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 | Breast Cancer-lymph node reoccuranc | I started taking Femara the end of Dec 2007, after having a 3rd re-occurance in the neck lymph nodes (had surgery and radiation) I never took any of the other estrogen blockers before, because of the proposed side-effects..but decided to try this one now..first 3 or so were fine, then started getting tremondous muscle/joint soreness/pain in my neck, shoulders, low back..and swelling/nerve pain in my right arm/hand. the side of all 3 cancer surgeries..thought I just needed to stretch more as I'm very active, tennis, workout, etc. tried massage, chiropratic, stretching, nothing really helped..so went off the drug..symptoms went away after a few weeks..the doctor said I really needed to be on the drug and stick with it for a year, as the pain usually goes way..so went back on it..and the symptoms all come back..and worse..can't sleep..stiffness and pain in my neck and shoulders are worse at night and when getting up in morning..but so exhausted from the night..just awful..i'm going off t | F | 51 | 4 months | 8/1/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Joint and muscle pain have increased tremendously. | I was not aware until I read these comments that my joint and muscle pain were related to the femara. I had a big recurrence of trigger finger with 2 fingers and had to have surgery. Never related it to the femara and now my right should and bicep ache and has sharp shooting pains to my hand. | F | 63 | 4 months | 7/25/2008 | 1 | BREAST CANCER STAGE 1 | NECK SWELLING, ITCHY PAINFUL RASHES ON LEGS AND ARMS, NECK, SLEEPLESSNESS EVEN WITH STRONG SLEEPING TABLET, ITCHY SCALP, HORRENDOUS! | THE PHARMACIST HAD TWICE AS MANY SIDE EFFECTS THAT MAY OCCUR AS WERE ON THE PAPER WITH THE BOX OF TABLETS. THIS DRUG SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET. I THREW MINE AWAY AND WILL NEVER TAKE THEM AGAIN. | F | 67 | 15 days | 7/25/2008 | 5 | Breat Cancer | Bottoms of my feet hurt, depression, dehydration, watery eyes, weight gain, bone pain, muscle pain, loss of libido,bloated feeling in face | I have been on femara for a year and a half and the side effects seem to be getting worse. right now the bottoms of my feet are thing bothering me the most. I am not showing that as a side effect but noticed some of these comments showing foot pain. Although I have these side effects Femara is easier for me to take than tamoxifen. I do feel like I am eighty years old somtimes and I am really tired. | F | 42 | 1.5 days | 7/24/2008 | 3 | Stage 2 Breast Cancer 6 of 11 lymph | It would seems that most of the side effects are related to loss of libido and overall dryness of the skin. Occasional headaches, sleeplessness, irritability and over all feeling that my quality of life has certainly decreased but on the other hand I am still alive and able to enjoy my family and friends and discovered the joy of owning small dogs - in the past year aquired 4 - so I guess that there are pros and cons and I think that with a positive outlook and the fact that the cancer is not recurring - that is the most important. Once the 5 years is up - I'm in year 4 - then hopefully some of the joys of life that I have been missing for the past while will return. | I feel that if there is a drug that can help reducing the risk of recurrence of a potentially fatal disease then we should at least try. I understand that I am able to tolerate it more than some. | F | 55 | 4 years | 7/20/2008 | 1 | breast cancer | I had been on Tamoxofin for 5 years. I then took Evista for about 1 1/2 years when my doctor put me on Femara because it is more effective. I was fine in the beginning. After two years or so, I started having pain in my right hip and down my leg where it was uncomfortable to walk. I also developed neuropothy in both feet. I did not understand what the problem was. I went to multiple doctors, and no one could figure out what was going on. A year later I was in so much pain that I had trouble sleeping and could barely walk at all. Long story short, it was the Femara. I have been off of it for a year. After several months, I was not feeling that much better, so ended up going to an accupuncturist only becaus I was desperate! The next day my pain was gone which absolutely amazes me. I still have the neuropathy, but I can deal with that. I started last