Drug Ratings for FEMARAAverage Rating: 2.6 (909 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR FEMARA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 2 | IIA, N-neg ER/PR+/HER-2+ breast ca | Joint pain - shoulders, arms, wrists,fingers,knees and hips. Muscle weakness. Occasional hot flashes. Low libido. | Arimidex was prescribed after chemotherapy and Herceptin treatment. The side effects of Arimidex became intolerable (muscle weakness and pain, joint pain, hot flashes, low libido, low energy). I told the doctor I would not take Arimidex because my quality of life was so threatened. She discontinued Arimidex for 10 days. Within 3 days, all pain went away and I started feeling human again. Then started Femara. I have been on Femara since October 2007. At first everything was fine, but then I started experiencing similar side effects. On Arimidex, muscle weakness and pain was in my legs and pelvis. On Femara, most of weakness and pain is in my upper body - shoulders excruciating, carpel-tunnel like pain in arms, thumbs, fingers. This pain is especially severe at night. I am beginning to have leg and knee pain, as well. I will be seeing oncologist in April and will discuss discontinuing Femara. I am almost 2 years since diagnosis, s/p bilateral mastectomy, Adriamycin, Cytoxin an | F | 56 | 6 months | 3/30/2008 | 2 | prevent reoccurance of bc | pain in my hips, shoulders, now traveling down my arms. numbness in my right hand (I thought maybe it was carpel tunnel) tiredness. I have had an increase in cholosterol and blood pressure. I'm now thinking maybe it's all the femara, not just that I'm getting old! | Took Tamoxifin for 5 years after bc surgery/chemo.(12 years ago) then went on Evista (raloxifene) for about 5 years (no problems) then swithced to femara last May. Thought my hip pain was coming from walking so much (trained for BC 3 day walk).So glad to have found this site. Will call my oncologist and see what can be done about coming off and possibly awitching back to Evista. | F | 54 | 9 months | 3/27/2008 | 2 | Invasive breast cancer | Hot flashes, leg cramps, joint stiffness, "muddled" head, dryness of (gosh!) everything - skin, eyes,mouth, vaginal.... depression, osteopenia, excessive GERD to Barrett's esophagus, weight gain, higher bad cholesterol numbers, elevated blood pressure. | Five years on tamoxifen followed immediately by 3 yrs (so far) on Femara. With a battery of drugs from the chemo injected, to tamoxifen(actually kind to bone mass but nasty for leg cramps) to osteoporosis drugs, anti-depressants - it may be difficult to attribute any side effects to Femara alone. But you can notice differences after taking the drugs over time. Hot flashes, weight gain, depression were all there with the tamoxifen. Most everything else has either appeared or worsened with Femara. The Femara has drastically increased my loss of bone mass and added to the GERD which is now affecting my lower esophagus. One thing certainly leads to another - will try to hold out for another 2 years on Femara to get the most from its ability to stave off breast cancer recurrence, but I'm glad I'm not working, and glad my husband understands how painful this can all be. Weight gain on breast cancer meds is NOT A MYTH!!! | F | 55 | 3 years | 3/27/2008 | 2 | Stage 1 breat cancer | So many I cant name them all. Started out on tamoxifen, it made me terribly depressed. Side effects, weight gain, memory loss, irritablilty, pain in bones and muscles, bad taste in my mouth, hair thinning, somewhat depressed, fatigue, insomnia to name a few. | This was supposed to be better that Tamoxifen but the only improvement is that I am not totally depressed 24 hours a day and I have less hot flashes than with Tamoxifen. | F | 55 | 6 months | 3/20/2008 | 3 | Stage 3 breast cancer, 17 nodes | 20 pound weight gain, severe hot flashes, insomnia, loss of libido, joint pain, feel extremely brittle, no energy, severe constipation. | DX with Stage 3, Grade 3 hormone positive BC at age 43. After two months of neoadjuvant chemo, lymph node disection, segmental mastectomy, four more months chemo, 33 radiation, was put on Femara at age 44 immediately after radiation. Never been on anything other than Femara. Have been taking it for three years, have two more years to go. I have no idea if it is working or not. New study just came out 3/11/08 on Femara saying that it is 61% more effective than Tamoxifan in preventing recurrence. Just keeping my aching fingers crossed that I am doing the right thing about taking this drug. Went from a size 8 to a 14, was walking 4-5 miles every other day with my husband, he was losing weight, I was gaining. I was always slender, could eat anything I wanted, now I've tried every diet and still weigh the same, no matter what I do. Asked my husband for weights for my birthday. I thought my body was going to break in two every time I tried to lift even the lightest weights. I coul | F | 47 | 3 years | 3/12/2008 | 1 | prevent reoccurance | overnight artheritis, numbness hands, pain radiating from elbow to hand, 7lbs 1 month, fatigue-fell asleep while driving!,dizziness, severe joint muscle pain, headaches,depression almost suicidal, swollen feet hands, vision loss, no hair loss, crave sweets to extreme, loss bladder control,cholesterol increased, memory loss, anxious, i dont feel like myself. i went from being grateful to be alive to being so tired of all of this just want to go to sleep and not do anything. | i