Anastrozole

Hi Arpie thanks for the chart-  it's good to compare. I've had only a few issues on tamoxifen mostly weight gain but worried about switching to anastrozole. So Armidex is the brand you use? My local chemist has a few different generic ones and not sure which to start on. Thanks 

Hi @Jemi  ... I am on Arimidex (21 months now) and am doing much better than on letrozole or exemestane!  I am taking medicinal cannabis oil as well tho, so that may be 'dulling the side effects' ..... 

 Here's a 'side effect chart' that covers most of the AI drugs - not everyone gets any of the side effects, most get a couple.

THe 'dots' are the original chart - the 'x' have been added at the request of members

All the best - hoping you  don't get any of them! xxx

Hi ladies
just after some advice on anastrozole, which I'm about to switch over to after over 5 years on tamoxifen. Wondering if there are any differences in side effects between brands? Besides Armidex, there seems to be many generic brands.
Would be helpful if you could let me know which one you are on (if that's permissible on the forum)? 
Thanks 

It has been some time since I was on BCNA.  I am inclined to not dwell on all that I have been through for the past three years or so, that mostly continues, but to just do my things that I love, with people I love and focus on my health  issues when I have to !!  

Thanks @Wren20 - I see my Onc in a month or 2 - and will note it all down & show her!  It was really horrible - and as you say, scary!   :(    Hopefully it was just a one off ...... :( 

Oh no....poor you.  That sounds very painful and a bit scary.  Might be worth getting it checked out.  Take care. 

I've been on Arimidex/Anastrozole for nearly 12 months now - and am going fine.  Tho a tad stiff, I don't have the excessive joint pains & trigger finger that I DID have on Letrozole and Exemestane.  

Having said that - last night I was in excruciating pain for about 10 mins when (at about midnight) my left leg went into 100% spasm - it seemed that every single muscle & cell  from the knee down was bouncing off each other! It was all I could do not to scream in pain!  I was actually wondering how long I 'leave it' til calling 000!  If I moved my leg 1cm - it made it worse - leaving it where it was made it worse ..... I was almost in tears. 

This is the first time this has ever happened - and I seriously feel sorry for anyone who is in pain 24/7 - cos 10 mins of this was bad enough! 

Then it stopped!   I just hope it doesn't return - as it was truly horrible.  I do not know what caused it.

Take care, stay safe & well  xx

Thanks @Emma17 will take it up with my oncologist at review but not the reason I was offered nor  chose Prolia .

@Adri @Romla

The authors of these articles reviewed the studies that linked Prolia (denosumab) with reducing recurrence risk and do not accept the link:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(19)30146-9/fulltext

https://www.ascopost.com/issues/june-25-2019/denosumab-prevents-neither-breast-cancer-relapse-nor-death/

https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/breastcancer/83757

https://www.cancernetwork.com/asco-breast-cancer/adjuvant-denosumab-fails-reduce-recurrences-deaths-early-breast-cancer

It is best to confirm the benefits and risks of the drug with your specialist.

I am posting these links as a reference and cannot engage in discussion about them.

@Adri @Romla

These journals reviewed the studies that linked Prolia (denosumab) with reducing recurrence risk and the authors do not accept the link for myriad reasons:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(19)30146-9/fulltext

https://www.ascopost.com/issues/june-25-2019/denosumab-prevents-neither-breast-cancer-relapse-nor-death/

https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/breastcancer/83757

https://www.cancernetwork.com/asco-breast-cancer/adjuvant-denosumab-fails-reduce-recurrences-deaths-early-breast-cancer

It is best to confirm the benefits and risks of the drug with your specialist.

I am posting these links as a reference and cannot engage in discussion about them.