Letrozole

[Cee322]

Hi...I have been taking Letrozole for 6 months and the side effects with this prescription is running nose, sneezing, hot flashes and freezing all the time. I'm very active running, weight lifting, spinning, Bootcamp,yogi class and also eating clean. Very little to no joint pain due these intense type of excerise, keeps you from losing bone mask. However the memory delay hot flashes , cold flashes and thinning hair. I think you are right about the different brands of prescription and each having different side effects. During my Chemo treatment I had running nose and sneezing just terrible and bone pain. I had to walk everyday just so the pain wasn't bad and finally I started back running and weight lifting which help stop the pain altogether. I will call my doctor because these new pills is effecting my immune system. Thank you for all your help. May God continue to bring good health in your life😘

[Angel62]

Corrina I am the same....memory like a sieve and forget peoples names, what I'm going to say....the words just go....so you are not alone x

[Corrina]

Has anyone else suffered from memory problems and confusion when taking Letrozole.. thishas been a problem for me but no one else seems to be talking aboutthis so maybe its a rare side effect xx

[EB1965]

Hello - I was prescribed Letrozole in August 2017 following diagnosis for breast cancer.  I took the Accord brand for 2 months which I got used to and eventually had minimal side effects.  I then had repeat prescription and was given Cipla brand which I have been taking and am experiencing worse side effects including vision distortion (not good for driving), extreme fatigue and tiredness. So I've decided to stop taking them (only till I get new prescription) and have asked my doctor for repeat prescription to get the Accord brand.  Its obvious from reading all the posts that different brands do seem to cause different side-effects depending on the individual. This has been an extremely helpful forum from my perspective and hope it helps others. 

[Kate21]

HelenfClark, I feel for you! I used to get a lot of colds, and was very 'sinusy', even had surgery years ago, have you tried reducing or giving up cow dairy and taking a course of probiotics? I now use goats milk and butter, (nut milk on oats etc) and have apple cider vinegar in warm water each morning, only had one slight cold since my diagnosis 2 years ago, and my sinuses are so much better. Wish I'd done this years ago!

[Kate21]

Hi, I am just coming up to 2 years taking Letrozole and consider myself very lucky as I've had very few side effects, yes, one or two hot flushes a day but little else. About a year ago, for 3 or 4 months, my pharmacy kept giving me different brands and I definitely didn't feel so good in myself, felt very down, and my hair was shedding. I spoke to them about this as I'd read you should stay on the same brand, they have since only given me Accord, which I'd previously had, and I'm fine again. I know all this has been said before but I do wonder if my other lifestyle changes have also played a part...cut out sugar as I had a very sweet tooth, following a plant based diet including fruit with occasional fish but rarely meat (but I've never eaten much meat so that wasn't a problem for me), I also do more exercise and make sure I go to bed earlier, as I'm a real night owl! I know this isn't for everyone, and I'm not under any illusions that this is some magic cure, but I wanted to try it and can honestly say I feel much better for it!

[albalassie]

Am very interested to read about side effects of letrozole as I also am having problems with this.

i have been taking it since July 2015 and though I had no side effects to speak of then,find the longer I take it the more problems appear.

On the advice of my breast care nurse I stopped taking it for a month and as I noticed no real improvement in the pain in my thumb joints I started taking the tablets again.

My daughter was furious with me,and I had a lecture about wisdom of not taking them.

Now I am suffering from indigestion and wondering does anyone else suffer from this?

I have been told the experts do not think letrozole can be blamed as the side effects took so long to present themselves.

[Jill1998]

Hi Helen,sounds miserable you are certainly not on your own in seriously considering stopping due to side effects .Im not sure re impact on immune system - maybe you ask this in the "Ask the nurses" section ?

[HFCHants]

Is there any definitive research on Letrozole and its affect on the immune system? Prior to taking L I might have the odd cold (blocked nose, sinus problems and sore throat) b ut have now had viruses twice in 6 months resulting in chest infection. Also have bad sweats, aches and pains, feeling ancient, sleeping badly. Have been down the different brand route and found Accord was better than the others. However am seriously wondering about stopping taking it especially if my immune system is compromised. Been on it about 18 months.

[DJCV]

I too, am using Letrozole, and only thru reading posts was I made aware that there are different brands. I don't know what brand mine is, probably generic as all it states is "Letrozole".

I've been on L, since 10/15.  Experienced extreme bone aches, skeletal pain so intense as well as extreme leg cramps. I did a little research and found my magnesimun levels were low. Having 2 sisters w/medical issues and taking magnesium, I on my own began taking 250mgs daily. Within a week, no pain. I shared this w/ my Oncologist. She encouraged me to continue, as it was not interacting negatively.  

