Anastrozole and Pain: What Users Say

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

For Breast Cancer "I have just had a lumpectomy for a very small, 4mm, hormone receptor 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 discomfort for the minuscule benefit this drug is going to bring. Am I wrong?"

• LEN...
• November 17, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I had 2 cm 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 on another AI, & within two days, my entire body hurt & I couldn't eat. I restarted this med 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 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."

• 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."

• Kac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 21, 2020

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!"

• 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."

• Dan...
• March 31, 2011

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "Within a month of taking Arimidex, I had so much joint pain. I mentioned it to my oncologist, and he said it was arthritis. I said, 'No way,' arthritis does not show up in one month. I stopped taking it after 1 1/2 years. I could not endure the pain."

• Hob...
• August 10, 2017

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "The first year of taking anastrozole, I experienced hair loss, weight gain even though I was having difficulty keeping food down. It wasn't really nausea, it was more like a reaction. Itchy skin, foggy head, aches and pains. During the second year, I found one morning that I could barely walk, severe knee pain, sore legs, sore bones...this is still the case, but I started gradually to start a yoga routine, which helps some days. It doesn't erase the pain, but seems to make it more manageable. It's like a different set of side effects every few months. I will stick with it, as much as I don't want to. The surgery and radiation are two things I never want to deal with again. Good luck to all of you, keep strong!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• key...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2016

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "6 months into taking this drug, I had to stop. Side effects: painful weakness in both hands, hurts to grip, trigger thumbs - bad when waking up in the morning. Took medicine in the morning. Dizzy, nausea, headache, heartburn, discomfort in the center of chest. Exhausted midday, bone pain. Lost sex drive. 62 years old. Since stopping 2 weeks ago - hoping hands and sex drive return, other problems have stopped. Feeling more normal, weakness and pain in hands still bad."

• deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2017

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I have been on Arimidex since December. I am experiencing locked-up hands in the a.m. with pain; weakened grips and discomfort using the computer for my job. Also, at times low back and sciatica pain. I am considering changing medication."

• deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2017

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "I have been on Arimidex since December. I am experiencing locked-up hands in the a.m. with pain; weakened grips and discomfort using the computer for my job. Also, at times low back and sciatica pain. I am considering changing medication."

• Mim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I started anastrozole eight months ago, it wasn’t a very pleasant experience. It elevated my liver enzymes. I wasn’t able to go to the bathroom, whatever it did to my kidney or bladder? Either I went too much or I didn’t go at all. I am off of it now for eight weeks. Well, the pain is gone in my legs and my shoulders, everywhere. I don’t know what my liver enzymes are, I was getting blood work on Monday. I see the doctor in two more days, I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t want to take any of the inhibitors. I guess they’re going to check the liver enzymes if they are still up. I cannot stand the pain that I was in on anastrozole, it was horrible. I don’t know what’s down the road for me. I pray that whoever is on this medication can take it and that it helps them."

• Tha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 30, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I am so thankful to be alive even though the side effects of anastrozole can be so very painful and inconvenient. What keeps me going on with my everyday life is taking a step back and remembering when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and the her2 gene. And then having a bilateral mastectomy and then starting chemo and then the side effects of chemo...Whew, now all that was pretty bad and I survived! So I tell myself that I will survive anastrozole also. I am so thankful that I have choices. I am also thankful while reading these comments that I am not alone!"

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2019

For Breast Cancer "I feel like my life has been wrecked by Anastrozole. After a couple of months, the oncologist took me off it for 6 weeks to allow my body to repair. He has now put me on Tamoxifen. My body has not repaired itself. Before I started this pill, I was an active 72-year-old who enjoyed life to the full, walking my dog, looking after my grandchildren, and socializing with friends, etc. Now I have osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and tibialis tendinosis (none of which I had before), which I am probably going to have to have major surgery for, which will take a year to get over. The pain is excruciating, and I can only walk a few steps. I have become depressed as well at not being mobile and having so much pain. My husband is waiting for a hip replacement, and we are having to pay daily to get our dog walked and to get our house cleaned a couple of times a week. It is difficult to shop and stand and cook. I have been told by a physio not to walk or stand if at all possible."

• Kat...
• December 10, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Had a lumpectomy for stage 2 breast cancer in September 2014, started taking anastrozole a month later, until today, December 10, 2016. My oncologist is having me go off it for 4 weeks because in the last 6 months, I have noticed three worsening symptoms. I started getting short of breath almost immediately after starting the anastrozole, but now I can't even do light housework for 5 minutes without breathing hard. The muscle aches and pains have become level 5 to 8 routinely, the moment I'm upright, I'm in pain, plus it hurts to move. But I went to my family doctor because the depression was scaring me. I am grateful for this forum because in reading other experiences, I see that I am not alone. Will update this review later."

