Letrozole(femara), anti-depressants, depression

Hi there. So sorry you are suffering from side effects of Lettrozole. Of course we have all heard of these symptoms being a side effect of anti hormone treatment! Your MO is doing you a disservice by denying it. What really scares me is his denial of the depression being a side effect. Depression is miserable and can have very dangerous outcomes. To start I would find a new MO who will work with you to find a solution. IMO the compliance rate would be much higher than 40-50 percent if these docs would be open to discussion about the side effects. Many have found changing to another anti hormone helps. Good luck and keep us posted.

jor, I can so relate. I've been on Ai's for 7 years. I started having really bad side effects (especially knees) at 9 months. Had to walk with a cane. I wanted to quit. Onco talked me into staying on a couple more months cause my body would adjust and symptoms would get better. He was right. After a couple more months the pain was tolerable and I no longer needed the cane, but took lots of Advil, Tylenol, or aspirin. I rotated them every couple of days. I've had this all this time plus fatigue. My legs hurt all the time now. He let me have a month break last November and wanted me to try a different Ai. I didn't start to improve until the 3rd week. Then after a month started a different Ai and now I feel worse then before, with pains in back shoulders and hands along with legs. I think I'm at the end of my treatment. I see onco in April and will stick with it at least til then. Hang in there for a while longer, your body may adjust to a point you feel you can you can do it. Also don't think of it as a 5year, or 10 year treatment. Think of it as a month or two and then re-evaluate. That's what's got me to this point. Same way you eat an elephant, 1bite at a time.

I am so sorry you’re feeling so bad. I hope your oncologist can find some solution for you. Have you tried anti depressants? They helped me after diagnosis and during treatment.

I think I’ve reached the point where the side effects are starting to get me down. Achiness, fatigue and weight gain. I’m on Tamoxifen and objectively, it’s not that bad - but my tolerance and resilience are low. I’m doing an MA and finding it quite challenging and all I want to do is tell anyone who disagrees with me to f&£k off! I’m exercising 2/3 times a week but can’t keep my mood much above gloom and fury.cant decide if I should go back on Escitalopram or try more therapy or what. You’re not alone

You lasted longer than I did...I was on anastrozole for 1 1/2 months and was in such a awful state of mind.I had to stop.. Anxiety and depression was awful..I wanted to die...it was so bad...I had mild OCD and it caused it to become a monster! I wish I had been told it could cause depression.. I am still fighting the effects of it...I would have never taken it.. you are not alone...I am still trying to find the right anti-depressant to help with the OCD and depression.. I am taking xanax daily for the anxiety...just awful

Jor...find a new oncologist ASAP! I know that's hard to do when you are depressed and unmotivated. Is there anyone in your life that can help you? I've been where you are from a drug, its hell! You need a MO that will work for you. Right now your depression/suicidal thoughts need to be treated. You cannot work with a MO who denies all the side effects of aromatase inhibitors! You said you did well on Tamoxifen. Once your depression is under control, there is no reason why you can't take it again. Yes, aromatase inhibitors might work a little better now but you also need to be alive and not have to live with debilitating depression. My best advise is to tell someone, anyone what you are going through. You cannot do this alone. We are here for you, but you need more. Good luck and please keep us posted.

I was on Tamoxifen for a year and was switched to Anastrozole in February. Within a week I was severely depressed. I called my psychiatrist and he upped my anti depressant to no avail.

Completely awful couldn’t get out of bed, crying for hours at a time. I felt worse than I was first diagnosed. I have dealt with depression for over 25 years and was pretty proud of myself the way I handled my surgery treatments etc. I was also doing good on Tamoxifen. I went in to visit my psychiatrist he called my Oncologist they both decided to take me off anastrozole and put me back on Tamoxifen. Within 4 days I was back to normal. I may try again in the future. This was definitely the Anastrozole no doubt about it. I just can’t believe how fast my mood changed. Feeling good now

It seems many of us have the similar reactions. I've been on letrozole for 2 1/2 years. Anastrozole gave me terrible joint pain so switched to letrozole. That's not too bad now, but the sweating is downright embarrassing! When I get warm, sweat literally drips off my head, plastering hair to my head, and gets in eyes. Has anyone been given or found anything to help with the sweating issues? During the night, I'll have to take a towel to my head, and change a t-shirt as it's dripping wet! Any I never even had hot flashes during menopause! Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Dara