@jeannej I’m slightly better on Anastrozole but I really think that might be due to the Magnesium and Evening Primrose Oil I started. It’s only been a week but my hips and knees are easier. Feet and hands are yet to improve. My oncologist also suggested Zinc so I will give that a go too. When I had a short break from Letrozole, my side effects didn’t really go away. Wishing you all the best xx
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Please can I recommend everyone to read the book Oestrogen Matters? It’s very informative re breast cancer and the importance of oestrogen
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@loies-mum Thanks for your response. What type of Magnesium do you take? I take 400 mg of Magnesium Citrate for constipation. I could add Evening Primrose Oil and Zinc, too. Do you prefer the Anastrazole to Letrozole? I am going back to my Oncologist very soon. Thanks!
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It’s very difficult to make up your mind about AIs. I have tried Letrozole and Exmestane and although the immediate side effects are not that severe, the long term effects combined with the other sides effects have persuaded me to take the small risk of breast cancer returning. I was struggling with difficulty sleeping, hot flushes and muscle pain. However I am even more worried about my cholesterol levels increasing and the effects these drugs have on your bones. Apparently I already have osteopenia, so I don’t want to aggravate it any further. I am 72 and have opted for quality of life over quantity. It is purely personal choice but I feel so much better after 3 weeks without taking the tablets. For me it is worth the small risk of breast cancer coming back. This is the second time I have had breast cancer with a 25 year gap between the two diagnoses. If I was to make it into my 90s I would be delighted but something else will probably come along first. I would always recommend going with what you feel is best for you.
sleeping
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Holland and Barret do a combined magnesium and zinc and it’s half price at the moment. I’m definitely better on Anastrozole than I was on Letrozole. Everyone is different though. Or it could be the addition of the supplements. Either way, I’m much less miserable so I’m going to try and stick with it for now.
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Thanks. I will add zinc. I went back to my Oncologist and she prescribed exemestane, not Anastozole. I think I may try it and if the side effects are intolerable, I will take my chances of reoccurrence. Apparently, there is a small risk since I am 70 and had Stage 1. I am afraid of Urinary burning, listed as a side effect, since I already have Interstitial Cystitis.
I was on Letrozole for 14 months. For 8 months I had no side effects. Everyone is different. I hope you are one of the lucky ones.
Well done to you for getting on with your life, meditation can be harsh for some of us.
However I think we all need love and support to get us through our hardest time, when we don’t know what way to turn.
Tili 
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I had regular 3 day headaches for the first 3mths on letrozole and was offered a swap, but also told after 6mths it might get better. I made the call to stick with it and headaches stop however, tiredness and brain fog remain 9mths later! Considering switching brand altho’ I have Accord, which most folks on here seem to think is ok!?!
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Hi @sharonmac welcome to the forum. I do take Accord myself and a lot of women seem to do well on it but I have seen threads on here discussing brands and not everyone gets on with Accord so please don’t think it’s you. It might be worth trying a few brands, like Sun which I had to start with and was fine on - or if all forms of Letrozole give you the same side effects, it might be worth asking your BC nurse or oncologist if you could try Exemestane which is slightly different to Letrozole and Anastrozole in that it is steroidal. I have never had the joint and muscle pain that blights so many women but I do have the cognitive issues that you describe and know that it sucks.
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Please can anyone tell me if they feel sick on anestrazole? Finished radiography 10 days ago but have constantly been feeling nauseous which they say is not a recognised symptom . Think it also coincided with taking the anastrazole, having terrible brain fog as well
This is my first post so hoping someone can tell me if this is a likely side effect
Supposed to be changing to letrazole next week but reading below sounds as if side effects are as bad?
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I felt very nauseous especially in the afternoons. It was better when I took my Anastrozole at bedtime and it improved dramatically at about the 4 week mark
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Thank you for replying. Trouble is if I take It at night the hot flushes seem worse during the night -guess it’s a case of trial and error 
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I was on Letrozole and then Exemestane. Hot flushes were bad so had other medication to reduce, it has helped in the day but night time is horrendous. I’d read on the forum that changing the time of day you took the tablets can make a difference but for me it didn’t.
It may be worth a try to take at a different time of day to see it it works for you.
Thank you, love the dog by the way!
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Update that I switched from letrozole to Exemestane. It is MUCH better for me. No more joint or muscle pain and less hot flashes. I gained a few pounds and have some fatigue in the afternoon. I am trying to hang on for 5 years. We shall see.
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So I’m hearing lots of you mentioning muscle pain. But what I am experiencing to intolerable levels is something I’m struggling to describe. It’s more like muscle tremors throughout my arms mainly but also through my whole body. It makes my arms sort of spasm. And sometimes I sort of deliberately spasm to get some relief. It’s as if my body is sort of crawling with it. So hard to describe but it is everyday from 3-4 hours before I’m due to take my tablet (I am currently taking it at 5pm) and into the evening. Perhaps closest explanation is to say it’s like severe restless leg, but all over and mainly arms. When I go to bed my feet ‘joggle’ and my arms twitch. It’s so horrible. Makes me intolerant of my loved ones too. I definitely feel utterly depressed by the thought that I have to live with it for the next 5 years, but I am also anxious to change drug for some reason. I’ve been on it for 3 months now. The flushes are nothing in comparison - and they are not great either! Sleep - what’s that? I’m finding that I am sleeping in like a teenager given the chance, to make up for the bad nights. The heat doesn’t help. I run soooo hot these days, having felt the cold all my life! I’m 52.
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