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 |
| 3 | 3rd recurrance of breast cancer | Not nearly as many or as intense as Tamoxifen! Almost 18 months in I am still expierencing:- Sweating on exertion; hot flushes; joint pain; pain in shin; severe pain in shoulder; bloated feeling in rib cage area; lack of energy; memory not as good; possible eyesight disturbance? Poor sleep pattern - wake every hour; but ... I am here to tell the tale! | Fingers crossed Femara IS working for me; Whilst on Tamoxifen I had a recurrance. I first expieranced breast cancer aged 36. It returned age 54 and 56. I am a positive thinking. I am not a smoker or heavy drinker; I eat a healthy, mostly vegitarian diet; I am not over weight and get plenty of exercise. | F | 58 | 18 months | 8/22/2009 | 1 | Estrogen Fed Stage 1 Breast Cancer | Vaginal bleeding, back pain. | I am so greatful for this web site. Stage1 breast cancer. Lumpectomy. Clean margin, Clear sentinel nodes. Onco test came back at a 7% reccurence rating. Had total hysto removed ovaries as well. After reading the postings on this site I've decided not to take this awful drug. I'm only 46 and I choose to have a quality of life. What use is it for me to live longer if I can't live happy. I'm in very good shape, I exercise daily. My diet mainly consist of organic fruits and vegitables I also take suppliments that naturally help block estrogen. I wish everyone wellness. Thank you again. I'm glad I found this site in time. I'll take my chances (which are good) for now. | F | 46 | 2 days | 8/18/2009 | 1 | Breast cancer; stage 1; node neg | Extreme pain in all joints (as if they were on fire); muscle pain especially in the lower back region; minor headache throughout taking this medicine. | This medicine made it unbearable to walk due to joint pain in both feet and the hip area. I would never reccommend this med. If anyone is having similiar issues; contact your onclolgist. There are other meds (Aromasin which I am now on) that can help you and also have the same overall benefit. I am now PAIN FREE and can finally live a normal life. | F | 54 | 2 months | 8/16/2009 | 1 | breast ca 2006 & 2008 | extreme joint & muscle pain entire body, wt. gain, memory loss, unable to do normal activities, no sex drive, severe depression during first 2 years on Femara | started on Femara again after radiation 4/2009, swollen feet, bilat. achilles tendinitis & shoulder tendinitis. Now hobbling on boot, unable to sleep due to pain | F | 61 | 2 years | 8/11/2009 | 4 | Breast Cancer | Hot flashes, slight osteopenia, tendency to gain weight | Diagnosed late 1998, node negative, mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction early 1999, followed by CMF chemo and 5 years of Tamoxifen and now nearly 5 years of Femara. I am one of the lucky ones and have not experienced any major side effects on either of the drugs. Not to minimize anyone else's experience with Femara, but not everyone has trouble tolerating it. | F | 61 | 5 years | 8/10/2009 | 3 | breast cancer | Seriously stiff and aching joints, mostly low back and hips but also knees, and fingers. Upon awakening in morning I feel and walk like a 90 year old but this gets better after a few minutes of moving only to return with any sitting. Low back feels unstable pretty much all day and really hurts at times. Numbness and tingling in right hand upon awakening. The pain sometimes gets me down and I feel like crying and giving up. Then I think about my kids and just keep on moving. | For the first couple of months I felt fine. Now the aching is so bad I am taking regular doses of aspirin which helps a bit. I am encouraged to read the other comments here. Lets me know I am not alone. | F | 58 | 7 months | 8/8/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer | joint aches, achilles tendons hurt, can't walk after sitting, have to do stetches. Just started hip pain in middle of night, hot flashes seem to be getting worse, fatigue is always there, just try to ignore it | Took Arimidex for 3 years, quit due to poor quality of life. Agreed to try femara | F | 55 | 18 months | 8/3/2009 | 2 | Breast Cancer Stage 2A | Joint Pain, shins achy, the bottom of feet hurt when I first start walking, and thinning hair. I can't seem to lose weight gain. No energy, most days I do nothing after 4. Also terrible hot flashes, the sweat just pours out of me. | I have