Letrozole and Hot Flashes: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I have been on letrozole for a year now. My issues are some hot flashes, increased vaginal atrophy/dryness (getting pretty bad), and I wake up in the middle of the night with painful and stiff fingers, but if I wiggle my fingers around, it goes away. I think they get painful and stiff from not being moved while I am asleep. They are not too bad during the day, but the tendinitis I had prior to taking letrozole that affected the base of my thumbs got worse. I am currently in clinical trials to assess the usefulness of acupuncture for the joint pain and stiffness. I am hoping this will turn out to be a solution for women who find the joint pain unbearable."

• Bub...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 17, 2019

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "2018, the worst year of my life. Got suddenly diagnosed with met left breast cancer. So shocked, underwent mastectomy, radiation. HER negative, hormone positive. Underwent oophorectomy to decrease estrogen levels. Now on letrozole since 14 months. Horrible hot flashes and night sweat, severe arthritis. Still coping. Thinking of stopping letrozole, but oncologist said to continue and have patience. Let us hope for a better future."

• LAa...
• May 12, 2020

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "Been on this drug for 3 months. Extreme hot flashes. Severe chills. I am sleepy all day. I go to bed sleepy. I wake up sleepy. I fall asleep anywhere. My quality of life is gone because of no energy. Hair loss. Weight gain. Depression, which I did not have before. Dizziness and mental fogginess. All of these symptoms every single damn day."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2023

For Breast Cancer "Was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2022. Had a lumpectomy. Then had a double mastectomy. I was told, “we got everything.” Then I was told to take Femara. I’m 54 and have arthritis from past sports history. Within 48 hours of taking this drug, my leg swelled up and was painful. Swelling subsided after 7 weeks. It’s a daily struggle to get out of bed due to the severe joint pain in my knees and hips. Hot flashes have returned. I have a general feeling of apathy. This is not living. Seeing the oncologist in a few weeks and advising them I’m not going to continue taking this. The daily pain of just walking around my home is not worth it."

• Fat...
• October 31, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Femara since 6/4/15, almost 1.5 years now. At first, my only side effect was enhanced hot flashes and night sweats. I am post-menopause. No real weight gain, which has pleased my oncologist. I do, however, now have muscle weakness, joint pain in wrists, fingers, and knees. Also, I now have trigger finger in my thumb. I have seen a rheumatologist and have been put on diclofenac for joint pain. Even she feels like my aches are from the Femara. The meds she put me on are not working. I get just as much relief from Aleve and Advil. If anyone out there has a solution to the joint pain, please write in."

• Pen...
• March 6, 2012

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "I'm with Little D. I've been taking letrozole for 4 1/2 months and have just stopped. The pain has been unbearable, mostly my legs and hands. Unable to sleep even though I'm exhausted, and my hot flashes are really hot fires. I was stage 1 with radiation and unable to take tamoxifen due to being on antidepressants for some length of time. My oncologist and I will decide what direction to take at the end of March. I am 54 and all about quality rather than quantity. I have 3 grandchildren that I want to play with TODAY!"

• 201...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 24, 2015

For Breast Cancer "I had stage 2 breast cancer in 2004, took tamoxifen for 5 years, and was then moved to Femara. I have had significant bone and muscle pain; weight gain; severe hot flashes/night sweats; and brain fog, forgetfulness. However, my 5 years of Femara will end in June 2015; I was under the impression that I would be taken off of this medication. However, I have seen many posts that show individuals on this medication for 8, 9, or more years. I am not sure what my oncologist has in mind for me. I was 46 when I found out and have had both breasts removed and completed 5 months of chemo, but I am still concerned to be without any medications for fear of my cancer returning."

• Apa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 6, 2017

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with stage 2 hormone-positive breast cancer in December 2015. I had a bilateral mastectomy in January 2016, just 3 days after turning 60. No lymph node involvement. I also didn't have chemo or radiation and started on letrozole in February. Didn't notice side effects at first. I think I was going through reconstruction with tissue expanders. This was very painful, and pain meds helped. Since having my implants and no pain meds, my joints ache, my memory is awful, I'm tired, and I have hot flashes. Sometimes depressed for no reason and just don't feel like doing anything. Have lost weight by strict dieting and biking, which helps. Now it's March 2017 and still cancer-free. Also added another BP med, a cholesterol med, and a low-dose pain med."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 7, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I have been on this drug for over a year now. This is my update to a previous comment. I stopped it on the advice of my doctor because of my hot flashes and sweats, joint pain. It was a month break. I started it up again, my hot flashes and sweats were subsiding, now they are getting worse again. My joint pain is going away. Some nights I may sleep four hours max."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2019

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "Stage 2 adenocarcinoma of the breast found on mammogram four years ago. Lumpectomy with clean nodes, then 5 weeks of radiation therapy. Started on Arimidex with severe hip and joint pain, constant hot flashes, insomnia. After 6 months of this, switched to Tamoxifen, bone pain improved, other symptoms unchanged. After 3.5 years, had pre-cancerous cells with thickening in the uterus requiring D&C. Switched to letrozole three months ago. Insomnia and hot flashes markedly lessened, but the back and hip pain is relentless. Chiropractor and ibuprofen help, but not sure I can tolerate this one more entire full year (plan is 5 years post-surgery, so one more year this month)."