took birth control 15yrs then prempro 15yrs enough being a guinea pig..i would rather get the cancer again and have surgery this is no life! i feel like an old lady..have to hold on to the sink and wall to get off the toilet..if i sit for more than 5 minutes i cant get up..i fell asleep in the doctors office..when i went over side affects she said stop for a month..i stopped, it has been one month i am very swollen in ankles and hands..still numbness in hands..the information you get when you fill a RX doesnt show anything about joint and muscle ache about side affects or any of the other side affects. i am scared to death to go on tomaxafin (sorry about my spelling). i was laid off my job as paralegal, unemployment ends next week, my health ins $900 month then cobra, feel like i cant go to work with the pain and hot flashes, thinking of dissability but heard very hard to get on it.tired of worrying and thinking!! count me in on the class action law suit. | F | 61 | 4 months | 3/11/2008 | 4 | Breast Cancer Stage IV (estogen +) | Weight gain, tiredness, some joint pain and weakness in fingers. | I am writing in response to one who asked about those who began taking femara before menopause. Is your cancer estrogen positive? Mine is and so my doctor recommended that I take femara to strip my body of estrogen. Without estrogen, the cells cannot grow and will slough off and die. Stripping the body of estrogen puts the body into menopause and so we will experience all the same symptoms of post menopausal women including the risk of osteoperosis. My oncologist prescribed zomata for me to reduce my changes of osteoperosis. I take Zomata once a month through a port. The good news is that the tumors in my bones have shrunk. | F | 43 | 15 days | 3/10/2008 | 1 | breast cancer in 2002 | I was on Tamoxifin for 5 years, ending in May of 2007. My oncologist then put me on Femara. A couple of months ago, I noticed my hair was thinning but my hairdresser kept telling me it was my imagination. It has now been confirmed by my oncoloist and a rheumatologist that it is alopecia. Also, I was having terrible problems with my 'ring' finger on both hands, more so on my left hand. My family doctor said it was 'tringer finger'. I believed him and continued to suffer, as it got worse. By fluke, while my husband and I were in Florida in Janary, I met a women who had the same thing and she told me to check out the website for Femara side effects. I was totally shocked to read about all the problems women were having. I didn't sleep for three nights reading all the reports. When we returned to Toronto (Canada), I immediately contacted by oncologist and told her what was happening to me. She said that these side effects were quite common and took me off the drug for 1 month. We | Can anyone suggest what to do about the thinning hair? My appearance and especially my hair have always been very important to me. I have ordered a wig and I guess will begin wearing it shortly. Also, very important, I have coloured my hair for many, many years and cannot find any information as to whether this will continue to affect my hair thinning out. Any thoughts? Please respond to my email. | F | 66 | 10 months | 3/10/2008 | 2 | prevention of bc recurrence | Extreme fatigue, very sore joints (especially fingers, wrists, shoulders, and knees), 40 point increase in chloresterol level, weight gain, difficulty sleeping due to joint pain, and hot flashes. | I took tamoxifen for about 20 months before having my ovaries out to reduce estrogen levels. At that point, my oncologist switched me to femara. I had been blaming my side effects on a ski trip, a busy work schedule, and so on, all the while wondering why I felt like I was on chemo again. Finally, my increased chloresterol level inspired me to check out side effects from Femara on-line. Having read this web site, I now see that such side effects are relatively common. I see my oncologist this week and will ask to go back to Tamoxifen, which only gave me hot flashes. | F | 44 | 5 months | 3/9/2008 | 2 | Follow-up to stage 3 breast cancer | Extreme joint and muscle pain. Large weight gain, difficulty in losing weight.Felt like an 85 year old, having to peel myself out of a chair in stages, I lost my "bounce" or zest.With chemo I also lost several toenails and experienced numbness in hands and feet. Most of numbness is gone, small amount is probably permanent but bearable. My hair came back much thinner than before. I am going to a hairdresser who uses an ecocolor product which is not caustic and is safer for us. I have been on Femara for one year so far,and I was ready to talk to my oncologist about stopping it until I found a solution! Many women are not satisfied with living with the body they seem to be stuck with. Quality of life needs to be considered, too.We want more from these so-called wonder drugs! | I have solved the extreme pain for me and I hope it works for you! I take 1 extra strength Aleve in the morning with a glucosamine tablet (not even the arthritis strength though I have arthritis) and it works! The anti-inflamation component is the key, since Femara obviously inflames joints and muscles. I have a personal trainer who has researched the weight side effects with me and my age (60) and says that weight loss methods (Weight Watchers)that worked for women over 50 in the past, will not work with us now. I eat "clean" 6 days, have forbidden food (starches and sodium)1 day. I