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 |
| 3 | prevent recurrence -breast cancer | First year of taking felt OK. Gradually developed joint pain and stiffness on a morning and after sitting for as little as 15 mins - feel like an old lady. Colossal weight-gain to almost 12st after being consistent 9st 7lbs for all adult life before illness. Loss of libido and extreme vaginal dryness made sex impossible. Currently having frequent smear tests as "borderline" and dread going each time as very very painful. | Previously took Tamoxifen for 5 years and had usual flushes and significant weight gain but no aches and pains at all. Beginning to question whether the side effects of Femara are worth it. But would feel stupid if I stopped and the disease returned. | F | 52 | 1.25 years | 12/3/2006 | 3 | prevent recurrence -breast cancer | First year of taking felt OK. Gradually developed joint pain and stiffness on a morning and after sitting for as little as 15 mins - feel like an old lady. Colossal weight-gain to almost 12st after being consistent 9st 7lbs for all adult life before illness. Loss of libido and extreme vaginal dryness made sex impossible. Currently having frequent smear tests as "borderline" and dread going each time as very very painful. | Previously took Tamoxifen for 5 years and had usual flushes and significant weight gain but no aches and pains at all. Beginning to question whether the side effects of Femara are worth it. But would feel stupid if I stopped and the disease returned. | F | 52 | 1.25 years | 12/3/2006 | 3 | Breast cancer | have been on it for about 8 months. The joint pain is getting worse, particularly in the mornings and particularly my ankles. I think my hair has thinned a little and I have put on a bit of weight. Libido is minimal. | I will keep taking it because the trial seemed so successful and i have young kids and would do anything to stop a recurrence but the side effects are slowly getting me down to the pint where I may have to reconsider the benefits v's the side effecst. | F | 52 | 8 months | 7/11/2006 | 3 | BC Stg. 2B; ER+; BRCA-2+ | Stiffness in joints of hands, especially right hand, where fingers are swollen; Some pain in lower back. Weight gain. Vaginal dryness, but no worse than Tamoxifen. Developed GERD and scalp ezcema about one year ago. Seven year survivor. | I took tamoxifen for 4 years -- hot flashes, gained weight, cognitive function decline -- not sure all can be attributed to that drug, or combination of TMX and chemo/radiation. Switched to Femara 3 years ago. Stiffness/swelling in right hand began about one year ago. Had my ovaries removed in Nov. '06 after testing positive for BRCA-2 and have experienced unremitting mid-section weight gain ever since -- no amount of exercise/dieting helps. Almost as annoying is scalp ezcema and GERD, for which I now use topical steroids and Prilosec. Has anyone else experienced these two weird side effects from Femara? Could they be from the oopherectomy? Or is the whole damn thing cumulative? I highly recommend 15 mg. Adderall XR for "chemo brain"/memory loss. It's a drug for ADHD but girlfriends, if you need to stay sharp for work, it can be a lifesaver. | F | 52 | 3 years | 10/19/2007 | 3 | Breast cancer | Hair loss, weight gain, hot flashes | F | 52 | 2 years | 12/10/2005 | 3 | BC stage II node neg bilat. mastect | When I get up in the morning my feet and ankles are extremely sore. Gets better after I move around. My hands are so sore I can hardle grasp anything anymore. I have to sign a lot of documents for my job and it is getting hard to do that. Overall very tired, and beginning to have some memory and cognitive issues. Also vaginal dryness and decreased libido and insomnia. | Clinical data looks like Femara is worthwhile. Took Tamoxifen for 6 months first and it was much worse. | F | 52 | 3 months | 4/6/2007 | 3 | Stage 3 Breast Cancer | Breast cancer had not spread past first lymphnode. Following chemo, surgery, and radiation have been on 2.5 mg Femara for 8 months - I feel like I am 80, especially in the a.m. Hands can barely move and left thumb triggers - knees creaky - I am a chiropractor and require good hands. Have just cut my dosage in half - if it doesn't improve, will have to stop using it. | F | 52 | 8 months | 2/21/2006 | 3 | Stage II a breast cancer | insomnia, weight gain, joint pain/stiffness | Taking this drug is a mixed bag - happy to have it but