Aromotase Inhibitors and Restless Legs

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Butterfly1234
Butterfly1234 Member Posts: 2,432

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone has developed restless leg syndrome and what you’re doing to relieve symptoms. I’m up every morning at 3AM with so much discomfort. I’m using biofreeze and compression socks to get some relief. Also bought a massage stick at Target Anyone have any remedies that have helped?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2020

    Butterfly, is not a common side effect of Arimidex but some women may have difficulty sleeping while taking this treatment. Make sure to ask your doctor about this and review your current medications with him/her to see if any might be contributing to sleep issues.

    Best,

    The Mods


  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2020

    My cardiologist said to drink a small glass of quinine water. The stuff is nasty, did help. Could also increase magnesium. Try a hand full of almonds.

  • Butterfly1234
    Butterfly1234 Member Posts: 2,432
    edited June 2020
  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited June 2020

    I've had restless leg even before cancer/treatment.
    I've read iron supplements help stop it but I've read iron supplements may contribute to alzheimer's....how accurate: no idea....

  • LillyIsHere
    LillyIsHere Member Posts: 830
    edited June 2020

    Magnesium helped my when I was pregnant and had few times restless leg syndrome. Let us know if it works for you.

  • Butterfly1234
    Butterfly1234 Member Posts: 2,432
    edited June 2020

    Thank you, will do.

  • MomE
    MomE Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2020

    I have had restless legs for the last 25 years. I don’t think it’s letrozole. Try limiting coffee, sugar and salt intake. I find that this helps most of the time. There are times where I want to chop my legs off from the pain being so intense that it affects my entire being

  • flashlight
    flashlight Member Posts: 698
    edited July 2020

    MomE, As a nurse we gave a low dose of Klonopin for restless legs syndrome. It seemed to really help. Have you try this? I have this as a side effect of Tamoxifen. Magnesium and tonic water seem to help me.

  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited July 2020

    I don't have restless legs, but intractable leg cramps frequently wake me up at midnight, 1:30, 3, 4:30, when I leap from the bed like a maniac and hop around in agony. I've tried drinking plenty of water, potassium, calcium, magnesium, soap under the sheet, pickle juice, hot water, compression stockings, Ben Gay, stretching, not stretching. Nothing helps when it's a cramp kind of night. It's like my lower legs have snakes crawling around under the skin until the twitching coalesces into massive cramps that leave my muscles sore for days. At 5:00 AM it's hopeless so I usually just stay up and resign myself to a zombie day.

    Cramp nights seem to come in waves, like a month at a time, then a cycle of better nights. I've thought perhaps it's the Letrozole, but I've been on it since 2012 and haven't suffered cramps all this time. Maybe it's just the passing of years. It sure sucks.

  • Butterfly1234
    Butterfly1234 Member Posts: 2,432
    edited July 2020

    Thank you all for the helpful suggestions. I started taking magnesium supplements and it seems to be helping. I haven’t been walking because of the heat and wondering if calf pain was from that.

  • HD9700
    HD9700 Member Posts: 9
    edited July 2020

    I’ve had RLS for many years. Klonopin (Requip, etc) are no longer used as they make it worse by causing augmentation. Gabapentin and similarly, Lyrica (pregabalin) are most commonly prescribed now. Make sure your iron levels are okay. That usually needs to be dealt with first.

  • Butterfly1234
    Butterfly1234 Member Posts: 2,432
    edited July 2020

    Thank you. Started taking Magnesium supplements which seems to be helping

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