hope it works for me this time.I am exercising 5 days a week,an exercise class in the pool with styrofoam weights two of those days. Water excercise is very soothing on joints and muscles, and can be as strenuous as you want it to be.Drug manufacturers and doctors need to know that quality of life is as important to many of us as life itself. Also, on my insurance that I am locked into because of | F | 60 | 1 years | 3/7/2008 | 2 | Breast Cancer Stage 3 | Pain in hands, feet, elbows, shoulders, hips. Worse in the morning. Trouble sleeping, itchy scalp. I have struggled with depression, not sure if that is related. Hot flashes,sweat profusely, no sex drive. | Very concerned I'm trashing my bones and is it really worth it. I would slug thru it if I thought I'd return to normal after going off Femara. If anyone has gone off the drug and had bone pain, and brain fog go away let me know. | F | 50 | 8 months | 3/7/2008 | 2 | breast cancer stage one, no lymps | joint pain, loss of memory, weight gain. Numbing on right side in the a.m. | Took tamoxfin for 2years and suffered joint pain, but the femera is worse. I am worried that the pain will be permanent. I am considering going off it and taking my chances. I don't know what the risk is. What is the % of reoccurance with out the femera? | F | 58 | 3 days | 2/28/2008 | 2 | Breast cancer/no node involvement | Arthalgia, my hands hurt all the time now & feet hurt all the time; unable to lose weight I have gained; recently have had blurred vison & very dry eyes; trouble sleeping; no energy or strength. | I am considering stopping Femara and consulting with my dr.; I've been taking AIs for 3 years (after chemo and during one year of Herceptin) - has anyone stopped it without replacing it with another AI? I just want to feel normal again! | F | 58 | 3 years | 2/26/2008 | 4 | breast cancer recurrence | horrible muscle and joint pain, "brain fog", vaginal dryness | Six months after completing 5 years on Femara, I am ready for my first half marathon :) All the side effects are gone, I am alive, functioning, and grateful. It was hard, painful, and long but it worked. Of course, I will never know whether it was this medication, my surgeries, the radical change in my life style after second diagnosis, just pure luck or all of the above that saved me. | F | 53 | 5 years | 2/18/2008 | 3 | Breast cancer stg.2-no nodes involv | I took Tamoxifen for 5 years and Femara for 3. I was having joint and muscle pain, asked my oncologist if I could quit, he agreed. All other symptoms could be attributed to menopause maybe (sleeplessness, no libido, hot flashes, forgetfulness, etc.). Shortly after, I started experiencing extreme shoulder pain. Have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and am looking at shoulder replacement surgery and am having to give up my job. Doesn't seem possible to have advanced so fast at the age of 50. I also feel like I'm 80 or 90 years old! I suppose Femara helped in the fact that I am still cancer free, but live with extreme pain every day. Massage helps. | F | 50 | 3 years | 2/16/2008 | 4 | stage 2 breast cancer | aching bones & joints, weight gain - abdomen, osteoporosis. minor side effects - flushes, tiredness, vaginal dryness, dry skin, more sensitive to effects of alcohol- 2 glasss of wine and I suffer. | I take extra calcium, glucosamine and antioxidants and eclasta [iv] once a year for osteporosis and misc antioxidants and fish oil tabs. Some nights it's 10 tablets but I prefer that and seeing grandchildren grow than not taking anything and keeping fingers crossed hoping there is no recurrence. | F | 55 | 1.5 years | 2/15/2008 | 2 | Invasive Breast Cancer | No hair loss or nausea so far, but all the other severe side effects common to all the comments on this site. I used to win awards for my work, but am forced to (I hope) retire early from my enviable job as a managing editor because I can no longer physically or mentally do even a minimally satisfactory job. (My performance has been so poor, and worse by the day, I hope my disability retirement request goes through at all, and preferable before I am fired. Any breast cancer survivors out therehave long term success with alternative treatments such as mistletoe, orienal herbs, etc.? | Ironically, I skipped the standard systemic chemo I was supposed to have in addition to Femara in fear that the chemo brain would put my job at risk. Cymbalta helps immensely, but my pain and brain drain are getting worse all the time and I'm already taking the max dose. My onco has now prescribed Aromasin, so I'll just have to see how traumatic or not that drug will be. I am and want to remain cancer free, so I will do anything that keeps those odds as high as possible. I'm just hoping for anything that doesn't destroy my entire hormonal balance to do so. I'd rather be miserable alive than die...but the question is this: will the cardio effects or obesity or suicide kill me any way? My blood pressure is Stage 2, I'm crying whenever no one else is around, I've had two fender benders and several traffic violations, and soon I will once again be destitute as I am my own sole provider. I'd rather be miserable alive than die...but the question is this: will the cardio effects and obesi | F | 59 | 10 days | 2/15/2008 | 2 | Breast Cancer | Side effects gradually hit me, after almost three years: severe headaches, muscle aches especially in my calves, lethargic, anxiety ridden, sleepless, nausea..........feeling 