worry about the side effects. No fun gaining weight even though I exercise 1 hour a day, 6 days a week. The insomnia is the worst - can't fall asleep and can't stay asleep. I go off it occasionally just to see what it's like. Haven't decided yet if the insomnia improves. I have fluid retention near my ankles on both feet - has anyone experienced that? No one can figure out what it is. I was wondering if it could be some weird side effect of Femara. | F | 52 | 4.5 years | 11/19/2008 | 3 | breast ca, stage IIb, HER2+, 1 node | Joint and bone stiffness, especially severe in the first 2 weeks I started. Am super-stiff, especially in the AM and on colder days. Exercise seems to help, but some days are just better than others. Not as stiff in warm weather. Hot flashes! Is it true it's working if you're having lots of hot flashes?? | I'm rating it 3 because I can't really say I'm satisfied or dissatisfied yet. It's hard to handle, but I can take it if it keeps cancer from returning. | F | 52 | 11 months | 6/18/2009 | 2 | stage 1 breast cancer | No side effects until several months after starting. At first the symptoms were subtle but at about 7 months I started noticing that my legs were so stiff after sitting that I could hardly walk when I stood up. This got progressively worse. Also my endurance decreased during exercise at the gym. Finally I started experiencing the strangest sensations of a skin sensitivity on the right side of my body. The way your skin hurts to the touch when you have a fever with the flu, my upper thigh and groin area and lower right side of my abdomen felt so weird, it got worse everyday.I went to the oncologist and he told me to go off for 1 month. | I started feeling better within days of going off the Femara. Within one week I was almost back to myself. In 10 days I was absolutely fine, no more symptoms and I feel great!!I tolerated tomoxifin perfectly for 5 years and I was so pleased that this was going well too, until the symptoms started. I'm at low risk for reoccurance , but I must admit that I'm nervous about stopping what can be a benefical treatment.I looked at the Femara as insurance that would keep me a little safer. Still not certain if I will give it one more try. | F | 52 | 9 months | 11/7/2008 | 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 | 2 | Stage 3 BC | Same as so many...aching joints and muscles, numbness in hands, pain in feet. I have trouble walking after sitting down for as little as 15 minutes. I'm single and self employed artist and have to climb ladders and scaffolding to paint my murals. Also memory issues, hot flashes and night sweats. I really need to find something else to take. I was always active...roller blading, biking and hiking. The loss of quality of life is very depressing. | There's got to be a better way! | F | 52 | 3 months | 4/15/2007 | 2 | breast cancer | I've been taking Femara for 5 months and my symptoms only became pronounced very recently. My body aches all over, my hip joints are unusually stiff till I get going, my hair has thinned, my scalp itches, I have become extremely fatigued for no apparent reason. I hope the side effects are temporary or that at least I can learn to live with them so that I can continue to take the drug. | F | 52 | 5 months | 11/21/2005 | 2 | Prevent recurrance of stage 3a bc | Severe joint pain in wrists and fingers, catching and occasional triggering in 3 fingers, numbness and tingling in all fingers, constant mild to moderate pain in joints and muscles of arms and legs, fatigue, muscle weakness, headache, weight gain of 40 lbs. since I started taking the drug, increasingly severe night sweats and hot flashes, difficulty getting out of bed in the morning and out of a chair after sitting for some time due to pain and stiffness. Libido has completely disappeared. | I'm so glad I found this page - thank you all for sharing your experiences so I know it's not just me. I started having some tingling and numbness in my fingers about 3 1/2 months ago, frequency and severity increased over time and I started having some pain in my hands. Mentioned it at my oncologist's office two months ago and was told it was probably carpal tunnel syndrome (!). Since then, all symptoms have steadily worsened to the point where I feel like I did when I was still recuperating from treatment - I can barely move in the mornings, am back to having to take stairs two-footed on each step, and am