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 | stage 3 BC | Horrible joint pain; swollen knee/elbow;insomnia; weight gain; my quality of life has not been this bad since I was on A/C. I feel like I'm 90 years old when I get out of bed, and this is while taking 2 anti-inflamatory pills daily. No libido; fatigue... fatigue with an insomnia back- that's a GREAT combination. I'm tired ALL the time and Can't Sleep. Sweet. | I'm somewhat satisfied with this medication only because I'm hopeful that it is increasing my chances for survival. I don't know if I'll be up to continuing to take it for another 3 years I am making that choice on a day to day basis. | F | 44 | 7 months | 6/4/2007 | 2 | Breast cancer, Stage 2, ER+ | Joint pain,especially hands, elbows and feet, extreme fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, depressed mood. | Have tried Tamoxifen and Arimidex, both seriously impacted on my quality of life. I am giving Femara a go but thinking maybe of just enjoying my life and settling for an increased risk of recurrence rather than being miserable. | F | 44 | 1 weeks | 10/5/2006 | 2 | prevent recurring breast cancer | I began taking Femara 11 months ago after a hysterectomy. Previously, I had taken Tamoxifen for 14 months without any side effects. Femara is suppose to have a better rating. I have had more problems with Femara. Swollen hands in the beginning...then, locking fingers (some call it trigger fingers). They lock down if I grip something. They lock down when I sleep and I have to pull them up with my other hand. I feel the pain in my elbows and shoulders now. I feel very weak. It is depressing to feel like this at my age. I feel so old. It is hard on a marriage too. No one likes to hear me complain so I try to keep quiet. I don't want the cancer to come back of course, but I don't know if I can keep this up. I see my Dr in Dallas in February. I don't know what he can do though. | If anyone else has had the locking fingers or trigger fingers, please email me. I just think there are things about this drug that we don't know. How many of us have this side effect and will it go away when we finish the meds? Thanks | F | 44 | 11 months | 1/27/2010 | 2 | Breast& lymph node cancer,brac gene | Side effects- increasing over time...hand, feet, knee, & jaw pain...exhausted but can't sleep...can't focus or remember things...nauseous & dizzy...and I'm overly emotional. The hot flashes have decreased over time. Fast weight gain over a short period was actually the final red flag that my side effects weren't menopause or stress. (i gained 25-30 pounds in 3-4 months) I figured out all my symptoms were due to the letrizole...especially after I found this website & saw how many women are going through the same exact thing. | I MAY HAVE FOUND A SOLUTION TO MY SYMPTOMS THAT COULD HELP YOU TOO!!!!! My boyfriend is a doctor & he did a ton of research to come up with two things to help me naturally (I refuse to take another drug to fix the original drug). Vitamin b has helped with my energy & a Tumeric supplement with black pepper (for easier absorption) has done wonders for me with literally everything else. Look up the benefits online & you will be floored that you didn't know about it sooner. Pharmaceutical companies are coming up with a synthetic form of tumeric for cancer patients very soon...they don't want you to know what a miracle herb it is in its natural form. I feel like I'm getting my life back ...and I've only been on it one week and seeing improvement with ALL of my problems. I am floored that no one told me about this. Please do yourself a favor & look into it...via Internet...your doctor...other patients. I hate to see anyone suffer another day when relief can be so simple. Lastly...revisit the do & don't eat list for cancer foods...they make a big difference too. May god bless each of you...I admire all you have overcome...you are strong women!!! | F | 44 | 2 years 2.5 1X day | 8/26/2012 | 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 | 1 | breast Cancer. estrogen pos. | Femara has stunt my hair growth! My hair growth has stopped completely. I can barely do anything because of the hot flashes and sweating. I sweat as if someone has thrown a bucket of water on me. I should have been able to lose weight with the extensive sweating but that isn't the case, I actually have gained weight! I have severe lower back pain along with pain in my legs, also pain in my joints of