96 at 46. | Who's to say, a life saver or not. I started taking Tamoxifen shortly after chemo and radiation were done, did not tolerate it well. Was switched to Femara and for two and a half years did not notice many side effects, however......the last six months or so have been terrible. I have always been an active energetic person...Making it through a day of work has been a struggle, the thought of skiing or running frightens me. I feel terrible all of the time, felt better when I had breast cancer, even during chemo. I own my body and have decided to go on a medication holiday. Femara free for the next month and then will re evaluate with my oncologist. Who's to say if I will go back on the meds., it is my life and my body! Life should be a celebration, especially after surving cancer, not a struggle! | F | 46 | 3 years | 2/13/2008 | 1 | Stage Breast Cancer High Oncotype | Debilitating Bone Pain,constant fatigue and "Hot" Hot Flashes | The bone pain became intolerable even with Percocet, constant fatigue and increased hot flashes. BUT there is GOOD NEWS, I went on Clonodine (used for high blood pressure) AND IT STOPPED THE HOT FLASHES.!! So girls, there is hope for eliminating the Hot Flashes. I took myself off the Femara as it was debilating and I will discuss other options with my Oncologist. According to trials, there results are out on the long term effects of Femara. Guess you have to weigh your risk. Love to all of you. | F | 52 | 41 days | 2/11/2008 | 1 | Breast Cancer | I would like to know why recent comments are not being posted. I have posted months ago, and over 20 people since me and yet they are not being posted. Why?? | Please get the latest postings up for people to read!! | F | 42 | 4 days | 2/11/2008 | 4 | breastcancer stage3 | Like to find out if anyone has experienced unexplained rashes?...Seems i a mnow getting them ..specially on my head | F | 59 | 2 years | 2/9/2008 | 4 | Breast Cancer | ***Raging*** mood swings, anxiety attacks, bone and joint pain, trouble sleeping and concentrating, loss of libido, dry hair and skin, and vaginal dryness...feel pretty much like my whole body is mummifying at times...turning old and creaky too! | Diagnosed 48 w/IDC & ILC after pathology discovered gross amounts of DCIS w/no lymph node involvement. Prophelatic bi-lateral mastectomy, 6-mo chemo/CMF then started Femara knowing full well of known side effects as advised by Onco. Dying of cancer sucks more than Femara's side effects - even though they can be pretty extensive at times. I would recommend DRINK TONS OF WATER DAILY and stay away from alcohol which makes your liver work too hard trying to process that in addition to all the drugs. Also, we know the drill - EAT RIGHT - fruits, vegetables - it makes a difference. I eat right - I don't hurt so much. Eat crap - feel like crap. Yes, exercise too! I know it hurts, but just WALK if you can - keep moving! The Femara WILL take a toll on your bone density as well, take a calcium supplement. *****Lying dead in a box doesn't hurt your joints or muscles and you don't care if your skin or hair is dry - but I don't think that's your or my end goal. Soooooo, no matter how | F | 52 | 3.5 years | 2/6/2008 | 2 | Breat Cancer (hormone receptive) | I am fed up with heatwaves, concrete feet, sensitive finger tips, headaches, and pain in bones, joints and muscles. Feel like 100 ! | As 4 lymphnodes were infected, I was given Femara. I'd rather take the risk of a rezidiv and live a normal life until then. I decided to stop Femara and continue with the Mistletoe-Therapie that has helped me through 8 Chemos and 28 radiations. | F | 72 | 2 months | 2/3/2008 | 4 | Stage 1 Breast Cancer 2001 | Have gained 10 lbs. since starting 1 Year ago. Walk like Frankenstein after getting out of bed or sitting a long time. If I have more than 2 glasses of wine, the next morning I wake extremely ill. Unbelievable headache, nausea, chills. | Following my diagnosis, I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. I took Tamoxifin for 5 Years followed by 1 Year on Femara. My Oncologist said I could go off Femara, but I am a little nervous to do so because of the fear of recurrance even though it is his belief that I have received the maximum benefits. If anyone has any comments on this, I would appreciate hearing from you. Also, has anyone had the same issues drinking wine? That's a real drag! | F | 59 | 1 years | 1/29/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer | very sore joint pain. At first I felt like I was 90 years old. I have been on it now for almost 4 years. I'm too afraid to go off of it. Really bad "brain Fog" to the point I stoped talking to people because I don't want them thinking I'm crazy. I was told the reason we have this problem is a lack of estrogen. This helps us think clearly. I may be in pain, but at least I'm alive and watching my children grow up. I would hate to chose the other option. You know what I mean. | I have a question for all of you. I was first diagnosed when I was 37. Radical masectomy followed with 6 months Chemo. I was placed on Femara because I tested Positive. Every where I read it say's not to take Femara if we are Pre-menopausal. This drug is only for Post-menopausal women. I'm a little concerned with this information. My doctor say's it is better for me than Tamoxafin due to the blood clots and all. I would just like to know if it's dangerous for women who are not yet menopusal like myself. I also