I started on Letrozole almost a year ago and the first brand I was given was Sun. I was counting myself lucky to have no side effects, having heard the horror stories. At the start of the year I was given Accord and it was awful. Dreadful night sweats, generally feeling low and just ‘off’ and such a loss of appetite that I really couldn’t face food - I lost almost a stone in 3 months.
I spoke to my pharmacist who managed to find 2 months worth of Sun (I usually get 3 months at a time) but since then she has been unable to get any. For the last month I have been on the Glenmark brand and so far only side effect seems to be night sweats.
I visited the 4 pharmacies in my town earlier in the week and 2 of them had no Letrozole (one said there is a shortage of it), one had Accord or Cipla and my own pharmacist only had Accord in stock. I cannot take Accord so she is trying to source another brand.
I just find it incredible that the same drug can have such different effects on different people, depending on the brand. My pharmacist keeps telling my everyone prefers Accord, as if it’s my fault that I had such a bad reaction to it. If Accord is the only option I will have to find an alternative to Letrozole
1 Like
I just have talked to pharmacist and it looks like government want them to get cheap one, if they will get different they will not refund pharmacy for prescription. He advised me to grab prescription and go around from one pharmacy to another on a quest for brand which suits me. That would be great if I hadn’t had stage 3 C ILC. Going to corner shop is quest enough for me. Bloody joke😳
1 Like
I’m in Wales and the local pharmacy has a sign up that they are making a loss of the cost of medication. They are not being paid by the NHS the full costs of the medicine and have a petition to try to change this.
They will also source the cheapest medication possible. I had terrible trouble with Letrozole and tried a couple of brands, for me, Accord was the best of a worst bunch. I have now moved onto Exemestane and had the first month ok, then my pharmacy wasn’t able to source any at all. I had to call several pharmacies and eventually managed to get 2 months supply of Pfizer Aromasin, the original brand and it’s been much better than Letrozole. I do still have hot surges of heat and take Oxybutynin from a Menopause specialist to help with them. I have also had issues with this medication with different brands, one caused severe headaches. Lucky for me the specialist gave me a 6 month prescription and managed after several weeks to get the brand that works for me.
I was told that it’s the ‘fillers’ in the medication including the coating that causes the problems. I have a family history of allergies and a dermatologist years ago wrote that certain medication must be the original brand to prevent allergic reaction.
@kateunlucky it’s lovely to hear from you but am sorry you are having these problems. I hope you get your prescription soon.
Take care 
I’ve been on Letrozole for 6 months now and I seem to just get whatever the pharmacy has, current box is Amarox and new one Cipla. Have been having mood swings, constipation, stiff joints , headaches but most noticably constant nausea like a stone in my stomach. I’ve joined the gym through the GP exercise referral scheme to try to combat the stiffness but the nausea is no joke and I don’t much fancy it for the next ten years. Am thinking of asking if I can try Anastrozole but I’m worried that it might not be as effective as Letrozole…didn’t have chemo and risk of recurrence 17%, it was hard enough making decision about chemo, I’m so worried about making a mistake 
1 Like
I hope you manage to get sorted. It seems I have been lucky with the two brands I have had until now but the new supply of brand Sun I will now not start until I come back from holiday, just in case ! I don’t know if it’s different Doctors, Health Authorities or who decides how many months you can be prescribed and what drug Letrozole or Anastrozole - I’m fortunate I’ve never had to change, but it’s bad enough without having to worry about supplies.
1 Like
The same here. I was unfit for chemotherapy. I am on abemaciclib and letrozole only. I might have radiotherapy (another decision to make). In the meantime I have to go back to work - I am single with no family or friends to help me. Doctors view sometimes seem to be unrealistic. For them “it’s just fatigue” - for me it means I will not be able to make food, shopping, work and there is no one to do it for me. Abemaciclib is walk in a park so far-no side effects. But letrozole is a bitch. I don’t mind a bit of stiffness which needs to be walk off, but frozen shoulder and mental impact is horrendous.
1 Like