my fingers and toes. I become so stiff when I am not mobile for awhile, but when I am mobile for long periods of time I pay for it with stronger pain. If I stand up after not moving for awhile my feet is in a combination of pain. My feet become stiff, numb, with full achy pain. I have to stand and give myself a but of a headstart to be able to move about I am truly not happy with this drug. I've read all the pros and cons of this drug with my conclusion there are more cons than pros. | F | 44 | 6 months 2.5 mg | 9/24/2013 | 1 | Breast cancer | Extreme fatigue, night sweats, hotflashes, dizziness, Pain in joints and muscles, Hard to walk after awaking foot and ankle pain, Hip pain when getting up after sitting, Hip pain that wakes me at night, pain in both thumbs. Can't remember simple things, poor focus and concentration, worsened anxiety and depression. | Couln't stand the pain anymore, feels like I'm 90yrs old, told my oncologist and was taken off Femara 1 month ago. STILL have all of the symptoms...Seeing my doctor in the morning to decide what the next step will be. Im NOT taking anymore of that medicine! | F | 44 | 9 months 2.5 mg 1X day | 6/2/2011 | 1 | Stage 2 Breast Cancer HR positive | Rather than leaving a leangthy message with my side effects, I will just say that I experianced everything that all of you are complaining about and then some. I was diagnosed and placed on Femara at the age of 37 after haveing a mastectomy. I am now 44 and on complete disability. This medication has distroyed my life. I thought that things would get better for me once I stoped taking it but my problems have only worsened. Minus the brain fog. I can't sit or stand for long periods of time. I have trouble moving and feel like I'm 90 years old. I had to be taken off the medication due to all the damage that It has caused me. My life will never be the same. I have now been off of it for two years and can not function without taking pain medication daily. | I'm not sure this medication is worth the long term side effects that don't go away. I will never be able to work again and I am only 44. Why are they not showing data on what the long term effects are from this drug! | F | 44 | 6 years 1X day | 1/31/2011 | 4 | Breast Cancer (Stage 2) | I do have the joint pain and when I first get up from bed, I do the shuffle. I find I can't stand being barefoot due to feet pain first thing in the morning, so I need to always wear shoes. My doctor will be taking me off Femara this month since it is my 5 year mark. My pain in my feet are minimum, but more so in my toes. | I found I had tremendous feet pain and could not even walk to the bathroom 5 years ago. I dreaded getting up from my recliner. My friend asked me to try drinking Vemma. She mentioned to drink it for at least 2 months to really give it a chance. I dranked it for the 2 months when I noticed my pains went almost completely gone. I got my life back and it did make my cry. What I'm told is Vemma doesn't cure you, but it makes your cells healthier to help heal. I have dranked Vemma for 5 years now, and the pains are at a minimum in my toes. This is not a gimmick, because I don't sell Vemma. I do buy it for my entire family. In addition, I also bought a foot/calf massager from Brookstone for circulation, which I use every evening. I have a second chance at life. I stand on my feet all day with my job and as soon as I get home, I'm using my massager. The first thing I do in the morning is drink 2 oz. of Vemma. I now have started my own business and I do all the traveling and marketing for my business. On Friday evenings, I'm loading my trailer for my marketing trip. Some of my friends can't believe where I get the energy. I truly believe Vemma gave me a second chance...along with prayers. I ask you to just commit yourself to drinking Vemma for at least 3 months and get a massager that helps your calves and feet. I don't know if it will help every situation, but it is worth trying to see if it will help you. | F | 45 | 5 years 2.5 mg 1X day | 11/8/2011 | 4 | Breast Cancer | I have been on Femera for about a year. I did not realize it was Femara that had caused me severe drowsiness. I had a hard time stay up at work every afternoon and struggled to get up every morning. I experienced bad pains in the hips, foot and other joints of the body. | I started taking 1200 mg Caltrates and 1000 IU Vitamin E daily. This has helped me with joint pains. I also started taking Femara with