just had a bone scan done and I showed up very dark in all of my joints. My Endro. Doctor say's I look like I have severe arthritis. I would like to hear from anyone who is on this drug and still pre-menpausal and what their doctor had to say about it. The fact that I also had thyroid cancer has me a little worried about stopping this drug. Yea I feel like crap half the time, but I'm alive. I just want to know if I will be in a wheelchair by the time I'm 60? Oh yea a | F | 41 | 4 days | 1/25/2008 | 4 | Recurrent Breast Cancer | None that I know of. I take it before I go to bed every night so that I'm sleeping while it does whatever it does. | F | 56 | 1.5 years | 1/22/2008 | 2 | ovulation induction | headaches, hot flashes | F | 35 | 3 months | 1/19/2008 | 5 | breast cancer | Sore joints, stiff neck, increased cholesterol, lighter wallet | I have been able to control all side effects sufficiently. I take Osteo BioFlex (over the counter), 2 tablets once a day, which eliminated the soreness and stiff neck. I took red yeast rice extract, 2 capsules once a day, and that lowered my cholesterol even lower than it was before taking Femara. Boy, is this drug expensive!! | F | 58 | 3 years | 1/14/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | After 5 yrs on tamoxifen the hot flashes are worse on femara. | having a hard time getting the 1,500 calcium i need to take. Also bone and muscle pain.Terrible hot flashes. | F | 66 | 13 days | 1/13/2008 | 3 | Stage II Br Ca, Recur: 9 yr later | At first left leg,numbness, back pain,joint pain. Recent onset (6 mo now) of severe left hip/groin pain. MD ordered MRI with contrast to r/o bone metatasis. | Femara has apparently kept my cancer away (5+ years) since second bout with breast cancer. HOWEVER.....is Femara causing other severe side effects??? My MRI showed avascular osteonecrosis which will eventually require a hip replacement. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS DIAGNOSIS (while taking) FEMARA???? | F | 64 | 5 years | 1/11/2008 | 2 | ovarian cancer | after two and a half months the bone pain and joint pain was unbareable. Am considering trying tamoxifen again as that only added to fatique and nausia. I am very active and femara shut me down. i am currently in remission but was estrogen positive | any help in manageing the pain would be welcomed | F | 55 | 3 months | 1/6/2008 | 2 | Brst. canc. mastectomy.first node | Hair loss,pain and swelling in all joints ,weight gain in stomach area not belly ,look pregnant,numbness in four toes ,left side legs hurt ,back hurts shoulders all the way to the bottoms of feet,cant hold on to things no grip and horrific pain lifting reaching bending stooping,cant breath after going up steps or any exertion,appetite not good ,nothing sounds good ,stressed from non ability to do things i need to do.I took tamoxifen for 5 yrs. now this femara for a year,they have tried gout treatment for the pain and swelling in wrists ,did not work ,scans and mris show no reason so i assume its from the drug,I am still cancer free and thankfull but I feel terrible cant function for the pain and stiffness,I see my oncologist in less than a month i will ask if something different out there ,i have almost all symtoms of others this site,still thankfull 65 feel 95 ,,did not have all this before femara maintained normal weight during chemo and tamoxifen gained on femara I am at a loss wha | The rating above is hard ,if I knew i would have all this pain i might have said no try something else ..I have went from a 7/8to a 14/16 pants mainly in my stomach feels like something growing pressing on my back ,they cant find any thing..STILL VERY THANKFULL | F | 65 | 1 years | 1/6/2008 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Weight gain, headaches, joint and muscle pain. | I have been going crazy trying to determine why I am in such pain. I keep attributing all this pain to my age, even though at this age I shouldn't feel like this. I get concerned when I know I have to walk long distances, I can't take my shirt off over my head because I can't raise my arm, my ankles, elbows, ribs are in constant pain. I have gone to my doctor and they attribute it to my weight gain (30lbs over weight) and 'in my head'. I also began to think it was me......FINALLY I realized that the only change in my life for 2 years has been the Femara. Am stopping taking it TODAY. Wished I had read the comments here a year ago. I can only pray and hope that all this is reversible as I cannot imagine living the rest of my life with such pain and discomfort. | F | 50 | 2 days | 1/6/2008 | 4 | Infertility | Hot flashes! Dose of 2.5mg days 5-9, took the pill first thing in the am. One night I felt like I was sleeping in a tanning bed. | Compared to Clomid, this is a dream...my husband no longer wants to divorce me because of my crazy mood swings! From my research it is a pretty risky drug, but no more than Clomid. The half-life is shorter, and cyst problems are less common. We'll see if it works! | F | 29 | 5 days | 1/3/2008 | 4 | Mestatic breast cancer, 12 of 16 no | Nausea, tiredness, bone pain, joint pain, hot flashes, constipation, insomnia. But it beats the alternative, so far Femara has given me a lease on life.When i was diagnosed i was given 18-24 months to live,that was in October 2004 | Even tho Femara has limited my activities, and excersise, the weight gain i experienced, i now have under control with diet and lost almost 10 pounds ( slowly)The