aromasin vs letrozal.....

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2x1sttimer
2x1sttimer Member Posts: 3
edited September 2017 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

i'm a 2nd time 1st timer... was diagnosed 15yrs ago had lumpectomy, small ER/PR + tumor, clean margins, 6 mos of CMF twice a month, 5 weeks of daily radiation, 5yrs of tamoxifen. Nov 2013 diagnosed with a new, more ER/PR small tumor but the sentinel node was twice as big. had bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction, 4 rounds of CT, 2 months of Xeloda and now on aromasin. IT IS KILLING ME! my joints hurt...it's made my arthritis which was negilible horrible now. I have trigger finger in my right hand.

New onc is suggesting i switch to letrozal and also do Prolia shots for bones. I need to know what others have experienced on these drugs. How is letrozal vs aromasin? does it make joints worse? how about hair loss? I can only tolerate taking it every other day and HATE IT. Sure hope to hear from some of you

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited December 2015

    I can't really answer your question, but I have just been switched from exemestane (aromasin) to femara (letrozole) and have not yet started the new drug. I had horrible joint pain on aromasin and am praying that I don't experience the same with letrozole. Best to you and hope that whatever you decide to do is better for you. Hugs...I understand completely!

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  • 2x1sttimer
    2x1sttimer Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2015

    hi....i'd love for you to keep me posted........some days i can barely hold a pen in my hand! and every joint in my body hurts. good luck!! hope letrozal is better for you

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2015

    Welcome to the Community 2x1sttimer, we are very glad that you reached our here and we hope that you will find helpful information from our members as well as support for all that comes with the diagnosis and treatment. Here is a link to more information on our website about Femara. Keep us posted. The Mods

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  • lizzyanne
    lizzyanne Member Posts: 73
    edited December 2015

    I started Letrozol this June after 5 years on Tamoxifen. I had some joint pain on the T but it was bearable. Now with the L - I have lots of pain in my hands and arms and also my back and knees. I have also gained about 10 lbs. since starting it. I am going to talk to my CO about trying something else. Problem is that my CO is in NY and I am wintering in AZ. Not sure I want to wait till June to change drugs. I will have to talk to him after the holidays.

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  • cwayman650
    cwayman650 Member Posts: 102
    edited December 2015

    Aromisin was terrible for my joints. I switched to Femara and is made a world of difference. Good luck.

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited December 2015

    Femara was awful for me emotionally and joint wise, took Aromasin for over 18 months then stopped that due to inability to sleep properly and joint pain, now on Anastrozole after a lovely 6 month holiday i took myself from meds..................currently have one fractured bone which I never had before.................

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited December 2015

    Hi ladies,

    I will start letrozole on January 1st. I just stopped Aromasin (exemestane) after 2.5 years on the drug due to really bad side effects I could no longer endure. I am hoping that the exemestane is better...we shall see. Happy New Year!

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited January 2016

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3085997/

    Severe prolonged cholestatic hepatitis caused by exemestane (aromasin)

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited January 2016

    I started letrozole last night. Still waiting for my shipment of Femara to arrive from Canada, so I filled the first 30 days of my generic letrozole scrip with Roxane’s version. Did some homework and found it has even fewer dyes & fillers than Teva’s. Roxane is a division of Boehringer Ingleheim. I figure if that’s the version Kellogg Cancer Center’s outpatient pharmacy carries, they may be on to something. So far, so good but I don’t expect side effects to kick in until all the residual estrogen in my body has been metabolized and excreted.

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  • adina65
    adina65 Member Posts: 24
    edited August 2017

    I started with Letrozole and had side effects of basically what you described then switched to Exemestane with Prolia shots. Yes, my bones hurt, yes my hair grew thinner and I gained weight, but since the fear is put upon us I plowed through it for about a year and 1/2. Currently I've taken a break from everything for the last 2 months and I feel great but, I'm suppose to take this exemestane or Letrozole for 5 years so I have to make a decision soon if I want to go back or not. Right now I feel I'm playing Russian Roulette with my body. I feel your pain.

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  • adina65
    adina65 Member Posts: 24
    edited August 2017

    Okay Sandy, I don't understand. Does my oncologist have to specifically order the Letrozole from a certain pharmacy in Canada or do I just order it online myself with a prescription.What is Roxane's version? I've seen some of your posts and you seem very knowledgeable on many of these scripts. Thank you for this information even though it has been a year. I'd like to see how your feeling currently.

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  • FightingGMA
    FightingGMA Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2017

    I started taking Letrozol in April after my radiation. I have been have numerous side effects, cronic constipation, upset stomach, hair loss, joint pain, and now problems with sciatica, which I have never had before. I call my oco doc and the nurse is always giving me new things to try to keep the side effects at bay. Anyone else have this many side effects?

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited September 2017

    I've been taking generic letrozole for 18 months and I have had few side effects, other than joint pain and some fatigue. My hair has not fallen out, no GO issues, and i did not gain weight. In fact, I have lost 15-lbs. I've had arthritis for years, for which i take a daily NSAID. Its hard to know how much of my joint pain is letrozole and how much is the arthritis.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited September 2017

    I've been taking generic letrozole for 18 months and I have had few side effects, other than joint pain and some fatigue. My hair has not fallen out, no GI issues, and i did not gain weight. In fact, I have lost 15-lbs. I've had arthritis for years, for which i take a daily NSAID. Its hard to know how much of my joint pain is letrozole and how much is the arthritis.

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  • Sopravvissuta818
    Sopravvissuta818 Member Posts: 11
    edited September 2017

    Hi April485,

    How did you do on Letrozal after Aromasin? Did it help your joint pain or was it consistent with Aromasin? I'm currently taking Aromasin/Exestamane with horrible joint pain. My onc said to try fish oil, which I am currently doing...but also asked if I wanted to try Letrozal. I was switched to Aromasin from Arimidex due to a horrendous rash within weeks of beginning it. I still get a rash on Exestamane when I'm heated or having a hot flash but it's better than the first AI.

    All the best to you!

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