FEMARA

Hi everyone,

I've only read the last few pages on this thread, so please forgive if you guys have talked about this before, but I have a new crappy side effect., I think.

I've been on Letrazole since December, and beside the hot flashes and slight swelling of my hands, I've now got another symptom that doesn't appear on the SE lists. Hot hands. Uncomfortably hot hands. Noticeable to my husband.

Don't like!!!

Am I the only one with this oddball symptom? If so, it's probably unrelated to the Letrozole,

Interested in your experiences.

Cbaird, First I've heard of that. I'll have to ask my MO next visit.

I'm so tired of seeing the doctor.... I'm having other health problems. Poop.

Momma, The side effects do improve as you become accustomed to Femara. But, call your MO. My hot flashes were so bad I couldn't sleep. I was having the 4 times (or more) per hour, 24 hours a day. I was given Effexor, vitamin E and magnesium to help. I really do feel better. I'm still stiff in the morning and if I sit too long, but that has improved, too. Don't give up yet. Give it some time, then decide what is best for you!

Thank you all for your input! I saw my eye doctor yesterday, who diagnosed Dry Eye Syndrome. Anyone ever heard of that related to Femara? I googled it and did find there have been a few studies of Femara & dry eye syndrome, so perhaps it is another lesser known side effect. I saw the PA of my oncologist today, and we have decided to give me a break for 3 weeks, and then I will start Aromasin. I am to take that for 3 weeks and then go back and see her. She said sometimes patients don't have as severe of side effects when they switch. We will see! I'm ready for some relief from the hot flashes, joint pain and dry eyes! I look like I'm crying all the time and have big dark circles. She did mention taking Effexor also, I may look into that if the other SEs are tolerable.

Meshell,

I have had excessive hair loss with Femara after taking Palbociclib. Mine appears to be permanent and chemically induced -- says the dermatologist. However, I began my cancer treatment having had alopecia areata. Before taking these drugs, I would have one bald spot at a time, about the size of a quarter. They always grew back. The limited alopecia began about 6 years ago for me. When I told the dermatologist that I began having bald spots around the time that they think my cancer started to grow, she was not surprised. So, my hair loss is unusual, a combination of my immune system attacking my hair follicles as well as these drugs... The dermatologist said that they have seen an increase in the number of patients having permanent hair loss due to cancer treatments. I would guess that others have had thinning that may or may not have been reversed. Hopefully, they will respond here? There is a thread "Hair, hair, hair - Another question" which might be a good place to post: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/... Many women take Biotin to encourage hair growth. It has helped my husband to grow hair in his bald spot! It has not addressed my needs

I hope that your hair will grow back soon and ease your worries!

Thinkingpositive, I can't answer your question, but I've had so many xrays and scans lately show mild arthritis, so I'm thinking my aches are all due to letrozole.

Mommafletch, walk a lot and drink a lot of water. That will help with side effects of femara.

Cbaird, femara is not a chemo agent in the way described. However, glucosamine can also either up blood glucose or muddle certain liver functions (can't remember which). I took it briefly and then decided the potential downside was not worth the very modest (if any) upside in my case.

My MO had me stop femara yesterday for 2 weeks to see if the pain and stiffness subsides. If so she will switch me to a different drug. It would be such a blessing to have less pain. Love, Jean

Like others, I find that a 30+ minute walk each day greatly relieves the joint pains from Femara.

When I first head out, my joints don't feel great but by the time I return they feel fine: I don't know of motion lubricates them or provides some sort of glandular advantage or what, but it works every time and also seems to be cumulative.

Hmmmmm - I was recently diagnosed with bursitis in my right shoulder. The doctor I saw for this condition blamed it on my altered posture (after BMX/reconstruction). Maybe it is really due to Femara or a combination of the two. Something to think about.

Hi All Haven't posted in this forum before ~

Age 53, started Tamoxifen about 3 years ago and 6 months ago made the switch to Anastrazole. Everything was okay until last week when side effects started - headaches, clumsiness, achey joints and a general feeling of not being well. Taking a week break from the Anastrozole, and MO wants me to start Femara in a week.

I'm active, go to the gym and recently started ballroom dancing but it's been tough to keep going with terrible joint aches! My ankles and feet in particular are terrible, hobbled with pain and feel like I'm 100 years old!

Has anybody had success with making a switch from one AI to another, in terms of less side effects?

Thanks!

Joy - I was originally on Anastrozol, for about 2 years. My aches and pains got progressively worse. Eventually, I had trouble getting up and down stairs. I felt like I was going to need knee replacements and a new hip. It was alful. My MO switched me to Femera last summer. I am so much better! I (knock wood) have no pain other than the bursitis mentioned above. I go to jazzercise and have no difficulty with stairs. I am a little achy when I get up from sleeping or sitting too long. However, that achiness is gone after a few steps. Femara has been so much easier for me to tolerate!

Good luck with the switch!

Hi Poppy K! I'm very interested in the regimen of effexor, vitamin e and magnesium prescribed by your MO. I have ridiculous hot flashes, several times an hour, which make sleep difficult. Do you mind if I ask if you'd been on an antidepressant before? I've been on Cymbalta for years for depression...not working well for me know, but psychiatrist said she wouldn't take me off while I'm having hot flashes and neuropathy. Found another doc who is trying Brintellix. Big side effect is nausea, as I'm finding out. I'd much rather just switch to effexor is it will help the hot flashes and depression. Just trying to figure all of this out...Thanks..

I'm not sure if this is the correct thread for my question but I'll ask. I've been taking Femara almost 2 years and considering reconstruction. For those that have had reconstruction, was it required that you stop taking Femara before and after surgery? If so, how long before and after?

Trailrose... I started Fermara (letrizole) 3 weeks after I finished chemo (Feb 26th). I had my reconstruction on May 13th and was not required to stop my fermara. How are you doing with the fermara after 2 years. I am achy with joint pain after sitting or laying down but only few minutes or so.... wondered if it gets worse as you take it.