last PET Scan i had in Nov 2007 was clear and i am still in remission after being declared so in Nov 2006. I would like to hear from anyone that is a long term survivor and how they are coping with the side effects of Femara | F | 59 | 2 years | 1/3/2008 | 3 | BC was Stage IIC Invasive | Took Tamoxifen for 2 yrs with side effects that included extreme hot flushes, nausea (like morning sickness), horrible insomnia & headaches. Switched to Aromasin for next 2 yrs and it was tolerable for the first 6 months with same side effects as Tamoxifen. Then the bone & joint pain in the outer extremities started. Couldn't get out of a bed or a seated position or do stairs without feeling like a cripple. Mornings were worse & I too had the 'claw' effect with terrible weakness in my hands. Ankles felt fragile, as though the bones would break with the slightest pressure. Once healthy libido disappeared, urogenital system dried up & cholesterol levels tripled, although no change in exercise & diet. Doctor switched me to Femara 2 months ago. After the 1st week, I actually slept for two whole nights & felt awesome! Then the side effects of the Femara kicked in & it's starting to feel the same as with the Aromasin. | I'm so thankful to have found this website! Over the last few years, I've so often thought that I was the only one experiencing these awful side effects. Until diagnosis, I was very fit & worked out 5x/week - weights & cardio. I continued to work & work-out even through chemo cycles. Now I feel like a 90yr old asexual being. Chemo-induced menopause presented its own challenges but these Aromatase-Inhibitor side effects continue to affect the quality of my life. Doctors are quick to offer Rx for side effects but each Rx has its own risks & side effects. It's a domino effect & I just want to feel 'normal' again & get on with my life. It would be so different if we were dealing with a broken arm. An X-ray would show the break, time would heal the fracture & then it would be nothing but a memory. Nobody knows if these AI drugs even work on something we don't even know is or isn't there. Quality vs Quantity of life should be addressed by somebody! | F | 50 | 2 months | 1/3/2008 | 3 | Metastatic breast cancer. | Headaches, depression, fatigue, joint pain, palpitations, low libido, insomnia and weight gain. | Apparently, the Femara is working, as I am almost 10 years out, but I do have many side effects. The depression, joint pain and headaches are terrible. I am applying for disability, as I can no longer work because of all of these medical problems. It takes me 7 days to get in 40 hours of work on my job, and for the past 3 months, I haven't been able to accomplish 40 hours in 7 days. I work, lie down, work, lie down, etc. Thank God I work from home, but this is becoming increasingly impossible. | F | 49 | 3 years | 12/31/2007 | 2 | switched after 5 years of tomoxifin | cold night sweats to point of being soaked. Stiff fingers, cant grasp. | F | 53 | 2 years | 12/31/2007 | 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 | 2 | Breat Cancer Stage1 | Muscle, joint and bone pain. It seems to get worse each month. There is not a part of my body that doesn't hurt. I feel like I'm 90. Evan my hands and feet hurt. It is very hard to loose weight. Walking is getting harder and harder. but the worst is getting up from a sitting position. | I was stage one invasive ductile breat cancer. But I had a high oncotype so I was treated with ACT and then radiation. I took Arimidex for two months and had bad side effects so we decided to try Femara. It is now worse than the Arimidex: the effects came on slowly. | F | 61 | 1 years | 12/27/2007 | 2 | breast cancer stage 1 | terrible knee pain. Finally called the Dr when it hurt so much to get in and out of the car that it made me cry. Dr told me to stop meds and see him in a month. 2 weeks off med and still dragging my left leg, the knee hurts so bad. Any idea of how long it takes for med to leave your system?? | F | 52 | 4.5 months | 12/26/2007 | 1 | breast cancer 6 years ago | I am now taking "vacation" from the drug since in addition to all of the symptoms others describe (pain, very severe) I started falling around : with no warning, just fell. Once broke a hand, I guess just a momentarily weakness in my legs. I fell 5 times in 6 weeks. My general doctor told me to stop it. I could fall in the middle of the street - and then - the issue of survival is rendered irrelevant. I am off Femara now for 7 days and my pain is virtually gone. | I guess one has to be grateful for surviving but there must be a cut off point beyond which it should not be necessary to have to endure the terrible pain and discomfort. | F | 62 | 6 days | 12/22/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer | I have been taking Femara since 2005 after five years of Tamoxifen. I liked Tamoxifen so much better . . . Femara made me feel like an old woman, but that has since disappeared, but now after two and one-half years, I am experiencing headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, blurry vision, and elevated blood pressure. | Anyone have similar symptoms after this long of a time? | F | 55 | 2 years | 12/20/2007 | 2 | breast cancer mastectomy 6 years ag | I am still alive but the quality of life has been deteriorating. Severe pain in all joints, moving like a 100 year old. The only symptom I did not have is a hair loss. Everything else I have had including humming in my