I 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, and my general mood has improved - at least, I think so!"

• Gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 14, 2019

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, and hot flashes regularly. I exercise every day 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 doctor 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 okay! I’m still here! :)"

• Ste...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2019

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's 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."

• Lea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 26, 2014

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I took it for 5 years 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, especially 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."

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

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."

• Roc...
• February 28, 2020

For Breast Cancer "I'm 66. I've been on Arimidex for 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. The second month I started to experience sleep disruption and mood swings. Now I've progressed to having joint pain, worst in my left shoulder and elbow (surgery side), pain in the 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 returned during the sixth month. I was taking Arimidex 2 hours before bed, and I'm going to try taking it first thing in the morning to see if it stops the sleep disruption. In the last month or two, I have started to feel basically unwell and very stiff, especially when I wake up in the morning. 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."

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

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

• oma...
• August 10, 2015

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "Fine initially but within 2 weeks, severe ankle pain, insomnia, hot flashes and severe sweating. Thinning hair just after it all grew back beautifully. Difficult eye prescription, moody, tingling nerve pain in right thigh, tired and now have a hiatal hernia. Lack of interest in sex, which still has not returned. I just wonder what the long-term effects could be. This medication was one I loved to hate. But my cancer is gone and it has been 6 years that I am cancer-free."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2012

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I've been on Arimidex for 4 years and 1 month, prior to which I took Tamoxifen for 5 months. During the first year, I developed a frozen shoulder, which my oncologist said could be due to the Arimidex. I experienced extreme joint stiffness, which gradually subsided after 9-12 months. I had intense hot flashes, which are now lessening. Other side effects include insomnia, vision issues (detached retina - but am also very myopic), pronounced facial aging, dry skin (I am 57 years old), and thinning hair. Additionally, I also experienced depression and mood swings starting 3 months after starting Arimidex. I did not take medication for it, but I have noticed that it has gradually lessened over the last 1 1/2 years."

• Anonymous
• January 31, 2012

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I started taking Arimidex about 4-5 months ago as a breast cancer patient. I'm supposed to take it for 5 years. The side effects I've experienced are insomnia, hot flashes, headaches, weight gain, joint pain, and severe loss of grip in both hands. My hands are stiff in the morning and evening, it's just crazy. Well, even throughout the day. I asked my oncologist about this, and he said it was arthritis, which I do not believe. The onset was too quick. It was about 6 weeks after I started taking the Arimidex then the hand stiffness showed up."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2019

For Breast Cancer "Anastrozole was terrible for me. Carpal tunnel, insomnia, inflamed joints, constipation, muscle aches, skin irritations, hot flashes, and more. I took it for just over 3 months, and am still experiencing side effects 6 weeks after stopping. For only a 2% reduction in risk of recurrence for me, it's not worth feeling miserable all the time."

• sis...
• June 19, 2013

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "Took tamoxifen for 9 months. Extreme bruising. Switched to Arimidex. After 4 weeks, extreme pain in hand. Next, severe headaches. Each month brought increased pain in thumbs, hand, feet, long leg bones. Joints hurt, wrists weaken every month. After 10 months, I became depressed and had insomnia. Finally, I had enough and stopped. Within 2 weeks, long bone pain went away. I still have some knee pain, trigger finger, and wrist weakness and it's been 3 months. Doctor is switching to Aromasin next month."

• Tri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2012

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I have been on Arimidex for 4 years 4 months. I have had the hot flashes, vision issues, bone density weakening, joint pain and stiffness, depression, mood changes, insomnia, back and bone pain, thinning nails (of already thin nails), weakness in hands and now, my hair is breaking off and drying out. My doctor wants me to hold on until the end of the 5 years. Not sure I can."

• Eeo...
• May 31, 2020

For Breast Cancer "DX: breast cancer (BC) stage 1, lumpectomy with lymph nodes removed followed by radiation. Started anastrozole after radiation. Initially, I had substantial hot flashes and insomnia, but these stopped after 3 weeks. Then joint pain started, increasing so that after 6 months, I could not sit or stand for more than 1/2 hour without being in terrible pain. If I had to squat, my knee joints would freeze, and I could only stand by pulling myself up using my arms. After 1 year, I had gained 20 lbs, and shuffling a mile was all I could do for exercise. The doctor was skeptical that anastrozole was causing the symptoms but suggested going off it for 2 weeks. At the end of those weeks, most of the joint pain had gone! I went back on anastrozole. In 2 months, the joint pain returned, but I was determined to tough it out. I saw the doctor this week, year 2. So thankful for no BC recurrence, but I have gained 20 more lbs. My mood is down. My hands and ankles are swollen like sausages. Simple chores are agony and exhausting. Now switching to tamoxifen..."

