FEMARA Reviews (LETROZOLE)

Average Rating: 2.5 (1087 Ratings)

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 HORMONAL BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE MODIFIERS AROMATASE INHIBITORS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

FEMARA  (LETROZOLE):  This medication is used to treat certain types of breast cancer (such as hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer) in women after menopause. Letrozole is also used to help prevent the cancer from returning. Some breast cancers are made to grow faster by a natural hormone called estrogen. Letrozole decreases the amount of estrogen the body makes and helps to slow or reverse the growth of these breast cancers.   FDA Approval Date: 1997-07-25 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR FEMARACOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 2  precancerous tumor 12 yrs after BC Vaginal dryness, Dupretren's contracture, foamy urine, blood test found protein leaking into my urine, elevated blood pressure, increase in LDL and recently a high glulcose level. No sweats or bone & joint pain. Started it after a precancerous tumor was found in my right breast. This was about 12 years left breast was removed with Stage 1 cancer. No chemo or other treatment except 5 yrs of Tamoxifen. The proteinuria with elevated blood pressure, LDL & glucose levels really have me worried. Am considering stopping Femara to see if problems disappear. May be causing too many potentially dangerous health problems. F 69 3 years
11/3/2006
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 1  Prevent Breast Cancer reoccurence This is a postscript to a previous comment. I've been off Femara for over a month now and am still having severe joint and bone pain. Have been to a spine pain specialist, a rheumatologist, have had every test known to man, including MRI's, EMG, CT scan, total bloodwork. No sign of any thing. Two doctors have told me they're sure it's the Femara. I'm on prednisone and I take Lyrica and I also take an oxycodone when the pain is unbearable, but only one or two a day. If there's a class action suit against Novartis, I'd like my name on the list of complaintants. Novartis has completely ignored my case, which my oncologist presented to them. They still deny the side effects we've all reported about here. How long will they continue this deception? I just want to know how to get rid of the pain and be myself again. F 61 21 days
10/25/2006
 1  Breast cancer This is an addendum to my first rating. I have had two carpal tunnel surgeries as a result of taking Femara. I have been retired for four years and had no repetitive movements that would have caused this problem. I lost the use of both my hands four months after starting Femara. Severe all over body pain also. I was nearly completely disabled as a result of this drug. I am six years out now. I am now having trouble with spotting and possibly facing surgery to remove ovaries and uterus because I can not tolerate the after Tamoxifen regimen. F 58 4 months
10/20/2006
 4  Breast Cancer Terrible hand and arm pain - not just joints, but whole arm. Hip pain at night. Low libido. Hard to sleep with pain all night. Ibuprofen helps, but I hate to take too much of it. I took tamoxifen for 3 1/2 years then developed huge uterine polyps - surgically removed. Femara started immediately and symptoms also began immediately. However, I am cancer free at this time, so will just have to live with it. I appreciate this website as it helps me to know I'm not alone. F 64 13 months
10/13/2006
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 1  High risk Breast CA?? Addendum, I recently had a mild heart attack. May be caused by the insomnia causing irregular heart rate, causing coronary artery spasm. Am checking w/new doctor this week. Law suit is slow going, but all signs point to doctors not reporting to pharmaceutical company's 800 hot line for SE. Novartis needs to "own up" to their responsibility. M 55 4 months
10/13/2006
 4  Prevent BC recurrence Fingers of rt. hand very stiff. Swelling in legs. Hot flashes, osteoporosis & hair loss. My pain isn't severe, but I am concerned about the swelling. I have kids and need to be here for them. The drug appears to be working, so I guess I can cope w/the effects. 3 years
10/8/2006
 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
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 1  reocurrent breast cancer Extreme pain in both hands with very limited mobility and carpal tunnel-like symdrome in left hand..Awake every morning with claw type hands and pain is constantly there all day.. Swelling in feet and knees with decrease in energy. I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years (with no problems at all) and then on Femara for 6 mos. before going off of it...My doctor feels that there is a definite correlation between the pain and the drug..Have been off of it for almost 5 months now and even with chiropractic care and a physical therapist, have no relief at all. Am worried this could be permanent effect! Novartis, the drug company producing this drug should be accountable for symptoms that just will not go away!! 62 6 months
10/1/2006
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 1  breast cancer joint pain severe in hips,knees,ankles,and shoulder also excessive sweating I also tried aromasin and arimidex did not tolerate these very well.I stopped taking femara after 3 months my joint pain is still very bad I"m very active and this medicine has had a profound effect on my lifestyle.I hope this isn't permenant. F 51 3 months
10/1/2006
