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What Causes Joint Stiffness While On Anastrozole?
I been taking Anastrozole for 2 yrs. The dr. asked if I had any joint pain or stiffness, which I did not have at the time. I have those symptoms now, the dr said I could stop taking the med for a week, to see if the symptoms subside. What is the half life of this medication, how long do I have to wait to see if it is causing this problem?
Mon, 7 Aug 2017
Dear Patient,
It is established that anastrazole causes joint poin, and in fact up to 40% of women taking it either discontinue the drug, or don’t take it as prescribed chiefly due to its painful side effects.
1- The half-life is 46.8 hours, and you need about one week to feel better after stopping the medication.
2- If your pain is constant but fairly mild, acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin) might provide sufficient relief.
3- For more severe pain, something stronger can be prescribed, like codeine.
4- For short-term pain, or for new pain that doesn’t respond to milder drugs,prednisone can help.
5- Surprisingly, certain antidepressants (Effexor, Cymbalta) have also been shown effective in combating Anastrazole-induced joint pain. While these drugs can come with their own side effects, they might be worth a try.
6- Daily exercise can help decreasing the joint pain.
Best regards
It is established that anastrazole causes joint poin, and in fact up to 40% of women taking it either discontinue the drug, or don’t take it as prescribed chiefly due to its painful side effects.
1- The half-life is 46.8 hours, and you need about one week to feel better after stopping the medication.
2- If your pain is constant but fairly mild, acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin) might provide sufficient relief.
3- For more severe pain, something stronger can be prescribed, like codeine.
4- For short-term pain, or for new pain that doesn’t respond to milder drugs,prednisone can help.
5- Surprisingly, certain antidepressants (Effexor, Cymbalta) have also been shown effective in combating Anastrazole-induced joint pain. While these drugs can come with their own side effects, they might be worth a try.
6- Daily exercise can help decreasing the joint pain.
Best regards
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