ears... The symptom nobody mentions is falling. With no reason I had 4 falls in 5 weeks: broke a hand, almost my nose and my MRI revealed ischymia which I did not have at the last MRI 6 years ago. My doctor (not an oncologist) took me off it since the symptoms (falling around) could be fatal .... I am off femara for a week and my bone pain is already much less. I will let you know what will happen..... | the quality of life as against a miserable existence... | F | 62 | 6 days | 12/20/2007 | 2 | bc | Bone pain, stiffness of the joints, hot flushes, fatigue, insomnia, pain with intercourse, headaches, moodiness | After taking femara for three months i feel very down all the time, and cry constantly. | F | 45 | 3 months | 12/20/2007 | 4 | Stage 3b breast cancer +13 nodes | After being on Femara for 1 year I started having muscle aches brought on by painting a wall in my house. Thought I was getting the flu or recurrence of cancer. Read all of the comments on this website and have to say, it's perspective. Those of you who are intolerable of the side effects should either discontinue Femara or re-evaluate your disease. Please read the experiences of the women with metastatic breast cancer versus those with Stage I, II with no positive nodes. It's illuminating. | F | 57 | 1 years | 12/19/2007 | 2 | Breast Cancer Stage IIB | Joint pain, moodiness, shortness of breath, some fatigue, vaginal dryness, not all hair back from chemo. | Was on Arimidex for 14 months switched to see if side effects improved. I am having less joint pain but I believe it is because I am supplementing with a joint formula and it seems to help. I am also trying to get more active. I noticed that when I eat and get more activity, I feel better. I still can't predict when the shortness of breath happens and it is annoying! Overall, both Arimidex and Femara are about the same. Can't wait for the 5 years to be over! | F | 47 | 3 days | 12/17/2007 | 2 | ductal cell ca | Major--hair loss-almost immediately. After 10 months-hypertension(I did not have this on Tamoxifen. Now I have a constant high-frequency pitch in my ears(can not differentiate whether right, left or both) wwhich was intermittent before---anyone else have this? (my b/p is normal at this time) | F | 54 | 13 days | 12/10/2007 | 4 | bcancer ER/PR positive | sweating, thin hair, some joint pain | I have taken tamoxifen 1year Aromasin for 3years and Femara 3 years. I am about to stop as 7 years of these medications seem enough. I wonder if anyone has this problem of when enough is enough I am doing this with my doctors ok. | F | 70 | 3 years | 12/2/2007 | 2 | Recurrance BC stage 2 est. + 2nodes | I was on Tamoxifen after a partial mastectomy and node resection (first diagnosis)After a recurrance 2 yrs. later I had a mastectomy and was switched to Femarra. I am experiencing joint pain, esp hips knees and ankles as well as pain down my spine. I look like my much older arthritic mom when I get out of a chair I am also very tired but not sleeping particularly well (don't know if that's related. I learned that if I drank wine, I was really ill the next day. | I mourn the loss of the active life I had prior to taking this drug. I force myself to swim three times a week and walk daily. I am currently taking a gentle yoga class and see a physio. I can't imagine returning to distance running, I feel so brittle. I am however going to try dragon boat paddling with Abreast in a Boat, as much for the camaraderie of those "who get it" I was saddened to read so many of us are having these effects. I guess I hoped it was in my mind and I could just work through it. I will stay on it, because the recurrance was such a shock and I don't want to risk that again. I already eat a low fat diet and had been active so my lifestyle was not an issue. I too take fish oil and other supplements. | F | 56 | 4 days | 12/2/2007 | 2 | Stage 2 Breast Cancer, no lymphs | Severe muscle and bone pain. Had some ostoarthritis and spasm in back, has increased dramaticallly. Hands almost don't work, thumbs hurt all the time. Ankles and feet hurt. And the back is terrible. I have had corisone shots in back which helps some. Take lots of meds, extra strength tylenol, soma and vicodin. Worried about pain med effects on liver and addiction to vicodin. | Have only taken it 2 years. Early side effects: headaches, hair thinning disappeared after about 6 months. Onset of bone and muscular pain was gradual over about a year. No doctors listen because they don't know anything about femara. Want to stop to see if I get better, otherwise I have severe arthritis and need treatment for that instead of constant pain pills. Will see oncologist early to discuss options. | F | 63 | 2 years | 11/29/2007 | 1 | invasive breast cancer | I was offered Femara after completeing chemo and radio therapy, after finding this site i was very aprehensive. I had some bone loss in my hip and spine and was worried about my bone density. I found a doctor who did a gene test which showed I have the gene for ostioporosis!!!! For a 6% reduction in risk I didnt feel it was worth the risk of taking a drug that as yet has no long term studies. | F | 47 | 5 days | 11/29/2007 | 2 | 2001 mastectomy stage 1 BC | Joint pain, muscle pain, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, lack of libido, neuropathy in fingers. | I was diagnosed at age 44, and my youngest child was 2 at the time. My children now make comments that my 73 year old mother is