Hi there,
I've been taking Letrozole since January 25th and have had the odd pain in my joints, then one week after finishing my radiotherapy in early March I got the most unbelievable and unexpected pain in my right thigh/hip area, I would have willing let my leg be cut off.
Since then I gave had many more day of this terrible pain, I can't even put socks on as I can't bend my leg, I've been to the Dr's and have Naproxen to rake it helps a bit but not much.
I keep going out for walks as I feel I need to keep moving, but sleeping is difficult with the pain too. I go back to my oncologist end of April.
Is this the Letrozole giving me these issues that I've never had before. Not sure I can deal with this for the next 5 years.
Any replies would be helpful.
Hi Zizzie
I strongly suspect it is the Letrozole that's causing these issues.
I was on Anastrozole for 5 years - similar complaints received about these 2 tablets. I was initially prescribed Accord brand and was on those, then one day the pharmacy gave me Consillient brand - OMG! It felt like I'd been hit with a truck! I had some Accord left, swapped and symptoms disappeared. I tried it again a week later and the same thing happened, so I knew then it was something in the brand.
I researched what the different brands of Anastrozole there were and prices the NHS pay (i.e. they'll be happy to prescribe similarly priced tablets). I then went online for the ingredients leaftlets for each of these tablets and it revealed there were significant differences in their coatings. So, I found that Accord and Teva brand had the same coatings and asked my Dr to write on my prescription slip "Accord or Teva brand only". (I kept having issues with no being able to get Accord during the 5 years).
I got through the 5 years without any joint issues. So it's definitely worthwhile having a look at this for Letrozole and see if changing the brand helps you with the pain you are having as that seems extradinarily excessive.
Kindest wishes, Lesley