• Jew...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 2, 2016

Letrozole for Breast Cancer "Stage 2b or stage 3 according to the onc nurse. Invasive lobular cancer. One year on letrozole. Just had a bone cancer scare, but a negative bone scan. Hot flashes, sweats, bone fracture, not injury. Some bleeding from genital tissues. Also had a 10 lb weight loss. Anyone else with bleeding and weight loss? Lots of back pain, already had osteoarthritis."

• Yoj...
• January 4, 2018

For Breast Cancer "Had chemo every other week for 4 treatments, surgery, another 4 sessions of chemo, then radiation every weekday for 33 sessions. Neulasta shots day after chemo, that was so horrible, excruciating body aches. I've been on letrozole for 8 months. Side effects have been muscle aches, fatigue, some nausea, dry mouth, trigger thumb, hot flashes, weight gain, blurry vision, insomnia, occasional decrease in appetite, neuropathy mostly in my feet (maybe from the chemo?). Is that enough? My doctor wants to give me a 3-4 week break, but I'm scared to stop. I can live with these side effects if it keeps me from a recurrence. I am feeling better, not quite as tired or nauseated. I'm glad I'm not the only one with the symptoms."

• Syd...
• October 22, 2017

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I am taking letrozole (Femara), and I have malignant pleural effusion secondary to breast cancer. I had my first lumpectomy with lymph node removal in 1996 with radiation. Second lumpectomy in 2003 with no treatment. Mastectomy (all the same breast) in 2013 with chemo. Now, I have been diagnosed with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and have been put on letrozole. The side effects are really bad, from the hot flashes to severe bone and joint pain. Has anyone out there been in my situation and can give me more insight about whether to take or discontinue the letrozole? Thanks in advance."

• Anonymous
• July 27, 2022

For Female Infertility "I was prescribed letrozole 5 mg x 5 days on cycle day 3-7. I began feeling ill on the 3rd day of taking the medication. I had really bad muscle/bone/joint aches, headaches, hot flashes, abdominal pains, lack of appetite, dry mouth, cough, dizziness, nausea, and fever. I called the pharmacy to ask about side effects and was told to complete the 5-day regimen since I only had 1 dose left. No sinus symptoms or sore throat, but I went to get COVID and flu tested and was negative. Blood work showed elevated liver enzymes. No signs of infection. Still having headaches and now stomatitis. Every day I am feeling a little better. I read side effects can take 7-10 days to subside. I am on day 6 and still don't feel like myself. Praying I do end up pregnant after experiencing almost every side effect possible. I did have an increase in follicle sizes from the medication."

• Ral...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 14, 2024

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "Metastatic breast cancer - L5 vertebra metastases diagnosed in October 2008. I started Femara in November 2008 and took one daily until July 2023 when I switched to generic: Letrozole. As long as I took Femara, the adverse effects were tolerable: at first there were hot flashes (about 2 years) with fatigue, hair thinning. Since last year, since I have been taking the generic Letrozole, I have had joint pain, burning sensation in the soles, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, sensitive peripheral neuropathy. Since March 2024, I have developed a sensation of facial paresthesias (chin/lower and upper lip), numbness and tingling in the skin of my arms and legs bilaterally. However, almost 16 years on from my initial diagnosis I have no signs of breast cancer recurrence so I will continue with Letrozole"

• Pam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2023

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer, triple positive. Started taking letrozole in September 2022. Had hot flashes at first and now dealing with bone pain. I’m hoping to stay on letrozole for the full 10 years, but we shall see."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2023

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I was diagnosed with ER-positive de novo lobular breast cancer with bone metastasis in 12/2020. I have been on letrozole since 2/2021. My condition is stable. I also get a liquid biopsy every three months that shows no evidence of disease, even though my CT scan still shows it in my bones. I have hot flashes from this medication and joint problems with my hands, but other than that, I feel great! I hope it continues to work as my first line of treatment."

• Mol...
• June 5, 2021

For Breast Cancer "I took tamoxifen for 5 years, then was switched to letrozole. For the first 6 months, I had no issues. Gradually, I noticed a stiffening in my joints: knees, hips, shoulders, ankles. Eventually, I couldn’t get out of bed. I stopped EVERYTHING for one week and felt better. My oncologist switched me back to tamoxifen. After 4 weeks, I can move again. Of course, the hot flashes returned with tamoxifen. Two more weeks and I visit the oncologist to discuss options - I am so happy I can walk again."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2011

Letrozole for Breast Cancer "My main concern was the memory loss. I could tolerate the hot flashes. The 'morning sickness' was undesired and difficult, but the memory loss is something I can't deal with."

• Flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Stiff fingers and legs, joint pain, swollen fingers and toes, hip pain, hot flashes, night sweats, and weight gain."

• Hip...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 14, 2021

For Female Infertility "Got pregnant on my 8th round of 7.5 mg letrozole. I had a lot of side effects, ovulation was quite painful every time. I was very hot for the 5 days I was taking them."

• Son...
• April 11, 2021

"On it for endometrial stromal sarcoma and got bad side effects, including joint pain, belly pain, chills, and hot flashes."