FEMARA Reviews (LETROZOLE)Average Rating: 2.5 (1087 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare FEMARA with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Gender males first. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 |
More on FEMARA: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR FEMARA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Breast Cancer | Hot flashes, weight gane, bone pain, hair thinning, stiffness...all as described by other patients here. | The side effects are very worth it for me. I was lucky to find my cancer myself, at stage 1, when I was 42 years old. I opted for a double mastectomy, and my oncologist opted for chemo/medication as an aggressive approach. I have not regretted my choices. In my opinion, the discomfort is temporary, and I have mitigated it with exercise, lots of rest, and positive thinking...knowing that I am doing everything I can to live a long and healthy life. I read the posts of those who stop taking Femara temporarily, and this is so dangerous. Instead, I would suggest talking to your oncologist or primary physician, and doing all you can to minimize the side effects, and to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Time does pass more quickly than expected in the end, and eventually you will stop taking Femara, and the side effects will subside. Overall, dealing with these problems is a thousand times better than dealing with the alternative. We all are strong!!! Do whatever you need to to beat your cancer!! :) | M | 46 | 2.5 years 2.5 MG 1X day | 8/19/2010 | 5 | Breast cancer | Aches & stiffness in joints , bones and musles in pelvis and legs and nauesa. | M | 60 | 3 years 2.5 1X day | 4/9/2021 | 4 | Stage 1 Breast Cancer | "Fuzzy" focus and memory; extreme stiffness in knees, elbows, and ankles; weight gain; vaginal dryness | I took lupron + tamoxifen for 1.5 years, then switched to femara + lupron for 1 year. I then took a 1-year break from all medicine. I've now been back on femara/lupron for 1 year. I thought it was me turning 40, but I guess it's also the meds. I can't stick with a thought for more than half a minute. It takes me 5 minutes to get out of bed. My knees creek going up and down the stairs. I also have what feels like arthritis in my elbow. I'm not sure how I feel about continuing it. My onc says that I got the most benefit in the first two years. I rated it a 4 because of the general benefit of preventing a recurrence, which is the main point. | M | 41 | 2 years | 12/25/2009 | 4 | stage 2 breast cancer | Joint pain,trouble standing up after sitting for a while (pain in knees) vaginal dryness,pain in hands, elevated cholesterol | I didn't realize some of the side effects were from the femara until I read comments on this site from other people. Dr. told me my weight gain is due to my age..hmmm...maybe not? Started on tamoxifin,switched to arimadex then went to femara. I originally checked this site to what people have experienced after going off femara since I am taking my last pills this week after 5 years on these drugs. For anyone suffering side effects all I can say is the pain did subside after the first year. I feel it was worth it for me to stay on the drugs, didn't want to ever have to say what if... | M | 49 | 3 years | 12/17/2008 | 4 | adenosarcoma in endometreosis | Severe joint, bone pain, headaches, nausea, nightsweats, blurred vision, insomnia, chills to roasting in matter of minutes, tiredness, etc | I have a rare form of cancer as my endometriosis is outside of the uterus. Had hysterectomy/ooperectomy 20 yrs prior to cancer diagnosis. I have had numerous surgeries for endometreosis I have gone as long as 8.5 yrs in between. Thus far I've gotten by for 7.5yrs. I'm on this med for life but am at the point of deciding if quality of life that I'm currently experiencing is worth taking it. | M | 56 | 7.5 years 2.5mg 1X day | 7/13/2012 | 3 | to prevent bc recurrence | Hand swelling, stiffnes, can't grip objects. Memory lapses, brain freezes when trying to think of a simple word (forget about names). It's very embarassing. Joint pain, migraine headaches (new in last year), arms and legs have no strength, elevated cholesterol, BUT no recurrence of breast cancer (12 years)! | I have two weeks until my five years are up and I can't wait, but I'm scared to be without meds (6 years on tamoxifen and 5 years on femara). I was hoping that someone would let me know that they feel "normal" again after stopping it after five years. | M | 50 | 5 years 2.5mg 1X day | 7/17/2010 | 3 | STAGE 1 BREAST CANCER | HAD BEEN ON TAMOXIFEN FOR ABOUT A YEAR, THEN HAD TO HAVE ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION BECAUSE OF TAMOXIFEN CAUSING ENDOMETRIAL CELLS. WAS SWITCHED TO FEMARA WHICH HAS CAUSED JOINT PAIN IN KNEES AND BACK, NOT TO MENTION THE HOT FLASHES, SO FAR CANCER FREE, THANKS BE TO GOD. SO I GUESS IT WORKS. | M | 66 | 90 days | 5/15/2006 | 3 | Survived breast cancer stage 2 | bone pain: neuropathy - my bones especially my wrists hurt so much. i also have nueropathy and walking is painful. lately i have migraines, and hot burning eyes. i feel uncomfotable all the time. plus some nausea. i have been taking this for almost two years. also some cloudy thinking, i think it is affecting my memory or i am getting old - I am not sure which. | M | 58 | 2 days | 8/16/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Joint pains, very noticable memory loss, stumbling and imbalance problems. I had a hip replacement in early 2008, so I have a lot of pain there. Also, I have noticed weight gain since I don't exercise as often. | Diagnosed in late 2005, lumpectomy in Dec. 2005, followed with 2 months of radiation. I started on tamoxifen in 04/2006, was on that until the end of 2008. Had horrible hot flashes, was very irritable all the time, and a lot more side effects on the tamoxifen. I have been on Femara for 6 months, the hot flashes have subsided somewhat, but I still have them, just not as bad. I take vitamin supplements