Losing weight on Letrozole

e32

Has anyone had issues losing weight while taking Letrozole? Or had weight gain?

cm2020

I am very interested in this as well. I started Letrozole just over a week ago. I am desperately trying to lose weight. However, I have gained 1/2 pound each day for 2 days in a row. My food has been stable and there is no reason for that weight gain. I am extremely concerned. I need to lose!

emma99....How long have you been on it? Have you had weight gain or trouble losing?

Rondeezee

I’ve been on letrozole for approximately 19 months and gained 25 pounds in the blink of an eye. In February of this year, I started a low carb diet and walking at least 4 days per week and I’ve lost 23 pounds. I have 20 pounds to go but I am moving in the right direction. I also had severe joint pain in the beginning, and it, too, has resolved.

e32

I have been on it 2 months. So far I can't tell if my weight gain is from post surgery sitting around eating casseroles (haha) and/or Covid-19 stress eating, or the Letrozole. I was at my lowest weight in years when I got diagnosed. I feel like I Iook puffier! I did start eating sugar again and I hope that is the cause.

e32

cm I don't know if it would cause that so fast. Are you on Zoladex as well? I dont feel as bloated like on birth control. That definitely caused weight issues for me but this doesn't feel as severe.

e32

Rondeeze I was eating well and had lost 30 lbs prior to diagnosis. Right now I am only up 10 lbs but eating carbs again. Great to hear diet was able to help!!! That gives me hope. I need to drop the sugar and excess carbs. I never felt better than when I was off a lot of that. My skin was better, etc. Also wonderful to hear joint pain subsided. Thank you!

ejcopeland1979

I was on Zoladex and Tamoxifen for 6 months and gained 30lbs! Even thru the worst joint pain I pushed myself to run at least 2 miles a day a few times a week and even ate healthy and continued to gain. My oncologist told me that it is typical to gain weight but 30lbs?! I was taken off of Zoladex almost 2 weeks ago but still taking the Tamoxifen. I’m hoping that will help me lose some weight since he said the majority of the side effects were from Zoladex.

cm2020

emma99....No, I'm only on Letrozole. However, I am pretty sure I figured out the real culprit. I have chronic hives that flared with a vengeance just over a month ago. It will take the med I am on for them at least 2 months to kick in. In the meantime, they are so bad that I am on prednisone. I didn't think I was on a high enough dose to cause side effects. Upon your comment, I started investigating, and sure enough I believe I discovered the problem. Unfortunately I will be on it for probably another month so things won't get better any time soon. However, at least I know the cause, and hopefully it is temporary. I am doing all I can to prevent weight gain. Once the hives are under better control I will also start exercising again. Thank you for your help.

e32

I have battled chronic hives off and on for years. 3 allergy testing rounds and blood tests found nothing! Diagnosed as chronic idiopathic urticaria. Allergist told me some people are basically allergic to pressure, heat, cold, etc. I'm beginning to believe him. Mine seem triggered by change from heat to cold. Sometimes debilitating. I will say they were worse when I was heavier and having thyroid issues and Hashimoto flares. They completely left during my second pregnancy. Pregnancy creates natural antihistamine I've come to find out. Also, I have dermagraphism. All this to say, I feel you! And yes, those meds made me gain weight too. I hope you get some relief soon!!!

cm2020

emma99...Ugh, I hate you deal with chronic hives. Yep, mine is officially "chronic idiopathic urticaria" too. I am very lucky that my immunologist is at a major medical center and quite knowledgeable about this. I didn't have to have any testing at all. She looked at the hive record I had been keeping and knew immediately what it was. There is a drug that will control them, Plaquenil. I was on it for over a year but had weaned off this past January. Unfortunately with the stress my body was under with the biopsies and associated procedures for the lumpectomy, they just returned with a vengeance. I contacted her immediately and got back on Plaquenil, but it takes at least 6-8 weeks for the Plaquenil to get to work effectively on them. In the meantime, as you know, they have been absolutely debilitating. They were in full force when I had my lumpectomy, which was not fun at all, and they have continued to be hell for over a month now. I have finally gotten on a high enough dose of prednisone (my dr tried her best to not have to put me on a higher and regular dose of it because it is very hard for chronic hive patients to wean off) that today, for the first day in over a month, I don't have even one. Needless to say, I will be on Plaquenil for a very long time and have no interest in trying to wean off it again! If you find yours returning, do ask your dr about Plaquenil, I found it does a great job keeping them under good control. Hopefully it will come through for me this time too.

