Is anyone experiencing fatigue while taking Femara?

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pabbie
pabbie Member Posts: 370
edited September 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I've only been on it a month and I'm very fatigued., a run-down feeling. And what are you doing for the fatigue? Thank you. 

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  • mzslats
    mzslats Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2014

    Very sorry to hear you have the fatigue.  You have such high hopes for feeling good after you finish all the "other" treatment.

    I have been on Armidex for 8 months.  I just took myself off of it this week, as the fatigue/body aches have just gotten to be too much.  I feel like a 90 year old.  It was starting to affect my quality of life.  I'm looking for fatigue solutions also.  Any ideas?

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2014

    Mzslats: Hopefully we'll find some helpful hints for fatigue. 

    My oncologist said all the aromatase (sp) inhibitors work the same. I was on tamoxifen for five years prior. When I couldn't tolerate the s/e's I would cut the pill in half. But because my current cancer is a re-currence in the same breast and is too estrogen positive., I'm trying to find ways to able to tolerate the full dose of Femara for 5 years.

    I took a look at my vitamins. I wasn't taking a daily vitamin which I started yesterday. I bought Centrum vitamins for women over 50. And I also added some more Vit. C to my diet by buying chewable C's at Costco.

    I do take amitriptyline (an older anti-depressant) 75 mg., which helps with sleep, headaches/migraines, and foot cramps. I also take .5 and a half of clonozapem for irritability, sleep, and anxiety. 

    My told my ONC about the fatigue this Wed. and she has me partnering with my psychiatrist to see what med could help with fatigue. I asked my psych for a small dose of Lexapro because I have friends who like it . I took one last night but I think I'll see how upping my vitamins will help. I don't want to add another med at this point.

    I wish us luck. Take care.

    p.s. my onc stressed walking for exercise which I do more days than not.

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2014

    It's only been a few days., but I think my daily multi-vitamin and Vit. C of 1000 mg. has helped with the fatigue. I'll keep you posted. :)

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  • Juneyb
    Juneyb Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2014

    hi 

    I've been on Femara for 2.5 months, I am trying to stay positive and work through the side effects, I've been so healthy before bc, eating right and taking cal/mag, omega3's b complex, and a multi vitamin and exercise.  I am having a lot of fatigue as well as the muscle, joint and bone pain not to mention the vaginal dryness. I am more concerned with the side effects I can't feel, osteoporosis and high cholesterol. I pray that I can see all of this through. Best wishes to you

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2014

    I noticed a difference when I started to take a multiple vitamin., but it had soy in it. So I ordered a women's vitamin from GNC that was labeled no soy on the bottle. I am trying to walk more days than most.

    Juneyb: On another thread a few ladies were talking about taking Claritin or generic Claritin for the muscle/joint pain. I'll see if I can find it for you and point you in that direction. This was new to me., and of course I would check with your dr first.

    I also take Amitriptyline 75 mg., for headaches/migraines, sleep, anxiety, depression, and it works well for foot cramps. It's a generic Ellavil. It's one of the older anti-depressants that drs give their patients with back problems too. It works together with pain meds to give folks more relief.

    My ONC said she'll give me a bone scan/dexa next year to see where I'm at as as far as thinning bones/osteoporosis.

    I'm taking it one day at a time. I took tamoxifen for 5 years and would cut the pill in half because of the s/e's but then I had a BC recurrence this year., so I too am giving Femara all that I've got to take it for 5 years. Take care.......let me look for that thread for you Juneyb. :)

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2014

    Juneyb: This is the thread that mentions the Claritin or generic Claritin for muscle/joint pain.

    Need help with side effects of Femara and Arimedex

    23 Posts 213 Views

    Created by: Maryellen6 on Mar 10, 2014 01:58PM

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2014

    Starting week 6 of the Femara and this is the first day I didn't have a "run-down sore throatish-type" feeling. I added a multiple vitamin to my diet., and I do take 250 mg of the chelated magnesium with calcium before I go to sleep., and upped my Vit. C. I'm walking more days than not.

    How are you?

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  • cfdr
    cfdr Member Posts: 549
    edited August 2014

    I have been on femara for 2.5 years. My fatigue is so severe that it is all I can do to work half time. I exercise frequently and vigorously, but it doesn't help. I am not depressed...just fatigued.  I am going to ask my onc if I can switch to another AI...I have been chalking my fatigue up to long-term chemo effect, which it may be, but since I started femara the week after chemo ended, there's no real way to tell.

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited August 2014

    I'm just this month completing 4 years on Femara, oh my goodness yes, so much fatigue.  And lots of other side effects.  I've adjusted after all this time, but it certainly has altered my lifestyle.  I just keep trying to remember the good that this drug is hopefully doing for me.  

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  • Evgeniya
    Evgeniya Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2014

    been on femara 1 week same hell

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  • dventi
    dventi Member Posts: 171
    edited September 2014

    On Femara 1.5 years - s/e's fatigue, neuropathy in foot, have also had bouts of dizziness.   I see an acupuncturist, nutritionist (take lots of vitamins) and exercise..   I am a big advocate of all three...and will support my body in whatever way I can!!!

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