Hi All,
My prescription states (Accord) Letrozole but not one pharmacy in my area has or cannot get any. My last prescription has been filled and i was given three different brands. My hot flushes have multiplied and i have nausea. Does anyone know if there are problems with Accord.
Many Thanks
Sandra
Hi Sandra
I have accord too and get it from Superdrug without any problem. I’m also in Sussex!
sue xx
Hi Sandra
I have a similar problem with Anastrozole. My local pharmacy does its best but, if it can’t source it, offloads me with yet another untried brand. The problem with the electronic prescription system is that everything is filled by the same pharmacy and there’s no wiggle room.
I have found that the large pharmacy chains are most likely to have contracts with Accord, which is why the independents can’t access it easily. I rang around my local supermarkets and found that both Asda and Sainsbury’s had Accord (both Lloyds franchises I think). Once you have located a source, you then have to request your usual pharmacy to transfer the prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. It is a real (in my opinion unnecessary) faff but, if your side effects are reduced, it’s worth it.
Pharmacists think this is a fad and point to the science. We know it’s a reality - maybe it’s the different bases used -but many of us respond better to one brand than another and it makes a huge difference. Hope this helps x
Hi Sandra,
I am taking Letrozole - almost four months now after my diagnosis and surgery. The brand listed from my pharmacy in NYC is Aurobind, made in India. I too have found the side effects problematic. I reached out to a friend who is a pharmacist about these side effects: insomnia, weight gain, fatigue, nausea, joint pain, constipation, etc.
I asked him if the brand name, Femara, would be less problematic and he said no, it wouldn’t. In fact, he said the side effects could actually be stronger. In any case, the cost of Femara, according to what I learned would be prohibitive. My biggest concern is the long term effect on bone density, bone fractures.
He recommended several supplements that he thought could ease the side effects. He did not know which manufacturer of the generics for Femara is better than the others. Maybe it’s an individual thing.
I am going to research the supplements and check with my oncologist to see what she thinks and if they are safe to take.
Sandra, hope this helps you. Let me know. Good luck.
Joan