Letrozole and high BP and LDL?

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Mavericksmom
Mavericksmom Member Posts: 635
edited October 2019 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I’ve been on Letrozole about 6 months. I can’t get my blood pressure regulated, and my LDL has gone up, higher than it has ever been prompting my cardiologist to put me on Lipitor!

All this time I thought I had no side effects from the Letrozole, but reality is that I have been having “silent” side effects.

Anyone else experience this? I was never happy at the prospect of taking an AI, but I did. I will see my MO in November, but I am once again considering stopping it. I have a very hard time wrapping my head around taking an AI for hypothetical cancer prevention. There is a higher chance I would never get cancer again without the AI.

It just doesn’t make sense to take something for a hypothetical reason while it’s causing very real issues with my heart! I feel as if I am picking my poison, cancer or heart attack/stroke! I would rather take my chances with cancer!

Please, anyone who took AI with these symptoms, what did you do? Just when I thought my fears were over, they aren’t

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  • Abelian
    Abelian Member Posts: 9
    edited September 2019

    Hi Mavericksmom,

    This is my first post here even though I have actively reading posts for months, ever since my diagnosis.

    I had been on letrozole for about 5 months, without any side effects, when a week ago, my blood pressure spiked. I felt nausea and had headaches and found that my blood pressure had climbed to very very high levels (199/102). My PVP prescribed medicine and he told me that he had read that letrozole can increase blood pressure. I have discontinued letrozole and am feeling very well now.

    I have not checked cholesterol though.

    I need to talk to my MO, but my risk only increases by 3.7% if I don't take letrozole. So I am quite inclined to give it up altogether




    .



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  • Abelian
    Abelian Member Posts: 9
    edited September 2019

    i just wanted to add that I did have one side effect, and that was that I lost my appetite. Many days i would just eat one small meal.

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  • Mavericksmom
    Mavericksmom Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2019

    Abelian, thank you. My BP hasn’t gone up that high but my systolic pressure has been 147 and above and diastolic up to 95 and that is while I am on three blood pressure medications! I am concerned. I am having another blood test done in about six weeks (3 months after the last one), so I will see how the cholesterol level is now that I am on Lipitor

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  • CBK
    CBK Member Posts: 611
    edited September 2019

    Mavericksmom

    I had both increase on Arimidex... reminds me to monitor again this week and go back for more bloodwork.

    My blood pressure spiked on Arimidex, I always had low blood pressure as I'm avid exerciser. I found when I eliminated caffeine it brought me back in normal ranges again. Except for an afternoon matcha green tea..

    As for cholesterol...I dropped it significantly by going to a plant based diet and eliminating dairy. I do eat poultry and fish now and I need to retest this month.

    Please let us know how things go for you. I was kind of half wishing they would pull me off Arimidex but on the other hand I truly believe with my markers I need the drug! As miserable as it can be at times.

    I'm seeking the advice of a former breast oncologist who has turned to eastern medicine for a consult beginning of next month. If nothing else I'll receive an acupuncture session which always calms my nerves and subsides my hot flashes!


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  • PinkArmor
    PinkArmor Member Posts: 55
    edited September 2019

    Mavericksmom- has your MO not offered to switch your AI? There are 3 to choose from. I started on Letrozole and the same thing happened to me in the first 10 days. I had severe headaches and my BP shot up. I had nausea and bad anxiety. I told the MO and they told me to stop for a week and then gave me a script for Arimidex (anastrazole). Big difference. I still have occasional nausea. But my BP hasn't changed actually has been low like before surgery. I do have some aches in my bones and my face flushes alot - some side effects that can happen. But I can live with it. In may case I have high markers for ER so I am going to stick it out with this one.

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  • Mavericksmom
    Mavericksmom Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2019

    I will discuss all my issues with my MO in November. I think I will be ok until then and I will have more recent blood tests to see if the Lipitor is helping or not. I have never been fond of adding more medications to compensate for side effects of other medications, but it is a whole "benefit vs risk" issue. I have noticed an increase in the number of headaches and I have had some issues with nausea too, but nothing severe.

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  • trinigirl50
    trinigirl50 Member Posts: 343
    edited September 2019

    My cholesterol levels have gone up (all of them, even the HDL) and my trigylcerides as well. My blood sugar has also slowly inched its way up, I have been on Letrozole for 4 years. I have every single side effect except high blood pressure (mine is on the low side). But unfortunately I have to take the AI. I might switch to see if Arimidex will change the cholesterol levels. I eat well and exercise and am pretty skinny, so not much more I can do besides take the stupid drug.


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  • Mavericksmom
    Mavericksmom Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2019

    Trinigirl50 I looked again at my last bloodwork and my triglycerides and total cholesterol went up, also my sugar!

    I believe I am in a position that going off the AI wouldn’t increase my risks significantly and I need to be proactive where my heart is concerned. Still, I won’t go off until I see my MO in November. I also want to see what my blood levels are in another month

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  • Totallytubular
    Totallytubular Member Posts: 62
    edited October 2019

    I had tubular cancer.. it's very low risk. if the side effects are bad you can check with your MO about not taking it.

    it's rare that tubular goes mestatic (Sp) . good luck with you.

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