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 2  Recurrence after five years Joint pain especially in feet, knees and fingers. Stairs are especially difficult. Weight gain, hot flashes, mood swings. Like many others I feel like a 90 year old creaky woman. It seems unfair to have to make a decision about quality of life versus having a life at all. I am afraid to stop taking this drug but am more afraid of how this drug makes me feel. Would I rather have a couple more good years then five years of feeling like this...... F 42 5 months
9/21/2006
 4  Metastatic Inflammatory Breast Ca Severe bone, joint and muscle pain.Lower back, hands and feet are the worst. Even more severe when I'm still for 15 minutes and then try to move. Hot flashes and sweating at the slightest exertion. Some hair loss. Was on Tamoxifen for a year after IBC diagnosis & treatment(chemo, mastectomy and Rads) and then was Dx with brain mets. After brain OP and radio surgery, and another chemo for the brain mets, I started with Femara and Herceptin. Still taking both but am cancer free right now. I'll put up with the pain if this keeps me from having a recurrence. F 51 11 days
9/20/2006
 3  Breast Cancer 25lb weight gain. Numbness in left wrist, hand and fingers, foot pain in the mornings, swelling in feet, some ankle pain and elbow pain. Acid Reflux. Will continue taking it. Have concerns though as to how to distinguish between Femara's side effects and a recurrence. The numbness is my wrist,hand and fingers just happened and it scared me because I thought it must be something awful, but after reading the comments here, I think it's a side effect. F 47 6 months
9/16/2006
 3  Breast Cancer Just read all the comments on this drug. I've been experiencing constant headaches the last few weeks and pain in my hips and legs. Really feels like a big throbbing toothache when it wakes me up at night (frequently) and is awful getting up in the a.m. or after sitting for 15-20 minutes. I took Tamoxifen for 5 years with no side effects at all. I'm wondering if this drug is really worth taking. F 67 5 months
8/25/2006
 1  Prevent return of Stage 2 BC Severe pain in knees, thighs, back, preventing sleep & a normal life. Tried different pain killers. Nothing helped. Stopped taking Femara after 2 weeks. After 8 treatments of dose dense chemo + radiation & severe problems with Taxol, I just couldn't stand the pain Femara caused. My onc is putting me on Tamoxifen in 3 wks. Surely hope it's better than this was. F 61 20 days
8/21/2006
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 4  Stage 2 Breast(45) Bone Mets (48) Shoulder and arm pain and stiffness now severe left wrist problems. Low Libido. Femara 9 months. Previously Arimidex 7 months(severe exhaustion)and Tamoxifen 2 yrs 7 mths. Taking 80mg slow release morphine and arcoxia to counter pain.Previous history of osteo arthritis.Initial treatment Mastectomy and AC chemo and radiation.(4 out of 9 positive lymph nodes)More energy than when using Arimidex. F 49 9 months
8/20/2006
 5  recurrent BC w/mets in lungs loss of weight, extreme muscular and skeletal pain especially in neck, right arm, wrist and right leg also pain in both my feet. Sometimes I feel like I have the flu. Great for keeping my TM down - my CEA range from 2.4 to 2.7 and the CA27.29 ranges from 44 to 48, tumor not growing. Femara definitely is managing my progression and I am happy with the results. F 51 8 days
8/17/2006
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 1  unknown There is a class action suit being considered against this med. for the terrible dibilitating side effects. A class action suit was filed for the off-labeling prescribing of this med for fertility due to the birth defects. I'm involved with attorneys presently. I am permanently disabled due to this med. Feel free to e-mail me so that I may include your e-mails to the attorney's office. Since my effects are different than many, I'm sure that there are many similar ones also. The side effects did NOT go away even after the short time taken over 1 year ago. F 55 4 months
8/7/2006
 5  Infertility No side effects to the best of my knowledge...minimal if any Worked out great for us - 3 months & I got pregnant! (After exhausting efforts for over 6 years) F 35 3 months
8/4/2006
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 3  Breast cancer 2003 I was not able to tolerate the original RX prescribed to me of Arimidex, I had terrible leg pains. Then I went on Femara, and really thought I had no side effects. HOWEVER, I have terrible pains in wrist, thumbs, on and off, and now my right hand is like a "claw", It doesnt close properly. I have difficulty driving because of the steering wheel "grasp". the "ring" finger is totally stiff. I found your website, and lo and behold, I saw comments from patients about this "claw" hand and pain in joints. My rheumatologist thinks I have the beginning of Rh. Arthrit, but all the tests come back negative. My "sed rate" is high. I now think that these joint pains are coming from the use of Femara after reading some of the comments of others. I have advised my oncologist about this problem and both of us agreed to go off of Femara for a week or so, to see if my "hands, wrists, etc." get better. I am glad I found this site as I may h It's a VERY expensive drug, and now I have an ins. plan that will cover it, but I feel sorry for anyone who has to pay upwards of $300+ for 30 day supply. It's outrageous! F 66 3 years
8/1/2006
 5  stage IV breast cancer very bad joint pain, memory issues, night sweats, increase in hot flashes, incredible hand and foot pain, hips, etc. Insomnia. While I complain about it, this drug has staved off any additional tumors so far and I now have achieved NED (except for a tiny, tiny "maybe" in my spine). Wouldn't stop taking it despite the effects (which are being managed by celebrex, neurontin, ambien, etc.) F 34 2.5 years
7/31/2006

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