Letrozole and Pain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Sou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I started letrozole 5 months ago. I take it at night. My side effects have been minimal compared to what it is doing for me (hopefully). I started with terrible leg aches at night for a couple of months, and they are now gone. My hands and ankles are really stiff in the morning, my body feels a bit beat up, and I had a vaginal discharge for about 4 months that finally stopped. Also, my pap came back abnormal due to the hormone changes my body is going through, so don't freak out right away if that happens. All normal! My doc has also put me on Alendronate Sodium tablets once a week to help with my bones and to prevent bone cancer. I just started getting back into working out with some weights and a treadmill, and that is helping for sure."

• 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!"

• 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)."

• Ani...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 7, 2016

For Breast Cancer "Was diagnosed in Oct 2014 with endometrial stroma sarcoma and put on Letrozole 2.5 mg (UK). Small tumors near my liver have now disappeared, and the main tumor has shrunk from 2.7 to 1 cm. Side effects have been very bad from nausea, dizziness, aches and pains (sometimes from head to toe), stiffness in all the joints, brain fog, and tiredness. Yes, some days you wonder if it is worth it, but then you look at the family and decide there is no option but to keep fighting. Taking loads of supplements and herbs, which have helped somewhat, and acupuncture. The insomnia is very hard to deal with - nothing seems to help at all with that. Now having a 4-month break. Oncologist suggested 1 month, but after 1 month, the effects are still there."

• JHa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2023

For Breast Cancer "I was reluctant to even commence taking letrozole as my benefit score was 0.9%. After only a few weeks, I had leg pains and brain fog. Then, devastatingly, my dental implants failed, and I have had immense bone loss in my jaw, causing tooth loss. My DEXA scan confirmed I am osteopenic. I was only on letrozole for about 3 months, and it has ruined my life. I wish I had followed my instincts and never taken it. I had no dental implant problems prior to taking this horrible drug."

• KTa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2018

For Female Infertility "I took two 2.5 mg pills at night for cycle days 3-7. I had no side effects the first 3 days. Then, the 4th day, my right knee started hurting when going up and down stairs. It hurts every once in a while, so I thought it was no big deal. Well, now it is unbearable. I can hardly move my knee without pain. It hurts to drive, cross my legs, walk, etc. I have been off this pill for 2 full days, and it is getting worse, not better. Then, this morning, I had a severe headache. Quite possibly the worst one I have ever had. It took all I could do to get out of bed. I also had severe joint pain in my shoulders. I have never had that. I am praying that the pain subsides, or I may not be able to drive/work. The only benefit is that my insurance company (Anthem) covered this pill 100% because it is labeled as breast cancer preventative. This is nice, as fertility drugs are not typically covered."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2021

Letrozole for Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "Bone pain, trigger fingers, joint pain, hip pain, wrists/thumbs repeated tendonitis, low energy. From anastrozole to letrozole, issues persist, worse over time. Still on it, but had to stop working. Managing to stay on as benefit outweighs risk."

• 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"

• Vac...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 2, 2021

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "So much pain and quality of life diminished. In all these years and all this money for cancer research, this is the only type of drug given to try and stop the return of breast cancer. Seems it took 20 years after Tamoxifen to be approved. Well, it’s just passed now the 20-year mark, and breast cancer needs something better than letrozole! Don’t get me wrong, I take it because I want to live and I’m scared to die and leave my young children. But I am in excruciating pain from it. All this money and awareness!!! Let’s go with an ER+ vaccine and approve it NOW because people are dying. There’s been zero progress to prevent metastatic breast cancer. Diagnosis early is great, but the mortality rate is still high."

• Isl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2021

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I've been on letrozole for 4 years, since I was first diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. The first year, I also took Kisqali. Two years ago, I was able to take just letrozole alone and it has kept me stable with no progression. I have gained 20 lbs over the past two years, impossible to lose. I also have a lot of aches and pains in my bones and muscles. I also have insomnia, sweating, and genitourinary syndrome. I've also become prediabetic. Unfortunately, I can't go off of this medication as stage 4 is terminal. I am fortunate to only need a hormone blocker for now, but the side effects are still intolerable at times."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2019

For Female Infertility "I have one fallopian tube. Last year, the doctor gave me letrozole tablets for 3-7 days, and on the 9th day, I started bleeding and having pelvic pain. After 1 month, I had an ectopic pregnancy. Now, I am again trying normally to get pregnant but not successful. My HSG report is normal. The doctor gave me letrozole tablets again, and I am wondering if I should take it."

• lkw...
• April 23, 2012

Letrozole for Breast Cancer "I have been on Femara for 4 months. Hand pain and weight gain."

• fir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 23, 2013

For Breast Cancer "Got aches and pains in shoulders, knees, stiffness after sitting, trigger fingers and thumb-left hand, thinning hair."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "It caused horrid pain throughout my entire body and skin 3 weeks into the drug. Also, major mood changes - mostly depression and grumpiness. Not the quality of life I am looking for."

• 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."

• Fox...
• March 1, 2017

For Breast Cancer "Morning joint stiffness progressing to hip, wrist, shoulder stiffness and pain. Hip pain is the most bothersome. Also, dry mouth and some hair loss."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 21, 2018

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "A lot of side effects: pain, insomnia, irritability, loss of attention and memory."

• Tri...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 13, 2022

For Breast Cancer "The pain in my legs and knees is almost unbearable. I feel I cannot stand this for 5 years, my life has completely changed."