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 Date added. 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 | Stage 1 breast cancer | bone and muscle pain; bone density loss of 22% over 1 1/2 years | I would strongly advise anyone for whom this medication has been prescribed to consider the effect of this medication not only on one's quality of life but especially on the significant bone density loss. After months of complaining to my oncologist, he finally agreed to take me off Femara after seeing the results of the bone density test. | F | 77 | 1 months | 9/28/2009 | 2 | State 1 breast cancer | I have been taking Femara for the last 1-1/2 years. My aches and pains have progressively gotten worse. I had carpel tunnel surgery in both hands because of the pain, even though I was retired and not using them repetitively. When it rains, or a front moves in, it seems like my whole body is one big nerve ending. Taking water pills helps the "burning" because it reduces the fluid build up. My doctor took me off this one week ago. My soreness has not abated at all. My hot flashes seem to be worse. I'm not sure if it's because we are having a weather change and the medicine isn't out of my system, or if I'm having a residual backlash. I feel like I am living on Celebrex and Tylenol, with an occasional Vicadin thrown in when I am in a great deal of pain. I also have had insomnia since I went on these pills. I didn't realize that was one of the side effects. I took Tamaxofin for 5 years with no problems except an occational hot flash. Femara is " | F | 67 | 18 months | 9/24/2009 | 5 | Stage IV recurrence | I experienced joint pain to the point where I was taking tylenol regularly. My Onc. recommended Glucosimine & Chondroitin (sp?) and I have not had any of that pain since. (I've been on Femara for 3 years and 9 months. I use Schiff brand G&C and it's called "Move Free" - triple acting formula or something like that) I buy it at Costco, but CVS and Walgreens, etc carry it. Earlier this year I was experiencing severe pain in my shoulder that would go down my arm and back through my shoulder blade. An MRI showed severe rotator cuff tendentious. I did some research to find that it is likely a side effect of Femara. Upon more research, I have to thank two people who posted on this board that they take their Femara with food and that they experience less side effects. I was taking it at night, just before bed. That night I took it with a granola bar and a yogurt and the VERY NEXT DAY the pain was 75% better. By the day after that the pain was gone and has not | F | 42 | 3.5 years | 9/23/2009 | 3 | Stage 1 ER+HR- Breast Cancer | I've been on Femara for 8 months. I did not experience too many side effects until the last couple months, and now all hell has broke loose!! Thinning hair, hand/wrist/ankle pain, and most recently a shoulder that I would just as soon cut off, constant aching & sharp pain which Motrin,Tylenol does not touch. Has anyone else experienced "inflammation of scar tissue"? I will continue on Femara because it works, and I'm very blessed for that, but wow, what a journey this is. Good Luck to all of us strong women, with God's help, we will prevail. Pray for cure for all cancers. | F | 61 | 8 months | 9/22/2009 | 4 | Breast Cancer | I have been taking Femara for 5 months. The good news is that I only have another 4 and 1/2 years! I have pretty much all the side effects with the exception of depression. I exercise 2 hours 5 times per week and this really helps. My joint pain is very severe. I also have extreme pain in both heels and it often takes 15 to 20 steps before the pain subsides when getting out of bed. The night sweats were the worst! I found a solution in a product called "Chilipad" It is a pad that is placed between the mattress and top sheet. You just set the temperature to your liking and are cool throughout the night. This has been the greatest discovery as there is nothing like a good nights sleep. | After much research and discussion with doctors, I realize that Femara is pretty much the only solution for me at this time. | F | 55 | 5 months | 9/21/2009 | 3 | Breat Cancer Stage 2B | Joint and muscle pain; depression, night sweats, hot flashes, weight gain, fatigue, forgetfulness, weird sleep patterns. | After three years on arimidex with the same side effects but worse, I finally realized that it wasn't all "post-chemo" and talked to my oncologist. He had me stop the arimidex for six weeks (I felt GREAT!) and then start on femara. I've been on it for 2 months now and most of the symptoms are back, but not quite as badly - that's the only reason I'm giving femara a rating of "3." I force myself to walk with my dogs for at leat 30 minutes 4-5 times a week, but it takes unbelievable effort. I fall asleep like I'm falling into a coma during the day and early at night (9-ish), then wake up at 4:30. I cry at the drop of a hat, drip with sweat and hurt. The weight gain that started when I was in chemo has continued and I'm fighting it all the time - it keeps creeeping up and I can't lose a pound no matter what I do. Although I'm very grateful that a drug is available, this very long haul is really getting me down. I'm past the halfway mark, but sometimes I really don't know if I can keep this up for the next 22 months. | F | 59 | 2 months | 9/19/2009 | 4 | Aggressive stage 2A breast cancer | Intense hot