in pain of some sort almost all the time. I've just been through a series of tests for rheumatoid arthritis - everything came back looking great, and it was my primary care doctor who finally suggested that the Femara might be the problem. I'd been so happy about being on this drug because the numbers as far as recurrance prevention are so good, but am at the point now where I ju | F | 52 | 12 months | 3/31/2006 | 2 | Stage 1 breast cancer, no nodes | I found this sight, and said "These women are me" Started with knee pain, ankle pain, then came stiffness all over. Hands swelling and stiff. Decreased range of motion. Fatige. Night sweats, waking me up. Chest discomfort. Surely this is not the price we pay, for hope! I thought I was just paranoid. I could barely walk when getting up in the morning. I work on my feet all day and by the end of the day, my legs were aching and burning. If I sat down for a while, I got stiff. I called my onocologist and am on hold, I will be trying something else at next visit. | F | 52 | 4 days | 6/19/2007 | 2 | breast cancer | bone/joint pain. feel like an old woman (am 52). difficult walking in the morning and getting up after sitting. extreme vaginal dryness. weight gain (was thin before diagnosis). the worse thing about the pain is that it interferes with activities i used to love - volleyball, tennis, other sports, walks & hikes when travelling... even an hour at the mall results in sore stiff legs that won't work for a day or two after the event. i think they need to figure out why an AI affects bones/joints and find something that alleviates these symptoms other than a pain killer. | I don't like it and am thinking of at least taking a vacation to see whether i get my old self back again or whether its gone forever. | F | 52 | 3 years | 10/18/2008 | 2 | breast cancer 2008 | painful joints/muscles, weight gain, hot flushes, insomnia, poor memory, mood swings, thinning of hait | i know that this drug is meant to prevent the cancer coming back, but the side effects are awful! feel like i have the body of an arthritic 80 year old.nights are the worst - joints really hurt so can't sleep, then feel down during the day. a vicious circle. | F | 52 | 15 months 2.5 mg 1X day | 7/29/2010 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Took Tamoxifen for 12 months with few side effects, since taking Femara have experienced joint pain, and constant pain in legs both top and bottom. Feel like I have the flu arms and shoulders also ache. Oncologist has put me back on Tamoxifen have not taken Femara for 6 weeks but still having terrible leg pain. Take fish oil and Glucosamine find this helps with joint pain. Hope never to go back on this drug seriously effects quality of life. | F | 52 | 12 months 2.5mg 1X day | 11/7/2010 | 1 | Stage III Breast Cancer | Low libido, had it with Tamoxafin too. I also probably have granuloma annulare severe on bottom of feet. May be due to excessive perspiration due to side affect of hot flashes, which are a little less than on tamoxafin. Wake up three times a night with nerve condition - needing to move around before I heat up. I feel it in nerves when dormant and not busy. Joint and muscle pain too. Weight gain less than Tamoxifin. I too feel old and hate it! | F | 52 | 4 months | 2/2/2010 | 1 | Stage 0 Breast Cancer/DCIS | Hot flashes, memory loss, weight gain, joint and bone pain especially in hips and back, headaches, neuropathy in hands and feet. occasional dizziness, difficulty sleeping, tired all the time, dry cough, sore throat, depression (crying) and in the beginning nausea. | I began taking Femara in August of 2009. Almost immediately I felt flu-like symtpoms.Sore throat, headache, nausea, etc. After 2 weeks of this, I notified my oncologist whom said that it's possible that I have a virus or it could be the medicine. I asked if I could take a break from it as I was going on vacation. She agreed and within days I felt myself again. Restarted meds in Sept. 2009 and began to take it with breakfast instead of at bedtime. I had joint and bone pain and hot flashes. It was better than first time. Then had blood work done. My sugar is through the roof (now on meds for that!) as is my triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Now I have the pain, hot flashes, severe neuropathy, and all that I previously mentioned. Gets worse as time goes on! I feel like 100 yrs. old. | F | 52 | 4 months | 1/26/2010 |