Letrozole

No magic solutions but a huge dollop of empathy . I've been on anastrozle for about 6 weeks and my flushes are so intense day and night ....joint pain in every joint known to man. its so miserable and doesn't make you want to socialise does it. May as well walk round with a neck fan and tissue stuck to face forever!  I am now on gabapentin which has helped a tiny bit ...maybe worth looking into?  I have seriously thought Bout chucking it all in bin xx

I've been on letrozole for about nearly 5 months I had joint pain in the morning especially. But hot sweats were the worst and I'm still getting them now during the day and some at night. I've been taking loratadine anti histamine. This helps tremendously with joint pain. Also I have been taking vit d and calcium. So it's just hot sweats now and again but I'm coping. It might not work for you but it's worth looking into. 

M

Hello. I've been on letrozole 10 weeks and I'm exactly the same. The hot weather has been unbearable. I'm also having monthly zoladex injections and about to start bisphosphinates. I was told that the side effects should ease after 6 months so I'm really hoping. I was initially started on tamoxifen but had to stop due to the risk of blood clots. I found the effects the same on that drug too. I'm just using paracetamol and ibuprofen gel to help with the joint pain. I'm finding that i feel like my internal body temperature gauge has been turned up to full and i am constantly hot. If anyone finds a way of helping with this I'd be really grateful to know how.

Hi 

I have been on Letrozole for about 3 weeks and the sweats are crazy! I got a personal  fan that goes round your neck like a set of head phones.  It really helps if you get the flushing . The pharmacist recommended glucosamine, chondroitin and turmeric. But said I should wait til I have finished my radiotherapy to start it  she did say it takes wuite a few weeks to kick in fully.. She had a family member with the same problem and said it really helped her with the joint pains and tendinitis.  I was recommended cranberry tablets  for the urinary cystitis feeling.  Hope something there helps..Somewhere on this forum I read that the particular brand of letrozole can have an effect so definitely worth asking your pharmacist, heard that Femara and Accord are worth considering . Do a search on Leteozole on this forum and you will see lots of posts about this lovely drug! 

Hang on in there.

Fly x 

Hi 

How strange an antihistamine would help with the joint pain, but I will try anything thanks

Fly

I was told by Penny Brohn and also my oncologist that I could take sage for the hot sweats. That has definitely helped me.

I only take paracetamol for the joint pains. I haven't found that either oral ibuprofen or the gel help at all, but as it isn't technically inflammation, I suppose that isn't surprising. My osteopath thinks that the brain is confusing "stretch" with "pain". It's awful, isn't it? I was taken off Letrozole after 7 months and put on Anastrozole. Initially the joint pains improved quite a bit, but then it all started ramping up again so I'm off all meds now for a month's "washout" before starting Exemestane. I'm 5 weeks out from my last Herceptin injection, which also gives joint pain, and 2.5 weeks out from my last Anastrozole. I'm still waiting for the pain to subside...

You can go back to your oncologist for alternatives and for help. I'm not sure what else you've tried, but there is also Tamoxifen which my Mum takes, and she has no pain.

This is a whole new journey of discovery for us, isn't it? Hugs.

Hi indeed just when you think the worst part is over you get these lovely tablets!! I have been on them for about 6 weeks now, the dry mouth is settling down, the hot flashes are ramping up and the joint pain seems to move about !! Can I ask how you take sage is it in a tea or tablets? Is there a brand which is worse for the sweats, they are making me miserable. I have just finished radiotherapy so maybe it is making it worse ?? Hope you are all getting solutions to this.
Tthanks 
FFly