faster getting up off the couch than I am. I feel like I'm 90 years old. The joint and muscle pain is awful. I cannot sit through a movie without having to get up and move my legs. Exercise helps but not enough to eliminate the pain and stiffness. I take medicine for the joint pain, medicine for the vaginal dryness, medicine to sleep. Tamoxifin may not be as effective but my quality of life was better. I have been cancer free for five years and I'm grateful but it certainly isn't easy. | F | 50 | 2.5 years | 11/25/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer | I’m so pissed – what a huge disappointment. Even it is a good drug for breast cancer the patients have the right to know. The drug companies are so anxious and greedy to get their drugs on the market so they can make money; they intentionally neglect to make an issue about the horrific side effects Femara may cause. We don’t even know the long term affects from this drug. I was also insufficiently warned about the horrible side effects of Femara. It would have made a world of difference if I was aware of what to expect. More patients may have stayed on it if they were warned because when the side effects start it’s like hitting a brick wall. I thought I was dying or losing my mind and spent so much time and money with rheumatologists and internists doing tests for over a year only to find that this is a result of the Femara. At one point they thought I had Leukemia! The doctors have my complete medical history including all the medications I’m | Novartus shows unethical greed! Please email me for the rest of the story or just email me if you find yourself in the same situation. | F | 42 | 2 years | 11/20/2007 | 3 | ductile carcinoma Stage II 1 node | Numbness in arms, hands and feet. Joint pain and weekness/soarness of legs, hips & back. Restless legs and arms at night. Very twitchy which i attribute to the nerves being effected. Weight gain twice what it was on tamo | I was diagnosed at age 40, my first mamo. After a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation I was taking tamoxifen for appox. 1.5 years. I decided to be proactive and have my ovaries, uterus and cervix out thinking I could go on the femara and I would feel better. Boy was I wrong. I can't complain because if it lowers my chances of reoccurance or cancer at a new site it is worth it. I have friends that have had first stages of breast cancer with no chemo, raiation or drugs and they are doing fine and 5+ years clean. I also know people that have breast cancer every 10 years and refuse to take the drugs. It all depends on you and your body. There is something to be said for quality of life and it is not great on femara or tamo. I feel like I am crippled when getting up in the morning but it subsides a little as the day goes on. The weight gain is twice what it was on the tamo and can't lose any nor do I have any energy to exercise. I have only just started femara and am hoping it doesn | F | 42 | 6 months | 11/16/2007 | 2 | Infertility | 1. Moody: Angry at poor husband for no reason. 2. Hot: It's not flashes, really, I'm just overall warm. Odd since I'm usually cold. Husband likes this part. 3. Weight Gain: I don't think the medicine itself causes weight gain ... I think it causes hunger pangs. Husband loves me no matter how much I weigh ... or he's saying that because of point number one above. | I take 2 (2.5) pills the first 5 days of cycle, three months in a row. | F | 34 | | 11/14/2007 | 3 | breast cancer | fatigue, nausia, feel like I have the flu, depression | At 34 I had DCIS, invasive ductal and invasive lobular, stage II, 2 lumpectomies, masectomy, 6 months CMF, 5 years tamoxifan. Femara doesn't seem that bad. | F | 43 | 4 years | 11/13/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer Stage 2 - no nodes | severe foot,ankle, knee pain. Fingers stiff. Cannot loose weight no matter what. | When I get up I move like an old lady. Going down stairs is a nightmare ! I took Tamoxifen for only 3 years and then was put on Femara. Am going to ask my oncologist to go back to Tamoxifen. I am too afraid of recurrence to take myself off. | F | 59 | 7 months | 11/12/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer has moved to my hip | Extreme knee and other joint pain-cannot work!!! Severe weakness, hot flashes, hair thinning, etc. Took Femara for eight months before building up a toxicity level!! I haven't been able to drive or work for the last 3 months. I'm now off of this horrifying medication-some improvement except the extreme knee pain and weakness!! All Oncologists should be required to take this medication for one year before they presribe Femara to women that will try anything for a prolonged life with their family and loved ones!!! | Why can't a drug company make something that does not poison the human body? They seem to be locked in the poisoning mode and cannot get out of it!!!! Femara was and still is a nightmare that is real-I only wish I would wake up!!!! | F | 53 | 8 months | 11/11/2007 | 3 | stage 3 breast cancer | I was on Arimidex up until last night, I was taken off Tamoxifen, could not tolerate, Arimidex gave severe pain, headaches , and other terrible symptoms and now I read this about Femara and I am concerned . Has anyone else switched recently for similar reasons with good or bad results? Please let me know. Thank you | None yet been on 1 day ...Could not tolerate Tamoxifen or Arimidex | F | 42 | 1 days | 11/7/2007 |