been taking Osteo-Bio Flex for the joint and shin pain, it seems to be helping. If it is all in my head I don't care as long as I feel better. I also take vitamin B 100, I ran out of it and my energy level went very low. My dr finally admitted that Femara does have side effects. From everything I have read Femara does seem to be the way to go; but at times I do feel like a test project. I agree with the others sometimes I feel like I am 80 years old. | F | 59 | 6 months | 8/2/2009 | 1 | breast cancer | only took femara for 8 weeks (after doing fine on tamoxifen for 5 years) Terrible side effects. Went from exercising daily-aerobics and weight training to no energy. TERRIBLE joint pain-felt like I had the flu. Depressed-wanted to be in bed all the time. | Off since early Feb 09. STILL HAVE JOINT PAIN IN MY WRISTS,HANDS, ANKLES AND FEET-GETTING WORSE. Anyone else??? | F | 53 | 8 weeks | 8/1/2009 | 2 | stage 2 invasive DCIS | Aching hips when I lie on my side at night. Recently, very bad leg, hip and foot pain after walking for 30 or 40 minutes. | I am 5 years out from mastectomy and chemo. Chemo damaged my heart, Tamoxifen gave me a blood clot in my leg, and coumadin caused bleeding on my brain. Aromasin made my joints ache.I must assume the Femara is doing it's job, but I'm really weary of the side effects. | F | 62 | 10 months | 7/31/2009 | 5 | Stage 2 Breast cancer | Hair thinning,joint stiffness,sex zero,memory loss | Have been taking this drug now for two yrs,after completing 5 yrs. of Tamoxifen.Femara has a lot more side effects than Tamoxifen.Will keep taking Femara as long as I can.Whatever works for me and keeps Cancer away is the most important thing. I can live with the side effects. | F | 56 | 2 years | 7/29/2009 | 2 | early stage breast cancer | my hair is falling out and it is not growing back | can someone please email me and tell me if i'm going to go completely bald and whether or not my hair will come back when i stop taking this stuff! nobody seems to care! being bald for 6 months i can handl,but not for another 4 years! | F | 55 | 1 years | 7/26/2009 | 1 | stage 2 w/no node involvement | I have had to give up Jazzercise (one of the only things that kept me sane during chemo and radiation) due to joint pain. Weight gain of 15 pounds in 3 months, no libido, anxiety attacks, can't sleep, and memory - what? | The side effects are more debilitating that chemo!! Dr. is looking for alternative. And I thought the taxoxafin was bad. | F | 50 | 4 months | 7/26/2009 | 2 | Stage 1 breast cancer, no nodes | I took tamoxifen for 3 years and recently switched to femara 60 days ago. Getting many headaches, joint stiffness. I exercise almost every day and diet so have not noticed weight gain yet. Definitely vag dryness and loss of focus to some extent. No sex interest. I forget things I just thought of a minute before. I am going to speak to my oncologist, but am going to try going off the drug to see if I see changes. I would love to hear from others what they and their doctors decided to do and the end result. | It's difficult to know the effectiveness for me. I continue to get mammos, and ultrasounds (my breast cancer was only detected through the ultrasound since my breasts are dense) every 6 months. | F | 53 | 60 days | 7/23/2009 | 4 | breast cancer lumpectomy 2004 | My side affects include muscle, joint, and bone pain. Most of the pain is in my arms but also my hands, hips, and thighs. I also have very restless sleep, and anxiety. I get occassional blurred vision, sometimes memory blocks, and dizziness. I actually fainted recently...first time in my life. | I started taking Femara about 3 months before I had the lumpectomy. It reduced my tumor almost half it's size. I am told that since my cancer was hormonal driven, that Femara is the best treatment to prevent the cancer from returning. But, my pain is getting worse with time although it is intermittent. Some days I don't notice it that much, other days it is almost intolerable. My Dr says he wants me to stay on Femara at least another year or so. It will be 5 years in Sept 2009. He is aware of the pain but feels it is too risky to go off the Famara. My concern is the long term affects of this drug. Is it damaging my muscles, nerves, bones, eyes? Will this pain go away when I stop taking the drug or is it permanent. I sometimes fear the cancer has moved to my bones since