flashes, weight gain, memory issues, periodic achy bones. Hot flashes seem to be worsening along w/weight gain. Some bone density loss - now taking Boniva. Vaginal dryness. | On Femara for almost 6 yrs. Grateful for survival w/o disease progression. Have tolerated Femara fairly well though don't like side effects. Didn't take tamoxifen prior. Dr. wants to continue Femara for two more yrs! Have concerns that side effects may worsen as hot flashes & weight gain seem to be worse. Has anyone taken this drug over 6 years? | F | 62 | 6 days | 9/17/2009 | 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 | 1 | Breast cancer in both breasts | Carpel tunnel and arthritis in my hands were very painful. I couldn't do hardly anything. Joints in my legs hurt every time I got up. Depression too. | I started taking Femara 3-17-09. I explained to my doctor all my symptoms. He had me quit for one week, and then he put me on Arimidex. After a week of being off of Femara, my carpel tunnel improved tremendously. The pain in my joints went away. My depression was gone. LADIES, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. There's no reason to suffer like that. Medicines work different on different people. I've been on Arimidex since 6-25-09, and so far, the only symptom I have is a tiny bit of carpel tunnel in one finger! | F | 57 | 3 months | 9/16/2009 | 3 | stage 1, estrog rec + breast cancer | My hair was getting thinner and, after 1 full year, 2 months ago I started to feel the leg pain and understand what others here have said about feeling like a 90 year old. It started with being very stiff when I stood up from sitting but has gotten worse. | I went to the dermatologist about my hair. She gave me a special biotin, zinc piccolinate and suggested I use Rogaine. Something worked because my hair has stopped falling out and looks thick again. The zinc piccolinate interfered with my synthroid (throid cancer 9 years ago) so I now take it at a different time than I take the synthroid and that has worked out fine. I also find that if I take 2 motrin in the morning, my legs are much better. Sometimes I take 2 more later in the day. It has made all the difference in the world. Obviously, everyone is different and it's important to ask your doctor about all of this, but I wanted to post some hope. Having survived (I hope) cancer twice, I'll stay on Femara if it keeps me cancer-free. With this symptom relief, it will be easier. | F | 62 | 1 years | 9/12/2009 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Imaginary Boa Constrictor squeezing the trunk of my body whenever I lay down, joint pain, insomnia, muscle stiffness, weight gain, incredible sweating with the smallest activity--even my eyelids. | Was on Tamoxifin from Oct 2008 until Feb 2009. Couldn't stand the incredible pain. Lower legs felt like they had been skinned and a cement block had been dropped on my feet. Told dr I was quitting. Put me on Femara instead. 3 days later most of pain was gone. I had hope until about 6-8 weeks later when side effects got worse. Felt like 80-yr-old. So tired, so depressed, so fat. Can't stand to exercise or hardly walk so just got fatter (250#) which caused more pain in my knees in addition to the other stuff. Sat in a chair that broke and injured my tailbone. Afraid it will never heal. Can't sit on a bike seat. I'd had it. Went off Femara Sept 6. Next night pain was at 10. 2nd nite about 7. Last night I could actually lay on my right side without crying. Had 9 experimental chemos, 32 radiations, and surgery. I'm done! Femara affected my cousin the same way. They switched her to Tamoxifin and she was fine. We all react differently to the same meds, so although I would give it a zero, that doesn't mean it might not work for you. | F | 59 | 7 months | 9/10/2009 | 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 | 3 | breast cancer | Hot flashes, bone and joint pain, insomnia, depression, weight gain | I have been taking Femara for 5 months. I started right after radiation was finished. Doing pretty well the first few weeks. I was walking a lot and climbing 3 flights of stairs several times a day at work. I thought now that the chemo and radiation were over I could get back in shape (can you believe I gained 20 lbs during treatment? Who does that?) Suddenly one day, my knees felt like they were breaking in half. The foot pain came after that. I walk like an old woman first thing in the morning and after sitting for a bit. I feel like my neck needs to be stretched. The worst is my fingers. I now have 5 fingers that pop out of joint continually. It is very painful. I was not sleeping well and now it is almost impossible because of my fingers. After 6 hours I can hardly type. My oncol. says this will all go away and everything returns to normal, but I don't know how these crooked hands can be normal again. I have lymphedema and have done that therapy and pt for shoulder and arm pain. I too am grateful to be alive and will keep it up, but it is difficult. I cried when I read all these comments. May God bless all of us. This is really hard. | F | 60 | 5 months | 9/8/2009 | 3 | If femara keeps me from getting cancer, I thought it was worth it. I have had horrible sweats even during the day, terrible joint pain and muscle pain, total loss of interest in sex, constipation, dizziness and mental confusion.My doctors attribute symptoms to the chemo