january having a monthly injection of Faslodex which so far has caused me no problems. I almost forgot to respond to this web | 3 1/2 years | F | 64 | 3 years | 7/17/2008 | 4 | BC, stage 2, 1 lymph node positive | extreme joint pain, primarily in knees, swollen joints in 2 fingers, major problem with thinning hair, weight gain especially in waist & abdomen, increased cholesterol, rashes on head, extreme vaginal dryness, constipation | Have taken Femara for 4 yrs, 7 months. I hope I can stop before all of my hair is gone. And I pray that the arthritis will go away but how can we know for sure? I believe that the drug is doing what it was designed to do: keep the estrogen positive breast cancer from recurring. But I hate the thought of being bald and crippled for life. The side-effects provided on Femara.com are a joke. We need help with side-effects. | F | 66 | 4 years | 7/16/2008 | 2 | BC Stage 1 | Back pain, neck pain, tired during the day, trouble falling asleep at night, beginning to have pain in feet and knees, hips hurt if I lay on them too long, | Took Tamoxifen for 5 years with very minor effects...began taking Femara this spring...shortly after, I began having serious back & neck pain, have spent the last couple months wearing back brace, buying back support cushion for my chair at work, visiting chiropractors trying to figure out why I couldn't get relief...X-ray also shows early stages of arthritis in my hips!! Knees and feet also beginning to ache! I'm 36 and feel MUCH older. Dr. wants me to try Arimadex but not sure I want to go there...sounds like it causes similar side effects PLUS possible hair loss!?? I enjoy being active & have a 9 yr old to keep up with...I'm beginning to think I would rather take my chance with a recurrance than spend the next 5+ years battling the pain. Arthritis at 36??!!! | F | 36 | 120 days | 7/15/2008 | 4 | breast cancer | extreme joint pain and stiffness, weight gain in the middle of my body, elevated body temperature (on-going hot flashes), vaginal dryness, lack of libido | The joint pain and stiffness is awful. To reduce the stiffness of my muscles after sleeping I stretch my legs, arms, etc. before getting out of bed. This really helps (that is, I can walk to the bathroom without holding on to the walls!) Yoga is very beneficial but I'm often too busy to do yoga (or any exercise) regularly. I've tried taking Advil, Motrin and so on but none of these seem to have any effect. I have a very active job (middle school music teacher)so staying active keeps the pain and stiffness at bay during the day. If I have to sit for a while I have difficulty getting up and moving around, but I just do it and the stiffness eventually subsides. I take calcium and fish oil tablets daily. I hope that is helping but I have no way of knowing. I am on a mild dose of an antidepressent so emotionally I feel great! No depression, mood swings, irritability or any of those symptoms. I definitely recommend Effexor. My cholesterol level has increased significantly. Don't | F | 53 | 2 years | 7/14/2008 | 3 | breast cancer | Has anyone suffered dry eyes as a result of this drug? I can no longer wear contact lenses due to dry eyes. The only thing that has changed is that I began taking Femara. | F | 55 | 8 months | 7/11/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Stiffness, joint pain, weight gain, difficulty standing after sitting in one position for a time (like at a movie theatre) | Curious if the benefits outweigh the discomfort and constant reminder of breast cancer | F | 48 | 3 months | 7/10/2008 | 2 | Breast cancer ES& PR + & HER-2 3+ | Joint & muscle pain all over but hands are the worst with swelling & numbness too. I do not sleep well due to pain being worse at night and having to urinate frequently. Have hot flashes & vaginal dryness. I've been prescribed all types of pain killers and anti-inflammatories and the only thing that has helped a bit is Percocet! I've been on Femara for 4 months and was told I have to take it for the next 7 years [due to the agressiveness of my type of cancer..I think]which I do like the idea of at all. I have had surgery, chemo, radiation and still have 4 more Herceptin treatments. I won't know if I'm in remission until I have a PET scan done in Oct/November so I cannot say if Femara has worked or not. I'll be one angry woman if all this suffering pain is in vain! It's