hi you lovely ladies
i wonder if any of you have suffered from excessive sweating whilst taking letrozole I seem to just drip and drip it’s horrible and embarrassing. I have contacted my gp who has suggested going on fluxotine I wonder if anyone can tell me if this actually helps
thankyou
Hi coffeebean, I did have that side effect to begin with but it was much reduced after 2 months. I’ve noticed it’s worse after drinking coffee (no way would I give up my morning coffee though, sounds like you’d agree from your name!) or after an alcoholic drink, or on hotter days. I’ve found it helps a lot to stick on the same brand of letrozole as when the chemist gave me different brands the side effects seemed to start all over again. You can ask your doctor to specify a certain brand. Made a big difference for me. I’ve also noticed the hot flushes are worse if I’ve put on a few pounds, which is annoying. I’ve heard the hot flushes happen when your body is adjusting to lower hormone levels, so at least, in a way, you know the pills are doing their job. Maybe you could try a different brand of letrozole or one of the other aromatase inhibitors before going on fluoxitine (not sure of spelling, but I have heard a low dose antidepressant can help with hot flushes). I take my letrozole (Accord) at night as my nurse said the highest levels should be when I’m asleep so they bother me less. I had sweats/flushes with the menopause before all this too, and they came back with taking letrozole, but I’ve found, and have heard others say too, that it does settle down. I think it’s really worth keeping on with taking letrozole. Hope this might have helped you a bit
Hi, I am the same regarding sweating it’s horrible. I have noticed my chin area is quite swollen since I’ve been on letrozole is that anything to worry about? I would appreciate anyone’s thought, thanks.
I am taking letrozole also, the flushes can be quite bad at times, I am also on zoladex injections once a month for the next 5 years, designed to put me straight in to the menopause due to my breast cancer was estrogen receptive.
Hi
Just wondered how the sweating is going? Did it ease off with time? Did you try fluoxetine ?
I’m coming up to 2 years on letrozole and the sweating is very uncomfortable. I can barely put foundation on my face, have to dry my skin and sit at a fan before trying to apply.
The current warm weather isn’t helping
Hi polly17
I was put on fluoxetine for menopause symptoms and sweats, I’ve been on them for about six years long before I was diagnosed with BC and Letrozole.
I’ve just this week changed from fluoxetine to Oxybutynin
which the consultant at the hospital suggested last year to help with the sweats.
Still early days but I do think the sweats are becoming less after a few days and they definitely help with my over active bladder too.
My gp has said that if these don’t work he has a couple of other things I could try.
I hope you can find something that suits you,
Xx
Hi
I’ve just been given some Oxybutynin for the hot flushes too. May I ask what dose you are on please? Gp prescribed one 2.5mg tablet twice a day. I watched the recent webinar on Breast Cancer Speakers and the consultant on there said to take just one tablet 2.5mg at night so I’m a bit confused.
Hi
I take one 2.5mg tablet twice a day, one in the morning after breakfast and the other one in the evening after dinner when I take my Letrozole (oh the joys). I have found them to help me quite a lot.
Like you this is what my gp prescribed and I didn’t question it.
Hope you get on with them too
xx
Thank you that is really helpful. I’m desperate to try to get these hot flushes down while I’m on the Letrozole. Best wishes x
Hi
I meant to say they do give me a dry mouth but the dr warned me this might happen.
take care xx
Hi reddawn, did you have to ask you GP for the injections? I sound like in a similar place to you. Oestrogen positive, started letrozole, coil out and HRT patch removed x
Hi
Thought I’d update about the Oxybutynin. After four or five weeks of taking it I realised I’d got the dry mouth, dry eyes and dry nasal passages. This happened to coincide with Christmas so I put it down to the colder weather. Heating being on more and spending more time inside.
over a week ago I spoke to my Doctor and found out that this drug stops you making saliva which can be a problem for your teeth and gums
It also stops you sweating which means in the summer months and if you go abroad, you can be at a greater risk of heat/stroke. So with this knowledge, I decided to stop taking it and will look for something else to help with the flushes which have come back. The dry mouth side effect was actually really weird. No matter what I drank my mouth was always dry.
It did help a little with the hot flushes though I still suffered at night, just didn’t sweat.
Jayne
Has anyone compared taking Letrozole in the evening with the morning? Before breast cancer I was on HRT mostly to treat hot flushes at night. I’m currently taking my Letrozole in the morning with the rationale that I can dress in layers to cope in the day. I’m now going into my 3rd month on it and I’m having flushes and sweats at night as well. Had anyone found that taking them at night was better? Any insight/advice welcome.
I take it at night as I found I had indigestion all day if I took it in the morning. I find the hot flushes and sweats to be worse at night though
Thanks for sharing your experience, jaynealis. As sleep is my main concern I may stick to the current plan for now. 