The fatiuge is another issue. I have not been able to solve that. I was a very active person, I rode my horse daily for 3- 5 hrs w/o being or feeling tired. Now I am lucky to get a ride in longer then 2 hrs, as I have to have ability to drive the 40 minutes home. Fatigue when it hits, it hits. 

My other side effects are fluid retention on my right side of my abdomin, thats right just the right side, vaginal bleeding, and the most annoying is chronic UTI's.  

Finally had enough, put all my issues on the table, as well as a creeping b/p, which was normally 110/70, and which is not 145/80, and presented to Oncologist. She has not answers, only responds "you're Cancer free".

Pressed my issues and now off Letrozole for 2 weeks. Three day, yes 3 day off, and I am a new person. Fluid retention down, no bleeding, (still on antibotics for UTI, so don't know there). Looking for alternatives or maybe nothing.  

My cancer was invasive BC, had bi-lateral mastecomy, 8 rounds of CMF.

[Julie Afridi martin]

Hi I am so glad to realise that I am not alone in my experiences. And really value all the comments posted.. I have been on letrozole for a year now and my symptoms worsen daily. I have continual flushes that stop me sleeping. Now the pains in my legs and joints is simply getting me down. I am going to my follow up next week but don' t know what to ask or where to go for relief! My daily life is fine although running on empty is tiring when I am working with young children or caring for grand children. Any suggestions about my forth coming consultant visit gratefully received.

[Motherhubbard]

If your surgery does not dispense then they can write on the prescription the brand that they want you to have. It's your chose and you can insist so do what is right fir your body. I am as I said on cipla and the odd ache but that is easing as losing a bit if weight. No hair loss and if I do get aching my gave me some calcium with vit d to take when needed and in fact help keep nails strong and hair strong according to my daughter in law who is hairdresser.

[June_BCC]

Dear All

Just sending you all a gentle reminder about our daily Live Chat service - Talk Together. This is a private chat room where you can talk to others who are also facing breast cancer in confidence. 

Talk Together takes place every weekday from 12.30 – 1.30pm and will not be moderated or accompanied by a nurse. If you would like to register or find out more information then please visit http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/…/someone-…/talk-together. We hope that you enjoy using the service and that you find it helpful!  

Thank you.

June, moderator

[Amina1957]

Hi Yankee, I also have osteoarthritis and osteopenic, and all of my bones hurt, and don't know if it's the medication causing the problem, and I have also noticed that I am losing my hair as well, I have to shower sometimes twice a day or my body stinks, I personally put it down to the hot flushes I am having. Today I am contacting my breast care nurse as I am having other problems with the effects of my scars its only to rest my mind though, nothing to drastic. Praying you will feel better soon hun xxxxx

[Yankee]

Hello Ladies -- just found this thread by chance!  I have been on Letrozole for about 18 months.  I do find that I have a worse time with some brands -- Octavis the worst and not so good on the proprietary Femara either.  Do best on Teva or Cipla. Quite a few aches and pains, but as I have bad osteoarthitis, so who knows what is causing them!  I have had a few intense hot flushes -- which I never had during the menopause or chemo -- but not too debilitating.

My worst problems are hair loss -- now getting quite bad on the front and crown of my head (and, of course, just as upsetting as it was during chemo!); and the fact that my body smell seems to have changed.  This has gotten much worse in the last 6 months, and is really disturbing me.  Have any of the other Ladies taking Letrozole noticed this!

[Amina1957]

It's the pharmacy that choose the brand of letrozole the Dr just puts letrozole on my prescription so I never know what I will be getting. I didn't realise that certain brands have different types of reactions on the body. This afternoon i went to the shops, I only went into 3 local and it took me 2hrs just to get a few bits and bobs then came back home, I have got into my bed by 5.30pm totally exhausted, I really hate this feeling of fatigue and all the bones hurting plus my scars hurting. I have had a stabbing like pains today, its feels like the scars are being cut on the inside, could this be a problem for me

[Matty2]

Hi

I was put on Anastrozole (Accord) in December. Side effects really violent tropical flushes, aching long bones in arms and legs, hair thinning.

When I went for my repeat prescription I was given brand Teva, side effects are a lot easier, some flushes not too bad, ankle and wrist ache but not severe pain like before. Consultant said hair thinning was to be expected. I am hoping ay next repeat I can get same brand. BCN said request the Teva brand

Beryl x

[Motherhubbard]

Cipla is the brand I found best. They are the closest to the original make

[Annie62]

Sorry, that should have been POM brand!

[Annie62]

I've been on Letrozole for just over a year now and have only had problems with a couple of brands - Sandoz is one of them and I can't remember the other.   As I was already way past the menopause (I'm 63) I had no hot flushes or night sweats, but the joint pains especially in my hands have sometimes been bad.

I've found the Accord or Pogs brands are best for me.