Side effects of Letrozole

Hi Christine,

My oncologist doesn't seem to think aches and stiffness are due to the Letrozole, but more likely to be the ongoing after effects of the chemotherapy.  I too have gone down the same route as you (chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy which is ongoing and Letrozole for the next ten years - at least they're optimistic).  I am taking Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg for the pain along with an antiflamatory more to do with my osteo arthritic hip though, but it helps with the other things too.  Nowt much to growing old, eh?

Hi there thank you for replying to my question. I see my oncologist this Thursday and hope to get more information then. I know I have to take some form of medication to stop my oestrogen from creating more cancers and I am really greatfull that there are such tablets. However, there must be women who have taken Letrozole and have found help through either alternative therapies or complimentary medication.  I am just hoping for help in speeding my way back to good health. 

Hi Christine,  I would be interested to know your oncologist's opinion re Letrozole too.  I have stiffness and muscle aches I would like to control, but my added complication is the osteoarthritis, so its difficult to separate out the two.

Hey Christine31167 I have been taking  letrozole now for 18 months. I was 32 on diagnosis and so pre-menopausal but due to not being able to take tamoxifen as soon as I finished radio I had my ovaries removed & was started on letrozole. My hot flushes originally were terrible & some days prevented me from going out because as soon as moved I would be all clammy. Gradually over time they have improved massively & now on average have about 8 a wk with prob 1 day a month being terrible. I can cope with that. My other side effects are not so great I am now 34 yet when I wake in the morning I feel about 90.....no joke. All my legs & fingers are so stiff I literally shuffle about until I loosen up!! I also get terrible hip pain both sides at night. I spoke to my surgeon, oncologist & gp and they all said the same which was my pain & stiffness is without doubt due to letrozole . I have to say my pain is def better than the first 6 months I had taken it. I asked my oncologist if maybe I could take it every other day but she said if I did that I would be high risk of my tumour returning so sadly letrozole is the lesser of two evils. I have also just recently started having vaginal bleeding which again is a side effect of letrozole & I am waiting on a day to go in hospital for a gynae app so they can check my uterus with a camera because as with tamoxifen letrozole can cause uterine cancer & or bleeding. I really hope this has helped clarify a few things. 

All the best x

This is very useful info Christine.  I too wake in the morning feeling 90.  I do stretching while in bed to lessen the effect of actually standing when I get out of it.  As in your experience, my stiffness, aches and pains do ease as I get moving, but it is difficult at first.  I am still taking pain killers to help ease things.  I agree that Letrozole is to blame having asked around other patients and professionals.  Added complication with me is that I have a severe arthritic hip and am now having to decide whether or not to go for a new hip op or to live with it. 

 

Hi, I started Letrozole 2-3 months ago following pelvic radiotherapy. I'm 44 and had hip ache before I started the Letrozole which seems worse now.  I simply take cod liver oil capsules and after as little as a week I can honestly say I noticed a difference.  I also do a bit of Pilates if I remember and find this helps.