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 Age from youngest to oldest (reviews with no age reported listed 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 |
| 1 | breast cancer stage 1 | I had my ovaries removed because I was pre-menopausal, then started Femara 2 months later. I soon started to experience more hot flashes, joint pain, insomnia. After 5 months, I couldn't get off the couch, extreme pain and aches like I had the flu, and my hair was falling out by the handful. After my knee swelled up like a balloon, I went off the meds, and still (6 months later) have pain in my knee, elbows and hands. | My doctor told me to rest when my joints hurt, which caused me to lose muscle tone in my entire body, and weight gain. Although I no longer feel like a 95 year old woman, I have physical therapy twice a week to regain my strength. I also worry every day... what if the cancer comes back because I'm no longer on Femara? We need another option. The good news is, my hair is growing back, and I have interesting 1" stubble all over my head, growing through my longer hair! | F | 49 | 5 months | 12/10/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | swelling, neuropathy, joint pain, fatigue, headaches | horrible! Does the benefit really out weigh 5 years of quality life? | F | 49 | 2 months | 9/9/2009 | 1 | breast cancer | debilitating body aches, pains, fatigue. Lack of focus.... NO libido. vaginal dryness. NO quality of life. | I also took Arimidex and Tamoxifen. I chose to not take any of the aromatase inhibitors. I was MISERABLE on them. I was a statistical survivor. I prefer to be a "thriver". I could be hit by a car crossing the street tomorrow. If I took my Rx like a good little patient, would it be worth it? I have been aromatase free for 3 years and am loving every minute. That's just me. It must be an individual's decision. Love to hear what you have to say. Peace and Happy & Healthy New Year. | F | 49 | 365 days | 1/1/2010 | 1 | Stage 3 breast cancer | I did well on Femara for a year, then suddenly the side effects hit me like a Mack truck! Severe foot pain to the point that I limp. Body literally hurts, every bone, every joint, dare I say my hair hurts too!! Profuse sweating, memory loss, extreme fatigue. I'm fairly young but do not think I want to continue on this drug. I'd personally rather have quality over quantity. | F | 49 | 1 years 2.5 | 9/14/2015 | 4 | Stage 2 E&P+ | Joint pain just about everywhere, lower back pain, had to have carpal tunnel surgery, difficulty sleeping. | For the 1st 3 or so weeks, the pain was almost unbearable. Now, it is bearable as long as I take either 2 ibuprofen or 2 Extra-Strength Tylenol per day. I haven't yet had a 2nd bone scan--hope it hasn't done much bone damage. I also take Caltrate D. I haven't had the horrible experiences I've read in many entries here. I'm going to see if taking turmeric helps me. I had to have carpal tunnel surgery 4 mos. after starting Femara. Constant aching, but not unbearable--as long as I take the ibu or Tylenol. I don't want to take those every day for 4+ more years though. | F | 50 | 10 months 1X day | 2/14/2016 | 4 | Stage 2A Breast Cancer | Initially a lot of pain and numbness in feet when getting up in morning but this has gone away, stiffness in joints after sitting for a period of time, insomnia, weight gain, vaginal dryness. Had hysterectomy just prior to starting femara so not sure which if some of the symtoms are caused by femara and which are caused by being in menopause. | Have been building a lot of plaque under my gum line. My dental hygenist wonders if femara may be the cause. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this. | F | 50 | 2 years | 11/22/2008 | 4 | breast cancer | fatigue, muscle aches, hot flahes | F | 50 | 6 years | 10/26/2007 | 4 | Breast Cancer L Mastectomy | Been on for 4 years, one year to go. 15 LB weight gain in 1st 3 months, have high cholesterol now and all weight has settled in waist and sides. UGH! L-o-n-g haul. | Very dry skin, intercourse is impossible due to vaginal dryness. | F | 50 | 4 years | 3/21/2009 | 4 | Breast cancer | Though having joint pain this drug at least helps me to survive | F | 50 | 3 years 2.5mg | 10/21/2012 | 4 | breast cancer | It is difficult to say which are the side effects of Femara since the chemotherapy put me in menopause. I also get calcium injection to blood (Zometa) twice a year. Probably the stiff neck and general stiffness could be caused by Femara. But it does not prevent me from doing sports, gym, yoga or going to skiing holidays. Recently I have a feeling that my memory is not what it used to be, I'm less quick and I'm hearing less well. | The tumor was dependent on oestrogen so there is a need to prevent oestrogen production in my body | F | 50 | 2.5 years 1X day | 2/10/2012 | 4 | endometrial stromal sarcoma | none at first, some nausea actually but i associated it with blockages i get in intestines due to alot of surgery. Mainly aches and pains sometimes severe, swelling of hands and feet, tierdness at times seem to have quite a few headaches. side effects have become more severe after 4 years on the drug | it keeps me here | F | 50 | 4 years 2.5mg 1X day | 6/27/2010 | 4 | stage II breast cancer | Had hot flashes when first started Femara. Those seem to have subsided. Knees achy but exercise does help with that. Feet sore when first getting up but that too gets better when I get moving. | Is Femara working? I hope so. Only been a year, but so far so good. I will keep taking for 5 yrs as prescribed by onc. Exercise really seems to help with the side effects. The cost of this drug is really ridiculous!! I give Femara a 4 because I do think it is working. Be strong. | F | 50 | 1 years 2.5 mg 1X day | 4/21/2010 | 4 | Stage II BC | All the stiffness, joint aches, etc. that everyone has described. To the previous post: Although "we" are happy that your experience with Femara seems to be on the other end of the spectrum, it seems like this site is not the place to possibly | "diminish" the side effects that the rest of us are feeling. This drug is hell but we need to take it for our survival. Keep posting ladies, we are all are learning from your remedies for the awful side effects. | F | 50 | 1.5 years 2.5mg 1X day | 10/23/2010 | 3 | BC 2B | Major joint pain in knees, fingers, elbows, feet. Knuckles at bottom of fingers in left hand pop out of joint after I've been sendentary, tightness in chest/rapid heart beat, hot flashes several times/day, some worse than others. The worst ones start with a feeling of nausea and/or anxiety. | How would you know if it works? As bad as chemo was, I didn't have any pain. I actually thought the pain was residual from the poisoning (chemo) until I was talking to a lady who is also taking Femara and told me about the pain. After reading these comments, I realize it is definitely the Femara. | F | 50 | 4 months 2.5 mg 1X day | 10/25/2010 | 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 IDC left breast mastectomy | hot flashes, tiredness,weight gain, joint pain in thumbs started 2 mos ago. Tested for RA but neg. Don't know if I can take this for 4 more years. | F | 50 | 9 months 2.5mg 1X day | 4/9/2010 | 3 | Endomtrial Stromal Sarcoma Stage 2b | Stiffness, joint and bone pain. Burning sensation in hands and feet. High cholesterol, high blood calcium level. Hot/cold flashes and night sweats. Dry skin, change in hair texture. Dizziness. Loss of appetite. Fatigue. | The first three months on Femara the only side effects were hot/cold flashes, night sweats, loss of appetite and dizziness. At the three month mark the joint and bone pain started and has some days been very painful. I also found out I now have high cholesterol and high calcium. I read an article the other day that says if a patient takes Femara and experiences new hot flashes and night sweats along with joint pain within the first three months of taking Femara that their cancer is less likely to recur. I sure hope that's correct and the benefits out way the risks. Will reevaluate at the 6 month mark if I want to stay on this drug. | F | 50 | 4 months 2.5 mg 1X day | 10/7/2012 | 3 | breast cancer | hip pain, constipation | taking femara for past 7 years, when taking femara you need to take boniva for your bones as femara causes osteoporosis. thinking about quitting femara, any suggestions if i should quit after 7years or after 10? | F | 50 | 7 years 1X day | 3/6/2011 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Joint stiffnes, hands were very bad and I couldn't hold things without dropping them, etc., weight gain, memory loss, etc. | There is hope. I've been off Femara since the end of July, 2010. The biggest change for me is in my hands. They are soooo much better. I still have alot of the other symptoms and my dream of sudden weight loss hasn't materialized, but that could be due to having a hysterectomy and my age. I don't know if my memory is any better-(chemo brain...still have trouble thinking of simple words and names of people I know well, but it doesn't appear to be getting worse...If I'm remembering right;-). | F | 50 | 5 years 30mg 1X day | 12/19/2010 | 3 | Breast Cancer Stage II b- node neg | Joint pain - take ibuprofen 2-3x/wk 400 mg/day. Hurts when walking first in the morning but goes away after 5 min. I walk later in the day on indoor walking track with good supportive shoes- on sidewalk hurts too much. Joint pain worse after sitting for 30 min - get up and move around often. Glucosamine worked for 1 month then didn't - I am currently cycling to see if helps latest increase in joint pain. Started off feet pain and swelling, now it's worse shoulders, elbows, knees. I stretch and do yoga gently. I lift wts at gym 2x/wk 10 lbs arms and 30-50 lbs legs. I get a massage every week. I also sit with a hot water bottle on my back every night. Vaginal dryness- use Replens applicator every 3 days and lots of lubricant to have sex- no condom and really lather it on both of you. Latest symptom- at point start to sweat have an intense heat flush with intolerable itching over all my body. Immediately stop any activity to cool down and then itching goes away. | Tried Arimidex and couldn't get out of a chair - this is better. Can't see what else would work better so staying with this. I am curious about Cymbalta. | F | 50 | 9 months | 3/19/2007 |