Letrozol (Femara) side effects. Thank you.

Rosa_Aurora184161

Hi! Could you please be so kind to share what side effects you're having with Letrozol (Femara)? How long have you been taking it? Did you take Tamoxifen before it? Have you had bone mineral density lost, increase in cholesterol levels and joint/bone pain? What do you take or do to minimise or help with side effects?

Thank you. I really appreaciate it.

Kicks

I started Femara 6+ years ago when it was only available as name brand. I went to letrozole when it became available in the generic form.

Have only taken Femara/letrozole.

I was already osteopenia years before starting on Femara and have progressed to osteoporosis but that was to be expected as I have a huge family HX on both sides of family. It is being kept under control on Fosamax/alendronate. Also I had gone through natural menopause when I was 44.

My cholesterol levels have not changed since long before IBC DX/TX. My total levels is and has been high but this is because my HDL ('good' cholesterol) is very high but LDL ('bad' cholesterol) is well within 'normal' level.

Ya Betcha! I do have 'aches and pains'. I had arthritis in my upper back for many years thanks to a lot of injuries from years as a jumper rider (and just generally being very active in sports) prior to taking Femara/letrozole. Again, it has gotten worse in the years (I was 63 when DX - am now 69l so would have anyway. Have some other 'aches and pains' but again nothing new - just feeling the old injuries from throughout my life and getting older.

MargoChanning

I've been on either Letrozole or Anastrazole since October, 2012, right after finishing surgery/chemo/rads. I had a bmd done that month that showed I'd slipped into osteoporosis in my L1-L4 area of the spine and had osteopenia in the hip. I'd been on estrogen for a few years because of osteopenia since perimenopause and had stopped at BC diagnosis, in February, 2012. In March of 2013, I saw a specialist who prescribed Boniva; a single dose left me with 4 months of spine and skull pain so I stopped. Because the rate of bone loss was slow per the specialist, I decided to look for alternatives. I found an article describing research done by a Canadian university using a combination of micronutrients (supplements). The results were good, similar to biphosphonates without the same side effects so I started on the regimen, with the exception of the magnesium, which I can't tolerate at high doses because of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I started the supplements in the summer of 2013 and just had my first scan since 2013. I'm stunned to see the results show not only the L1-L4 has improved to Osteopenia but the scan results are almost identical to a scan done 10 years ago. If you are interested in the research, here's the link (supplements listed in Table 1): http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/354151/

Unless I start to backslide I plan on staying on these supplements for as long as possible. No worries about losing teeth or the other crappy SE's from biphosphonates with this routine, thankfully.

best to all

SissyK

I started with tamoxifen in 2011, had a hysterectomy due to its side effects in 2013, and moved to Arimidex once recovered from the hysterectomy.  My side effects from that drug were more than I could handle, so oncologist moved me to Femara.  I have joint/bone pain that is difficult to deal with.  I do not like to take medications, even OTC, but about once a month I take Aleve for a week to reduce the pain.  I also do yoga and walk in an effort to reduce the stiffness.  I've not noticed a change in my cholesterol.  Last year's DEXA showed a 20% loss in the density of my forearms from the scan I had in 2013.  Even with this loss, my readings were still in the normal range.  Doc suggested I get hand weights to use while doing arm exercises while walking. I have trouble sleeping - something that never was an issue for me before this medication.  Fatigue, hot flashes, mild nausea, and a general feeling of illness are with me most days.  Interestingly, the side effects are not the same all the time - except for the joint pain, they come and go, sometimes better/sometimes worse.  This year is my 5-year anniversary from diagnosis.  I'll get to stop taking Femara sometime this year.  I don't know if it will be in May or November - I see him every 6 months. 

I wish you the best with this medication.  I've talked to others who have none of the side effects that I do.  We are all different and react differently to all sorts of drugs. 

StaceySue2U

What supplements are you taking, Margo? I'm having a little difficulty concentrating on that article LOL