• Gig...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 19, 2017

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I have been taking Arimidex for 4.5 years, coming up on my 5-year post-treatment check-up. Side effects for me have been: hot flashes, neuropathy, intense joint pain, insomnia, and 30% loss of bone density. I take 2 ibuprofen daily to manage pain and power through. New clinical data indicate staying on longer may reduce risk further. I was so looking forward to getting off this drug, not sure how I feel about that."

• Lau...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Since taking this medication, I have extreme joint pain. I have to pull myself up the stairs at home. It takes me quite a while to make it up the two flights of stairs. My husband says I have bad breath since being on this the past four years, which is embarrassing. I've read on other sites that others have experienced that. And I sleep an average of 4 hours a night with the insomnia that I have. My oncologist thinks I'm making this up, which is so unprofessional. So many people have these same symptoms. I'm 50."

• Hob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 7, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I had a partial mastectomy, nineteen rounds of radiation from April till the end of September. I am just over three years on anastrozole. Last year I woke up and the pain in my knees and legs was so sudden and severe, I could barely walk. I'm still losing my hair, am itchy, two teeth broke, weight gain, especially around my middle, where I never gained weight. Sore joints, hands, neck, back. I started feeling a little better and began practicing yoga again. This was helping until my head went completely spacey. The foggy brain and groping for words, I was getting used to, but this is a spacey head. When you lie down, you grab for something to hold on to... loss of sleep also. A lot of doctors just ignore some of these symptoms, but go on any site regarding this and so many women are experiencing these symptoms. Anyone else going through this?"

• Bea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 22, 2016

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I have been using Arimidex for approximately 6 months. I have had some side effects, mostly hot flashes and some insomnia. The hot flashes have improved, and for the insomnia, I just switched the time of day when I took the medication."

• BJa...
• April 17, 2015

For Breast Cancer "Coming up on my 5-year anniversary, so anastrozole evidently works. However, after my last bone density test, I find that my bones have thinned significantly, and now I have osteoporosis. I have had other side effects like hot flashes, insomnia, joint pain, weight gain, thinning nails, and hair, but I didn't attribute anything other than hot flashes to the anastrozole. To prevent cancer, I can live with most of those, but if I had known how fast my bones were thinning, I don't know if I would have stayed with it."

• Tin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 11, 2014

For Breast Cancer "Prescribed after lumpectomy for breast cancer and taking this medication for 1 year, I've experienced extreme panic attacks, anxiety that often prevents me from wanting to leave the house, and insomnia. My symptoms were so severe, I could not function at work and took early retirement. I have discussed these side effects with my oncologist; his concern was more with flushing side effects than anxiety. I have 4 more years of taking this medication and honestly don't know if I'll be able to keep it up. I find myself having extremely blue feelings and without taking anti-anxiety meds, I truly would not be able to function at all."

• You...
• February 3, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I have atypical ductal hyperplasia. Initially put on Tamoxifen, stopped secondary to multiple side effects, including osteoporosis and poor quality of life. Took a 9-month drug-free vacation before agreeing to take Arimidex (anastrozole). Hot flashes and insomnia have been dependent on what time of the day I take the medicine; worse if taken in the late afternoon/evening. I have had a return of joint/arthritic pain in my hips, lower back, shoulders, and hands. I have fatigue, no libido, and have gained 15 pounds despite being active and eating healthy. Short-term memory is poor, and word recall is frustrating. I know many do well on this medicine, but I am not sure if I will stay on it."

• ema...
• August 1, 2013

For Breast Cancer "I have been taking Anastrozole for 1 and a half years now for breast cancer. I have been having problems with my hands, stiffness of legs, shortness of breath, insomnia, thinning hair, weight gain, and really bad hot flashes. I am going to ask my doctor about my chances of recurring breast cancer if I stop taking this or try something else."