a full stomach at night daily. I discovered that helped reduced my drowsiness for the following day. I also excercise 3 times per week and found YOGA to be most helpful to reduce joint pain. I am on a diet with most vegetables, beans, fruits, nuts and less than 20% of meat daily. With all efforts above, I have been able to maintain my weight with minimum joint pain and reduced drowsiness. I have no depression and no insomnia. I still wish I do not have to take Femara and imagin what my life would be like without it. I guess I have a few years to wait. Till then, I will continue my fight against breastcancer. | F | 45 | 10 months | 1/8/2009 | 4 | Breast Cancer | Hi, Im so sorry for all the people who suffered side effects. Ive been lucky to date and have minimal effects . Hot flushes and sore feet but otherwise okay and 7 yeras free of cancer (fingers crossed) . Persevere if you can ...or seek another drug to prevent and keep you clear of Breast Cancer. Good Luck to all on this site | F | 45 | | 8/19/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer | I had DCIS Breast Cancer, very large lumpectomy and alot of radiation. 2 years ago. I was on Tamoxafen for two years. Tolerated ok. Now they have changed me to Femera, after 4 months it is close to unbearable, the aches and pains are terrible. | F | 45 | 5 months 2.5 1X day | 5/2/2010 | 3 | breast cancer | joint and bone pain, fatigue | cancer in remission so far thankfully | F | 45 | 1 years | 1/4/2005 | 3 | breast cancer stage 2a | i was taking tamixfin and i had to stop taking it, i had gan a lot of waight and had a lot of side effect, with femara i have hot flashes but not too bad,am still trying to lose the the waight from tamifin, lots of pain in the feet when getting yo in the morning or if i sit down long, i also get very angry at any thing, put i try to go walking every day, i also go into my garden every day to tend to my plants that seems to help my mind a lot i try to keep busy, i try not to take femara when going to bed i take it an hour before or else i will not sleep,i have lots of joint pain, but after walking around its ok, i think i had more side effect from tomaxfin that i had with femara,i some time get irregaliry heart beat especiality when i take any thing with caffine good luck. | F | 45 | 8 days | 4/18/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer | No side effects for one year. Started to get side effects after one year. Feel pain in knuckles, feet, knees, hip, and lower back. Also, significant hair loss after one year. | Heavy exerciser for 20 years. Recently having difficulty doing aerobics due to discomfort. | F | 45 | 1 years | 10/10/2005 | 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 | 2 | breast cancer | I was gaining weight. I was so tired that some days I didn't get dressed until three or four in the afternoon, I never did my hair, no make-up. I was physically too tired to do anything. | I had no quality of life. I would not consider taking this drug again!!! | F | 45 | 4 months | 4/24/2006 | 2 | stage 2 breast cancer | can anyone help me? just come off ARIMIDEX due to all the same side effects as you all suffer from Femara.....is it worth the change? | anybody who has taken arimidex and suffered joint pains - and switched to Femara -I need to hear your experiences ASAP!!! | F | 45 | | 9/17/2007 | 2 | stage II breast cancer bracaII | I have had increasing bone pain. My feet kill me. The first few steps in the morning are excrutiating, and after getting up after sitting down. I have started having severe bone pain in my "long" bones, like my arms and legs. My hips and back. I went to the ER today the pain was so severe. I tend to think there is some sort of "accumulative" effect, as It doesn't seem I had that many horrible side effects in the beginning. | I am seeing my oncologist on Monday. He has always pushed me to stay on it, even after asking for an alternative in the past. I can completely relate to the posts where people remark they feel 80 as opposed to their real age. I am only 45 and feel horrible. I fell asleep while at a stop light driving home from work the other day. I feel this is a medication that is simply not do-able if you are a person who has to go to work and take care of teen-agers as I do. But, I also want to be alive to do these things. I just don't know what to do any more. | F | 45 | 2.5 years 2.5 mg 1X day | 7/28/2011 | 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 |