e32

I didn't know there was an option for Plaquenil. I have never tried going to an immunologist. Also, I never had them until after my first baby was born! They are distressing when super flared. Also, I went on a Medrol dose pack once and I swear it made my hives worse! My scalp itched like crazy on it too. It was awful.

Daily antihistamine helps but makes me sleepy. Even Claritin makes me a bit sleepy. But I do hate itching. I haven't taken antihistamines for a while and I may have to start again.

cm2020

emma99 If your hives get worse or just won't go away I would highly recommend an immunologist that can treat them more effectively. The itching is maddening isn't it? Over the last month there have been times that I truly had more hives than clear skin. I also bruise where hives have been from all the scratching. I have started calling the hive the "devil's hemorrhoids". I was told to never take NSAIDs because they cause hives. I take 40mg Zyrtec daily (eventually when the Plaquenil kicks in I will wean back down to the typical 10mg dose). Plaquenil does come with risks. I have to see the eye dr every 6 months to keep a close watch on my retinas.

It is interesting that yours didn't develop until after your first child. My immunologist said she would never be able to prove it but that she feels like mine (mine started 2 years ago) started as a result of my immune system trying to fight off the cancer as it started to grow. My primary dr said he has heard that as well. I have several other auto-immune issues so it is pretty obvious that my immune system doesn't work as it should.

JLBinPDX

I'm concerned about this. I've been on Letrozole for just a month and I've gained weight, even while focusing on weight loss--mostly through WW. No, I'm not always counting points and being vigilent and yes, I'm most quarentined, but I know I've gained weight. I'm also wondering if I'm having more hair loss than usual (another common side effect). Some of these things are hard to judge if they're really the medicaiton, my brain, or other factors.

I know there are two other medications instead of Letrozole. Anyone switch over? And why or why not? I'm 60 and finished treatment a month ago for a second primary, ER+ PR+ HER2-. I had a lumpectomy and now, for the first time in my life, I'm having to be on medication. It's hard to know when/why to switch off of one and over to another.

Whatjusthappened

Hi everyone, I am very interested in this topic as well. I am currently on anastrozole but my MO wants to switch me to letrozole because of my severe hot flashes. I gained about 20 pounds since my diagnosis and have been trying like crazy to lose it. I am logging my food, not eating many carbs, and doing a ton of exercise. The weight has started to come off, though very, very slowly. I am really worried that switching meds will cause me to gain. On the medication side effects chart on this site, weight gain is listed as a side effect of letrozole, but not anastrozole.

e32

I don't know either! I am currently holding steady. I stopped eating as much sugar and feel a bit thinner again but my face looks really fill and puffy.

My hair is 100% thinning for sure, BUT I am also post surgery and I know trauma from anything like that can cause hair loss, so I am hoping some of it is from that. I have been on it 3 months now I think.

And Zoladex shots as well, so could that be part of it?

sekrueger

I'm holding steady on the weight but it's hard to say because I started the Letrozole right about the time the Covid lockdown happened so while I may be stress-eating at home, I am eating healthier simply due to not eating out as much.

nunoi1967

Hi Ladies

I am on a Anastrozole for 3 months and sidelete effects same as yours guy. Stiff and paint even I kept exercise but I can handles. After vdo call with doctor last week, he let me off for 2 weeks and start Letrozole to see if I feel any better. Worrying about weights gaining and high cholesterol. STILL hesitate to start. Anyone here do switch from Anastrozole to Letrozole and has any issue. Thanks