How can I manage severe hot flashes and anxiety on Arimidex?

Managing side effects from hormone-blocking treatments like anastrozole can be incredibly challenging, and reaching out to your oncology team is exactly the right step. Many community members have found relief through various approaches including cooling strategies for hot flashes, gentle exercise for joint pain, stress management techniques for anxiety, and sometimes medication adjustments - sharing experiences here often helps others discover new coping strategies that work for their situation.

I’ve been taking Anastrozole for 6 months and I’m dealing with the same side effects. Three weeks ago, I started taking Effexor to reduce the severity of my hot flashes. It has helped some but I’ve also noticed a spike in my anxiety. I walk 3-4 miles every morning which has really helped my joint pain. The first few months I was extremely emotional and depressed. That has faded a bit but I’m still very irritable. My oncologist really glossed over the side effects and told me most women tolerate AI’s very well. That hasn’t been the case with me and it’s so frustrating. I’m sorry you’re going through this too.