joint pain whilst taking Letrozole.

Hi I am also having problems which I think are due to letrozole. The first I had was made by Sun pharm and I was like tigger. Side effects,what side effects? But the next pack was made by cipla and the pains started, I could hardly move. I tried to get Sun pharm brand again but couldn't. In time the culpa brand got easier the trick seems to be get moving in any form you can in the mornings. Anyway my recent renewal prescription I was given cipla again. They like exactly the same as I was taking 2 weeks ago but the pain in all joints is incredible. I had an all clear scan last Tuesday and was cock a hoop but the pain is increasing daily. I didn't get out of bed this late on chemo. I should be dancing in the aisles but can barely get to the loo. The only joint that doesn't hurt in my body is a 28 year hip replacement so it must be the letrozole to be all over. What brand are you on? Big hug cathy

Hi ladies, yes ive been on letrozole for nearly a year now and i started on the Accord brand and that as fandabidosi, but then on repeat got the cipla brand and my whole world collapses, within 3 days of taking that rubbish i was in incredible pain, like a 90 year old cripple. so spoke to oncologist who at first thought it was just coincidence but asked her for the Accord brand from the hospital and although i had a little joint pain, i proved my point, and nothing like the cipla brand, and you will find when you talk to the chemists etc, that they find it weird that different brands cause this, so i re educated them, that its the coatings and fillers that are the problem not the tablet itself...  so i have now been on the Accord brand since january again and im doing ok... although i have since started taking the last 2 weeks fermented cod liver oil and im telling you its brilliant, ive lost the remaiing joint pain, so the trick is ladies that you need to get on the brand that suits you better than any other and then have a go at taking the fermented cod liver oil capsules. not cheap, but no pain, so im sticking wih them.  The chemists are also obliged to get you any brand as its not them thats paying for it, its your GP, so make a stand and get the one that suits, because we are entitled to it after all the crap we have had to go through. cheers to you all ladies,, Sally xx

Really silly question here but is letrozole part of the same famliy as exemestane as that is the table I am on and only been on it for a month and the joint pain was so bad, I too had a bone scan which was clear as the oncologist wanted to say it was the tablets which had causes the pain but at the time I was not on any and since taking my tables they have got worse, so oncologist suggested I took a two week break to see of the tablets were the cause, I have been off them about 4 days but don't see any improvement yet. I too am going to take the fermented cod liver oil but wanted to see if the aches eased as I wanted to know which was helping the most. If it is the tablets the oncologist suggested I could go on to tamoxifen. Go back to the hospital in a couple of weeks time to see what he will suggested but really don't think I could cope with the problem for the next five years.

Carol (bosley dog)

I was on Tamoxifen for 3 years with very few side effects before transferring to Letrozole as part of a Breast Cancer Trial that I had agreed to take part in. I suffered from severe pains in joints of my legs, arms and shoulders and had problems turning on taps, opening jars etc. After 6 months I asked my oncologist to put me back on Tamoxifen and eventually the aches and pains decreased. I was taken off all medication in June this year after my 5 years on medication. I found that certain brands of a Tamoxifen gave me migraine and stuck to the one brand ie Wokhart. Hope this helps.

Hi Carol,

The only silly question is one that isn't asked :-)

There are quite a few of these hormone inhibitor tablets besides the more common ones mentioned here - Anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin) and letrozole (Femara) these are known as aromatase inhibitors and all work in similar ways to each other.
This means they share many of the same side effects, like bone thinning although there are some slight differences.

If you click this link and look about halfway down the page you will find all the Breast Cancer Care hormone therapy booklets you can browse through. Some tablets mentioned are for BC but are used for those with metastases or other issues.

They all have their own peculiarities so the ones you are prescribed should be the best ones for you.

Exemestane is usually given after a couple of years on Tamoxifen ?  Being off them for 4 days or so will probably not be noticeable it will take around 2 weeks to start feeling any different.

Hate to say it but all those 3 can make you feel like you aged 20 years :-(

G n' J

Thank you all for your replies, I  think I will have to do some homework before I go to see the oncologist.

Carol

Hi there..I feel the same...my joints are so painful..I aged 20 yrs.  I'm wondering whether to change  my brand or tamoxifen...my 1st month  on these seemed ok....but then  the 2and month worse and seems to be getting worse.

But I certainly cant cope with this for  the next 5 to 10 yrs.

Speaking to my GP this morning..

I am on glucosamine tablets. I wanted to wait 8 weeks to see if these helped  but I dont think I can.

Hope you get sorted 

Hi,

I started on Lerozole (Generics) almost 2 years ago and now on Femara, I have quite painful hands and to a lesser extent my feet, the joints of my fingers are quite swollen now and I often have trigger finger, when I have spoken to my Consultant regarding it he said "the small joints are affected by the Hormone treatment", he advised Ibuprofen each day, over the past month I have taken maximum strength Cuprofen x1 each day and they have certainly helped. I do feel I have aged 10 years in the last 2, which I put down to the Hormone treatment.  I am quite an active person and their is lots of data around suggesting keeping moving is paramount to help aching joints etc.  

I spoke to my radiotherapist this morning. It was my follow up call. When I told her about my joints ,she suggested changing my tablets...

But as far as I can see...all these meds do the same thing...they all affect joints  and its some thing that I will have to deal with like everyone else who is suffering...I dont really want to take pain killers long term.... but I will when it's really bad.... I do think walking helps and  gentle  excercise.  So will try this.

Good luck 

Hi patk1959 Yes unfortunately joint pain is a side effect of Letrozole I’ve had 3 or 4 different brands with different side effects. I’ve been on Sun pharm ones which give me terrible hot flushes etc, but less joint pain, I’m on glen mark this month which I’ve had before but can’t remember what side effects are with this one.

Also, depending on how long you have been taking letrozole the side effects can ease after a few months. I had terrible Pains In my shoulders and knees the first few months but then eased after that.