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 | 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 | 2 | estro+/progest+, HER2-, Breast CA | Just about all of those commonly described here, unfortunately. My particular interest, without reading every post, is in those experiencing KNEE CARTILAGE DAMAGE or, as yet undiagnosed, severe knee pain, limitation of movement and range of motion etc... | ... AND which is being, or may be, "attributed to OA (OSTEOARTHRITIS)". Also,in anyone who has suddenly developed BAKER"S CYSTS with knee joint effusion (swelling) after taking aromatase inhibitors, including, but not limited to Femara -such as ARIMIDEX etc. Patsy ------- P.S. I can only assume 'it' is doing what it's supposed to, as I am almost two years out - S/P lumpectomy, AC (also), and radiation. So far so "good"! | F | 50 | 4 months | 4/18/2007 | 1 | Stage 2 BC w/ 2 pos nodes | severe muscle and joint pains, flu like symptoms, could not get up in the morning, fatigue, pain all over my body, blurred vision, felt like 100 yrs old | I was on Femara for 31 days, had to stop because of these side effects, I could not function. I'm thinking of not taking anything at all since I know that I would have the same side effects, my oncologist is suggesting Aromasin/Arimidex, pls let me know if anyone has had any good experiences with any of these since I am contemplating of just taking my chances, my husband is really worried that I not take anything, I would like to have the best quality of the remaining years of my life. The drug companies probably have not done enough research and clinical studies on these drugs--their side effects, and what the long-term impact these drugs could do to our system--they're testing them on us. I thought that I was the only one suffering until I found this site..thank you,thank you... any advice on which AIs to take would be appreciated. | F | 51 | 30 days | 4/18/2007 | 2 | Invasive Lobular Carcinoma w/nodes | Took Arimidex for seven months with horrible side effects, joint pain to the point of making me crippled up. Took a one month break and started Femara. At first seemed ok, then slowly started getting joint pains, massive sweating from forehead and back of neck upon most any excertion (even walking!). Heart pounding. Weight gain. Depression. Have lost over half my hair. Eyelashes and eyebrows also affected. Memory problems. Is affecting my work. NO sex drive at all. No drive for much of anything anymore. I also used to be very active. Now it is an effort to walk across a room. Dr. took me off two weeks ago and I was hoping things would start improving. The hot flashed have improved but otherwise my system is all over the place. Have been crying for two days. This is NOT good. This is not what I struggled so hard to stay alive for. | Will be put on Tomoxefen in three weeks. Sure hope this is much better as the Doctor says it is my last option. | F | 55 | 7 months | 4/16/2007 | 2 | prevent reoccurance of BC stage 1 | joint and bone pain for 2 years now severe irregular heart beat and ekg heart pounding | Has anyone had irregular heart patterns and pounding? Was surprised after 2 years, but doctor has put me on hold/femara for 2 weeks and am seeing a cardiologist. After two days the constant irregular beats stopped...very scary! please e mail | F | 61 | 26 months | 4/15/2007 | 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 | 3 | Class 2 breast cancer | Joint pain, fatigue. Trying to exercise through the joint pain, but am finding that I can't do as much as I'd like because I will "pay" for it. Sometimes the soreness seems systemic. My main complaint right now is extreme dry, sensitive skin. My eyes get red and look and feel tired frequently. Is anyone else experiencing this? | F | 57 | 9 months | 4/12/2007 | 3 | mets to liver and bones | claw like symptoms to hands and bone pain but after 3 years of hard chemo I felt like I got my quality of life back. Yes it does cause bone pain but that is torable when you compare to your quality of life on chemo all the time. | getting ready to try it again in combination with another drug hope it does the trick this time. | F | 49 | 5 months | 4/11/2007 | 3 | early stage bc--postmenopausal | Hot flashes, night sweats, but am most concerned about bladder irritation and painful urination. Urinalysis showed no infection. How can I convince my doctor that Femara is to blame? He told me to "push the fluids." Was pleased to find other comments about urinary tract issues. | F | 49 | 3 months | 4/11/2007 | 1 | stage I invasive bc | Hands and feet hurt , my vision has gotten worse, no desire for sex (should give this drug to sex offenders). Extreme fatigue, memory loss and having migraines which I haven't had in many years since stopping birth control. Depression. Stopped femara on 4-8-07 after 10 months. Maybe the depression makes me not want this life. Was very active, gained weight which will not go away. No quality of life. | Took tomoxifen 5 years. Took antidepresant and stopped because of side effect. Concerned about bone loss. Fosamax was terrible. There has to be a better way. | F | 54 | 10 days | 4/11/2007 | 1 | Breast Cancer | Tired, trouble sleeping,horrible muscle,joint aches,crippled on right side mostly. Couldn't get up or down easily after taking Femara. Aged my body overnight, bent over, limped, couldn't walk right. Very extreme effects on the body overall. | Within a day of taking Femara terrible side effects occurred, wouldn't recommend taking the drug at all. If you want to feel like a 90 year old, then take this drug. The quality of life is gone. | F | 57 | 3 days | 4/11/2007 | 1 | Into my last 4 months of Tamoxifin | I thought I was getting arthritis in my hips. Felt like an old woman when I tried to walk after sitting. I was into my fourth month of taking Femera and the last two weeks it seemed like it was building up in my system. Have had headaches, huge weight gain, memory loss, dry eyes, unbearable vaginal dryness, five bladder infections, slight incontinence and depression. I saw my Oncologist yesterday and he agreed with me. I'm done. Did five years of Tamoxifin and that is it. It is very hard to say no to what sounds like an insurance policy against b/c. However, I'm wondering if the pharmaceutical company's aren't pushing Femera for those extra years because of the cash. They did it with HRT. Luckily I didn't bite. Quality of life is more important to me than living with my Femera symptoms. Good luck to all. | F | 59 | 4 months | 4/10/2007 | 3 | trial for recurrance bc | overwhelming tiredness, trouble sleeping, 2 carpal tunnel ops to relieve pain/numbness,in the mornings my feet feel like I am walking on blocks of wood, aching bones/joints, fuzzy head when waking,feel knackered,hot flushes-stop and sit down, I carry a fan, people stare like I am mad because in winter I am going bight red and sweating, SEX - yes I remember that, just a memory now. What a Joy! | had breast cancer 7 years ago, 2WLE in same breast,chemo,rads 5years Tamoxifen, 1/5 lymph nodes involved grade 3 in England it means aggressive. Now in trial to prevent recurrance at my request, to take for 5 years, side effects are as bad as tamoxifen, only more painful. So only time will tell. | F | 55 | 1 years | 4/8/2007 | 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 | BC. BREAST REMOVED 9/11 NODE POS. | UNBEARABLE LOWER BACK PAIN WITH SPASMS. STIFFNESS EVERYWHERE,SAME, SAME, SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH OTHER SYMPTOMS. MUSCLE IN MY NECK GOES INTO SPASM AND MY SKULL ACHES SO BADLY I THINK I'M DYING...... HORRIBLE....DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. | WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? CANCER COMES BACK OR PAIN EVERY DAY???? | F | 50 | 8 months | 3/29/2007 | 3 | Stage II Breast Cancer | I start with mild pain in lower back, hip and knee. Now the pain is so severe I cant walk right. My rt foot is going inward. I have pain so severe down my rt leg that I thought I had cancer. All test came back neg. Thank God. I have headaches, shoulder pain, and I just have pain all over my body. I have been thinking about leaving my job due to the pain.I have no sex urges, and when I do, I have vaginal dryness. I also have been unable to hold my urine. The pain is so bad, I cant make it to the bathroom on time....So now I wear a pad and I dont even have a period. | I used to walk marathons, walk with my walik group. be a very active person. Now I have no quality of life. Im looking for help from anyone that can share to help me manage this pain | F | 50 | 4 years | 3/29/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer Stage II b- node neg | Joint pain - take ibuprofen 2-3x/wk 400 mg/day. Hurts when walking first in the morning but goes away after 5 min. I walk later in the day on indoor walking track with good supportive shoes- on sidewalk hurts too much. Joint pain worse after sitting for 30 min - get up and move around often. Glucosamine worked for 1 month then didn't - I am currently cycling to see if helps latest increase in joint pain. Started off feet pain and swelling, now it's worse shoulders, elbows, knees. I stretch and do yoga gently. I lift wts at gym 2x/wk 10 lbs arms and 30-50 lbs legs. I get a massage every week. I also sit with a hot water bottle on my back every night. Vaginal dryness- use Replens applicator every 3 days and lots of lubricant to have sex- no condom and really lather it on both of you. Latest symptom- at point start to sweat have an intense heat flush with intolerable itching over all my body. Immediately stop any activity to cool down and then itching goes away. | Tried Arimidex and couldn't get out of a chair - this is better. Can't see what else would work better so staying with this. I am curious about Cymbalta. | F | 50 | 9 months | 3/19/2007 | 1 | Stage 1 Breast Ca, 5yrs tamoxifin | Extreme fatigue, terrible hot flashes, labile moods with anxiety, hip and knee pain, muscle weakness, numb and tingling fingers, difficulty with dexterity in right hand, short term memory loss,decreased libido,pain with urination, dizziness. | I had no problems with Tamoxifin.I stopped Femara after 3 months due to fatigue and numb fingers. It has been 3 weeks and I feel MUCH better. Most of numbness gone, energy level better. I can now climb stairs again! My moods have leveled out, with slight anxiety still present. | F | 52 | 3 months | 3/14/2007 | 5 | Infertility | Some mild hot flashes, irritability | The side effects were minimal. I had taken Clomid for several months with no success. I only took Femara for one cycle and I just had a positive home pregnancy test. I wish my doctor had given me this a year ago. | F | 27 | 5 days | 3/5/2007 | 5 | Stage 4 - Metatastic Breast Cancer | Bone and joint pain, hot flashes, back pain, headaches, wrinkly hands, vaginal dryness, fatigue, osteoarthritis, short term memory issues, difficulty focusing. Diagnosed w/ BX in 94' then metastisized in 97'. Took tamoxifin for 3.5 year after the first diagnosis and then famera for 9 years after the second. | Nine (total of 13) extra fabulous years that I wouldn't have otherwise. Over the past couple of years, then pain is intensifying. Need to switch or to stop taking famera. Would like to hear from someone who has taken it long term and then stopped. | F | 49 | 9 years | 3/2/2007 |