for bone strength. I'll stay on the Femara until 2013, or change to something else. I am so thankful we at least have medication, as my sweet mother suffered terribly with breast cancer and she did not have pills to take. I thank the Lord daily that I have this medication, any medication, to help with breast cancer. | M | 53 | 6 months | 9/6/2009 | 3 | breast cancer, stage1C | vaginal bleeding, joint pain, muscle pain, trigger finger | Like many others, I have experienced the same miserable joint pain and feel like an 80 year old. I have been doing yoga which has helped and try to exercise every day. Recently I have had vaginal bleeding which is scary. They have done all the tests and supposedly I do not have uterine cancer. However, the bleeding continues and it seems the drugs to fix it are the hormones I am trying to avoid! Has anyone else experience vaginal bleeding? As much as the side effects are difficult, I want to stay on this drug because it works! | M | 59 | 8 months | 9/16/2009 | 2 | Breast Cancer Stage II | Pain and numbness in hands and feet. Hard to concentrate, feeling confused at times. Difficulting getting up after sitting down. Feeling tired and old. Cry easily. Don't know about hair loss as I have no hair due to chemo. | M | 59 | 15 days | 12/8/2008 | 2 | breast cancer | Swollen hands, weight gain, claw finger, breakdown of cartilage in knees. | M | 55 | 1 years | 2/3/2006 | 2 | post 5 yrs tamox. after breast CA | swelling of ankles and feet joint pain and stiffness wondering if I have Rheumatoid arthritis | has anyone had improvement of symptoms after stopping drug have been off 1 month and wondering if anything will get better | M | 45 | | 3/2/2006 | 1 | 2nd Cancer-Tamoxifen 4-1/2 years. | SWEATING, back and hip pain, tingling in fingers, skin problems-fingers peeling, fatigue, MORE SWEATING (not to be confused with hot flashes) upon ANY exertion | I would like an answer about POST-FEMARA effects. I took it for four months after 4-1/2 years on Tamoxifen. The sweats upon any exertion(not to be confused with hot flashes) were so bad that I had no quality of life....dripping from my hair actually, fatigue,night sweats, joint pain. Doc said to stop it. SINCE THEN, the sweating stopped, but my scalp became very oily and itchy, and breaks out so much that I have trouble brushing my hair sometimes---my skin itches all over, and I have gained 15 POUNDS. WHY? | M | 75 | 4 months | 5/1/2006 | 1 | High risk Breast CA?? | Addendum, I recently had a mild heart attack. May be caused by the insomnia causing irregular heart rate, causing coronary artery spasm. Am checking w/new doctor this week. Law suit is slow going, but all signs point to doctors not reporting to pharmaceutical company's 800 hot line for SE. Novartis needs to "own up" to their responsibility. | M | 55 | 4 months | 10/13/2006 | 1 | Stage 1 breast cander | I'm just curious if anyone taking Femara has had frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis). I took Femara 3 mos. but was unable to continue because I could not tolerate the side effects. I had ALL known side effects to the medication. About two months into it, I developed frozen shoulder, which is the most painful thing I've endured since my diagnosis. And I have severe loss of range of motion of my shoulder/arm. Anyone one else develop that? My radiation oncologist thought it was triggered by Femara. I've now had frozen shoulder for 4 mos. | M | 50 | 3 months 1X day | 9/22/2010 | 1 | high estrogen | I have been on femara for 4 years and have had the worst time of my life. crippling pain in knee joints and shoulder and elbows. I have also developed a rare case of (ONJ) dead jaw and had many other problems. why a doctor would give me this just to control my estrogen is beyond me I'VE NEVER HAD CANCER and I'm a male.other side effects proven by tests cant absorb nutrients b12 and zinc, sudden outbursts, swollen hand and face, erectile problems, and the list goes on!!!!! | If any one can help me understand why I was put on this drug knowing it's adverse sideeffects or any one can explain why I have dead jaw, my jaw is rotting away and this doesn't happen to young people at all I'm 22 and I started taking this when I was 17 this drug is the worst thing that could ever happen to me completely destroyed my life!!!!!!!!!! been off the drug for 1 year and pain is as bad as ever. | M | 22 | 4 days | 12/31/2007 | 1 | Stage 2B breast cancer | Severe joint pain especially in my legs. I have developed carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand, neuropathy started after I ended chemo and started taking Femara. Foot pain is worsening daily. | M | 56 | 1 years 2.5 1X day | 9/19/2013 | 1 | Unable to walk without a cain. | Knees hurt, back hurt, muscle spasms in my ankles | M | 55 | 4 years | 10/31/2015 | 1 | Stage 1A BC | Noticed leg and joint pain almost immediately. Wasn't until 6-7 months that I began the UTI's month after month after month. Finally feel great now that I'm off the Letrozole for 3 weeks. What a shock for me to discover how bad I've really been feeling over the past 16 months. The sleeplessness, brain fog, everything I've read with the exception of the trigger finger..haven't had that experience. I'm so glad to know I'm not going crazy! I just started the Tamoxifen - maybe it won't be so bad - I just wonder what this stuff is doing long-term? Do we know anybody that made through the 5 year treatment plan? | M | 63 | 16 months 2.5 mg 1X day | 11/13/2015 |
FEMARA (LETROZOLE): This medication is used to treat certain types of breast cancer (such as hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer) in women after menopause. Letrozole is also used to help prevent the cancer from returning. Some breast cancers are made to grow faster by a natural hormone called estrogen. Letrozole decreases the amount of estrogen the body makes and helps to slow or reverse the growth of these breast cancers. FDA Approval Date: 1997-07-25 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)