• Str...
• December 28, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, & 5 years on Tamoxifen. Just switched over to Anastrozole in August. By early December, I just couldn't take the joint pain anymore. I developed tendinitis in my wrist, so I made the choice to stop taking it. It has been two weeks, and the tendinitis is slightly better, but I still have really bad ankle, knee, heel, hip, shoulder, & elbow pain. I was perfectly fine before the Anastrozole. How long will I have to be off the meds before the pain goes away? The oncologist highly recommended I go back on Anastrozole or Tamoxifen again. She said the percentage was 4% better if I stayed on. I have made the decision to eat healthy, exercise, and NOT take any more cancer meds."

• Str...
• December 28, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, & 5 years on Tamoxifen. Just switched over to Anastrozole in August. By early December, I just couldn't take the joint pain anymore. I developed tendinitis in my wrist, so I made the choice to stop taking it. It has been two weeks, and the tendinitis is slightly better, but I still have really bad ankle, knee, heel, hip, shoulder, & elbow pain. I was perfectly fine before the Anastrozole. How long will I have to be off the meds before the pain goes away? The oncologist highly recommended I go back on Anastrozole or Tamoxifen again. She said the percentage was 4% better if I stayed on. I have made the decision to eat healthy, exercise, and NOT take any more cancer meds."

• Str...
• December 28, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, & 5 years on Tamoxifen. Just switched over to Anastrozole in August. By early December, I just couldn't take the joint pain anymore. I developed tendinitis in my wrist, so I made the choice to stop taking it. It has been two weeks, and the tendinitis is slightly better, but I still have really bad ankle, knee, heel, hip, shoulder, & elbow pain. I was perfectly fine before the Anastrozole. How long will I have to be off the meds before the pain goes away? The oncologist highly recommended I go back on Anastrozole or Tamoxifen again. She said the percentage was 4% better if I stayed on. I have made the decision to eat healthy, exercise, and NOT take any more cancer meds."

• Str...
• December 28, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, & 5 years on Tamoxifen. Just switched over to Anastrozole in August. By early December, I just couldn't take the joint pain anymore. I developed tendinitis in my wrist, so I made the choice to stop taking it. It has been two weeks, and the tendinitis is slightly better, but I still have really bad ankle, knee, heel, hip, shoulder, & elbow pain. I was perfectly fine before the Anastrozole. How long will I have to be off the meds before the pain goes away? The oncologist highly recommended I go back on Anastrozole or Tamoxifen again. She said the percentage was 4% better if I stayed on. I have made the decision to eat healthy, exercise, and NOT take any more cancer meds."

• Str...
• December 28, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, & 5 years on Tamoxifen. Just switched over to Anastrozole in August. By early December, I just couldn't take the joint pain anymore. I developed tendinitis in my wrist, so I made the choice to stop taking it. It has been two weeks, and the tendinitis is slightly better, but I still have really bad ankle, knee, heel, hip, shoulder, & elbow pain. I was perfectly fine before the Anastrozole. How long will I have to be off the meds before the pain goes away? The oncologist highly recommended I go back on Anastrozole or Tamoxifen again. She said the percentage was 4% better if I stayed on. I have made the decision to eat healthy, exercise, and NOT take any more cancer meds."

• Lab...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 18, 2020

Anastrozole for Breast Cancer "Stage 1 grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. Lumpectomy and radiation. The last 6 months of the 5 years on anastrozole, I began to have hip and back pain. I stopped taking it October 1st, and today is November 18th. I want to get back to my daily walk, but have not been able to due to the difficulty walking. I do still walk the dog at night, but it isn't easy. I have tried stretching, and in some cases, I felt it aggravated it. I even limp some days. It is very discouraging. I am taking 1 Aleve morning and night, but don't really like doing that either. I am hoping it gets better enough to walk, which may make me feel better. I am 60 years old."

• Mur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 4, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I began taking Anastrozole in November 2015 following breast cancer surgery and radiation. After one year, I began showing early signs of neuropathy. When questioned, my cancer specialist said he felt sure it was not due to the drug. A neurologist said the opposite. I was placed on gabapentin for the pain and tingling of the neuropathy symptoms. I also have been suffering from worsening back pain and recently had an MRI which shows degenerative disc disease. I also associate this with the anastrozole. I am discouraged about my quality of life declining since starting this drug. I wish my cancer specialist would have been more open about the side effects. I may have chosen a different path."

• mac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2013

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Anastrozole since August 2012 and things have been going pretty well. It is now the end of February, and I now have high blood pressure, shortness of breath, hand pain especially at night and in the morning when I can barely hold a comb to my hair. Also, I feel 'pins and needles' in both hands. I am confused as to why the side effects are occurring now. At least I feel better knowing that others are going through the same thing."