or the femara and say it is normal. Now my internist finds I have a mitrial valve problem in my heart which was never discovered before chemo and femara. Ecocardiagram to determine if I have to have surgery. Now I am doubting that the femara was wise. Maybe the heavy chemo did the damage as I had no indication before treatment. | F | 63 | 3 years | 9/7/2009 | 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 | 1 | After Breast Cancer Operation | FEMARA has caused me devasting pain in my bones and, even though, I have complained to my doctor, there is nothing to counteract this pill from Hell. Even though, the last pill, I took was in Oct.08, I am still feeling the side-effects. I took the pill in June of 08 and then stopped because of the pain. My doctor asked me to start it again..I did in Oct 08for 2 days....on the 3rd day I was sitting and when I tried to get up, I couldn't for almost 2 hrs., finally, I had to lean on a chair and pushed to get to my bedroom. It is a pill from hell. I contacted the makers of this pill and they were only interested in me giving them the names of other persons, that, I knew, who were having the same problems...of course, I wouldn't do that. I felt, I was in a "Blind Study Test" without my permission. | I don't think, I can add anymore without getting vulgar. | F | 74 | 14 days | 9/5/2009 | 1 | Stage 2 breast & hot sentinel node | Extremely painful joints: mostly ankles, knees & wrists; achilles tendons very sore; fingers swollen every morning, can't make a fist until early afternoon; thighs and calves have pains that seem like I have run a marathon; I feel like an invalid; I can barely climb stairs; hurts worse after sitting; short term memory loss and difficulty finding words when talking; weight gain from no exercise; can get soaked with sweat in minutes | I apologize to all of you that my first reaction was happiness to read that so many of you were miserable with my side effects. Then I cried because I wasn't crazy or alone. Thank you. Dec 08 lumpectomy stage 2 with hot sentinel node. 2 surgeries; chemo (taxotere was another nightmare), radiation. 1 year of femara but going off for a month to see if it makes a difference on side effects. Tried so hard to put up with pain so I could stay on Femara. Trying Aromasin next. | F | 56 | 1 years | 9/1/2009 | 2 | Breast Cancer stage 1 | Briefly? I wish it was that easy! Weight gain , pain in hips (severe) joints , fingers arms shins,constipation , vaginal dryness , brain fog , eyes hurt & vision problems , bloating & indigestion , continual fatigue , headaches , hot flashes (understatement, I want to rip off my clothes & jump into ice water, have run naked into the snow or rain on occaision ) Heart palpitations, racing pulse when I'm sitting still . If I wasn't so forgetful I could tell you more. | I just found this site. Why didn't my oncologist tell me all this? All he mentioned was I'd have to take more calcium from bone density loss due to femara use & hot flashes. Last time I saw him ,I mentioned heart problems & he said didn't I tell you about that? Apparently there's a lot we're not being told, as so many of us have the same problems. I was on Tamoxifen for a year but couldn't sleep much with that either ,so he told me I could stop. After a year off , I had a reconstruction operation& they found a pinprick sized tumor tha was part of the original .I had lobular B.C. in one breast ,had a lumpectomy , 6 mo. later double mast. No chemo or rad. Now I've been on Femara 2 years , but have little energy for the life I live. Feel like 100 years old ,shaky ,palpitating , in pain , spacey , exhausted, confused . Playing guitar ,Painting & thanking God for what I do have , is all that keeps me going | F | 57 | 46 months | 8/28/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer recurrence | in the last few months I've been getting frequent headaches, which seem to be getting worse in the last four weeks. Wake up several times every night. My bloodpressure fluctuates wildly, up to 177 and then down to 135 again. Not taking any Aspirin, because of my tendency of bruising. Low energy, tired but can't sleep. | got diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 1998. Had mastectomy and chemo. Took Tamoxifen for almost 2 years, stopped because I could not handle the severe side effects (hot flashes, joint pain, lower back pain, vaginal discharge). Had recurrence in Jan. 2007, tumors inside rip-cage underneath tram-flap. Chemo and radiation this time. Took Arimidex for 1 year. Side effects were very bad - very painful Arthritis, and numbness in fingers. Started on Femara in October 2008, and had no side effects until a couple of months ago. | F | 56 | 10 months | 8/27/2009 | 3 | Stage 1 Breast Cancer HER2+ | After chemo I was so happy that during that time I did not loose my eyebrows or lashes...of course I did go bald. But now, after 3 weeks on Femara my eyelashes and brows are falling out and the hair on my head is growing back. 5 years without lashes and brows? Hmmmm....it'll be interesting. | I am going through my radiation now and have noticed that with Femara and the radiation sometimes I can barely keep my eyes open. I have experienced some dizzyness but not too bad. I have had a hard time going to sleep but Ambien takes care of that. I just keep pushing myself and keeping a positive attitude..... | F | 57 | 3 weeks | 8/23/2009 |