hard to always be positive when you feel like you've been beaten with a big stick! | F | 53 | 4 months | 7/10/2008 | 3 | B/C Recurrence | The first 3 months it was okay but then my legs started becoming stiff and fingers and wrists hurt and real weak. I have been on zoloft but was becoming very depressed,anxious and very tired so the doctor put me on cymbalta which helps depression and pain. DO NOT take it if you have migraines, though. I have felt so much better since I have been on cymbalta because it has really helped my fatigue and aches and pains and feeling so bad. | I have started back exercising and walking since starting cymbalta which may take a month or not that long for some people but I know it has helped me tremendously. The only thing that concerns me is you hope that the Femera is doing what it needs to do to prevent a b/c recurrence. Also, be your own advocate and don't hesitate to ask your oncologist questions. | F | 59 | 16 months | 7/6/2008 | 1 | bc | horrible | F | 24 | 3 years | 7/2/2008 | 3 | FOR MY ENDO CYST | SO FAR VERY EMOTIONAL, GET HOT EASILY, STIFFNESS IN JOINTS... | SO FAR THERE HASN'T BEEN MAJOR SIDE EFFECTS I'M TAKING IT FOR 2 MTHS TO DECREASE THE SIZE OF MY CYST IF IT WORKS, I GOT PUT ON BIRTH CONTROL TO HELP AND THAT DIDN'T WORK SO WE WENT WITH SOMETHING STRONGER I'M HOPING THIS WORKS SO I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY.. | F | 28 | 1 months | 6/30/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer | Weight Loss, Depression, Hot flushes, Sweating, Joint Pain | F | 54 | 9 months | 6/30/2008 | 3 | Breast Cancer Bilat Mastectomy | I had bi-lat mastectomy May 07 and hysterectomy and oopherectomy July 07. Tried Arimidex and switched to Femara. I was almost crippled on Arimidex. Femara is better though not great. I have insomnia sometimes and hot flashes. Thumbs would not bend, had to have surgery to remove the calcification it caused in one thumb. Some stiffness, sore feet and legs especially after sitting awhile. Lexapro (antidepressant helps with sleep and hot flashes believe it or not! Low energy and can get almost premenopausal-like symptoms when tired. | F | 54 | 5 months | 6/27/2008 | 4 | Endometriosis | I was tired alot.I would bleed constantly while i was on it. I took them every other day since I couldnt afford it w/ my insurance. Two weeks after I stopped taking it I started haveing severe headaches. | Stopped taking it because the bleeding was annoying. | F | 28 | 7 months | 6/19/2008 | 5 | Secondary Infertility | On fourth day of taking this medication, started feeling dizziness which increased to the point I couldn't stand up without feeling I was going to fall backwards--felt like I was drunk at one point with the room spinning. Felt increased stiffness and heaviness of joints/limbs and was very weak. Nauseated to the point I had to lay down and was completely incapacitated for the entire evening (and that was after taking it in the early morning!). I couldn't even speak right (kind of slurring words like when drunk) and also head felt muddled! Some increased feelings of weepiness. Mornings have been fine except severe headaches from second day, but heading towards the afternoons/early evenings, other symptoms increase! | I felt insane when I took Clomid to have my second child and Clomid thinned out my uterus lining which is the reason the doctor put me on Femara this time (to have the third child). It's creating a very nice lining! So it IS working. However, while I am not moody or emotional on Femara, the other side effects are not pleasant and I can't wait to get off it! | F | 33 | 5 days | 6/14/2008 | 1 | Breast Cancer, 5 nodes positive | Six months after stopping Femara, my anxiety is one of the major side effects still haunting me. The numbness in hands and feet are gone, still feel full in my face and have slight back aches | I stopped taking Femara due to my quality of life being taken away with a $200 a month pill that blocks estrogen. Took for three years and will not ever take it again. I have done extensive research on Femara and all of the tests that they have done have been for a two year period, not five. I am post menopausal, at least this month. Take vitamins, takes omega 3,6 and nine, exercise, enjoy life. Femara should have a pamphlet handed out with it, with all of the side effects!!!!!!!!!!!!! | F | 43 | 3 years | 6/14/2008 |