they hurt so much. I tell the Doctors this but they don't order tests to find out. | F | 55 | 5 years | 7/22/2009 | 2 | Breast Cancer | Joint pain, hair loss, indigestion and reflux, weight gain, and blurred vision, and being hot most of the time. | This is my second breast cancer. My first was in 1986, when I had lumpectomy and radiotherapy treatment. At that time I had auxiliary clearance from the armpit (removing 17 nodes) none of which were effected. Later I developed lymphoedema. It was a shock to discover cancer yet again and in the same breast, but a different type of cancer and in no way associated with the first. I really had little choice but to have a mastectomy (no one could feel the cancer) it was picked up by regular mammography. I decided to have a transflap reconstruction, but ended up 20 days in hospital having 3 operations. Just a few problems along the way! My concern with Femora is the blurred vision is causing me problems at work, trying to see the computer screen - I can more or less live with the other symptoms, but I do wonder about the weight gain, if I continue taking the drug at the end of 5 years just how much weight will be gained. I have always lived a healthy lifestyle, careful of food and eaten good healthy food, never junk food, and never smoked. I will talk to the breast surgeon soon. I already have bone density loss since 1988, and he was concerned that Femora would cause problems. My bone scan showed no further loss since 1988 - so it was a wait and see. I am not sure what % better chance I have for survival on Femara, I wonder is it going to be worth all the side effects. | F | 65 | 4 months | 7/17/2009 | 5 | breast cancer | I know the side effects can be very bothersome - but I have been on this for 6 years - I agree taking b vitamins and glucos. and chondrointin will help tremedously - taking a nap I have found lately is something I find I am needing to do more often (I am 59) - weight gain (drives me crazy) I am beginning on Monday to go to the gym with my neighbor - I'm excited to see if this helps - I believe it will - I pray and thank the Lord for it - good luck to all. I considered going off of this because I cannot really afford anymore - I'm trying to find help with purchasing this (any suggestions on prescription help out there?) | F | 59 | 6 years | 7/16/2009 | 1 | Breast cancer | Horrible lower body joint and muscle pain, memory loss, low energy, depression, weight gain (25 lbs) in 3 months, anxiety, mood swings, hair loss, no libido, no sleep, severe fatigue, no quality of life, I feel like I'm 90 years old, can't walk, and a constant sore throat, nausea every morning! | I was diagnosis with breast cancer in 4/2008, I was put on Armidex for approximatly 8 months, after radiation. I had a severe reaction to Armidex, was taken to the ER with my throat closing. My oncologist put me on Femara, I have taken it consistantly for 8 month and it has been the single worst experience I've been through since being diagnosis. I keep hoping for a good day, but it never happens. I have tried acupuncture and massage therapy, which helped a little for a few day, but the pain returns with a fury! I called my oncologist and told her I refused to take this drug anymore, the depression and anxiety are just over the top. I'll take my chances with the reacurrance of cancer. I think the drug companies use us all as part of their testing process, and the long term effects of this drug is not known. The cost is unbelievable, no generics available. And they call this progress, where have all the research dollars gone to fight this? My biggest worry is the long term effects, we will all see, won't we? | F | 62 | 245 days | 7/12/2009 | 2 | Breast Cancer Treatment | Overwhelming fatigue, slept 12 hrs per night, still sleepy during the day and dizzy. Extreme addition pain to the neuropathy in my hands. I will try Tamoxofen and hope it's side effects are tolerable. | I tried the med once for about 3 weeks and then allowed it to clear my system before I tried it again. Same symptons within a week. My statement on satisfaction/dissatisfaction is based on the side effects of the drug....not it's cure qualities. I am unable to answer that. | F | 50 | 36 days | 7/11/2009 | 2 | Breast cancer | severe,unrelenting joint pain and thinning hair | I'll be very glad to end this treatment. | F | 62 | 22 months | 7/10/2009 |