Letrozole brand poll

Hi Londonmumof2, 

I did research on this site (a year ago now, as I’ve been on Letrozole since April 2018) and it seemed that Accord was a reasonable generic version of Femara (the brand name) so I’ve insisted my repeat scrip has that typed on it. Yes, joint pains, hot flushes etc but it’s reasonably ok to cope with. I’ve added Glucosamine with chondroitin to my non prescribed meds (which already included Loratidine - brand name Claritin) after checking with my BCN. Accord recently changed from 28 in a pack to 14, no idea why! 

Hugs xxx

I've had every brand there is. I've been taking CIPLA for a while now. I have to confess that I've never had any SE from any of them. Ironically,  my ramapril is ACCORD. CIPLA comes packs of 14.

Thanks moomy , I've heard about glucosamine.  What dose do you take of it? My doctor takes it for her post-menopausal aches and pains and had been on it for years:) 

lucky you! I'm hoping that my pains are worsened by a late response to the biophosphate infusion as well or this is going to be a tough 5 years!

Hey

i have had letrozole for a year - consistently Accord. 
I also started ovary suppression medication at the same time. 
To begin with I experienced many hot and cold flushes, very sore feet in the morning and sore elbows (bizarre!). Over the last year, flushes have subsided, feet and hands stiff and still a bit sore in the morning or when I haven’t moved around for awhile. Never sure whether symptoms were from letrozole or Zoledex...and with a bit of weight gain (frustrating!) that’s where I am.

3rd Zometa tomorrow- can’t remember what symptoms I get from that! 

Hi,

When I started on Letrozole, I had to battle with my G.P. No chance of Femera if they run their own pharmacies. he said they are all the same and I was given Cipla. Found a more empathetic chemist who gave me Accord. I was o.k. on that but then Cipla bought out Accord. The tablets changed to a colour more like the Cipla, so I tried teva which up to now has not been too bad. 

I believe we have to accept there will be side effects , after all the drug is designed to drain all the estrogen out of our bodies, and oestrogen is beneficial (unless you have breast cancer.)Also depending on age we are all different. (I had been on HRT for 30 years at least.) So I put up with the painful hands, brain fog, emotional reactions. And the miraculously good news is that it gets better.. eventually.    I no longer scream at my partner when he upsets me, the painful hands get better an hour after waking up, The itching is still really difficult, but the anti anxiety tablets have helped me to drive again. I found that researching the tablets was a nightmare because these companies move round the world with take-overs and huge profits. We can only fight for the brand which seem to half suit us, so keep trying if you are unhappy. ..I think it is worth checking the price. We get what we pay for. And chin up. It really does get better for most people after about 12 months. lots of luck and love.

Thanks calador My Accord is made in Ireland, and looking at the ingredients are a bit different to Cipla (no tartrazine for example). How do Teva compare to Accord with you as far as side effects go? My surgery doesn't run it's own pharmacy, and I can take my prescription anywhere, but I think that I'd have to try a few brands which affect me badly before pushing for it if I can't find a decent one. At least it's on the 'NICE' price list, even if it's £90+ a month! Compared to cost of chemo and surgery etc. though it's not expensive.....

Hi again, the glucosamine is a ‘joint assure’ capsule made and sold by Boots, and it’s 500mg equivalent, with Chondroitin 50mg. Comes with extra vitamins and ginger too. 

hugs xxx

Londonmumof2

Juts to say good initiative, whilst there's always side effects different brands contain different stuff and we have to find out what suits us best and then do all we can to get the drugs that suit us....after all patients are not meant to be in pain as a side effect of treatment.

I have also been prescribed Letrazole, the Cipla brand, but don't start taking them till end of the month and its preceded by Zoladex which has its own side effects so will let you know how I get on but may be difficult to distinguish the different side effects.

Good luck and I'll be crossing my fingers, selfishly, that my side effects are negligible!  And I do hope yours improve.

Sam X

Well, I have been taking Accord for over a year....all the normal achy joints particularly my feet, elbows and hands. Then this week I was given Teva....within a day or so ....all aches, stiffness GONE! It took me a day or so to realise I was just getting up and walking....no hobbling! 

Now just need to get it ongoing!

x

Good luck, Galligirl! It took an appointment with my GP for him to see the packet of Accord I took before he put it in my script, apparently it wasn’t listed on his system! 
And the aches are well settled now, I just get them in the already arthritic joints I have (before bc!) 

Not many flushes now either. 

Hugs xxx