I was taking Arimadex for 2 years and had SEs of stiff joints in hands and hot flushes. When I saw my ONC in September he changed me to Letrozole to see if things improved. After taking this for over 3 months I feel worse, joint pains worse, flushes worse and I have nausea.This is making me feel under the weather and getting me down. Has anyone else experienced this? I am due to go on a well needed holiday next Friday for 4 weeks but the way I feel at the moment I have no enthusiasm. My ONC only visits my local hospital once a week on a Friday (the day we are due to go away). I was thinking of seeing my GP on Monday to see if he will be able to change me back to Arimadex, but don
t know if he can do this without the ONC`s say so.
Hope someone out there can advise.
Pam
Pam Your GP should be able to do this and can contact your Onc by E-mail to check with him for the change back in medication.Wishing you well for your holiday J xx
Hello Pam,
I am on Letrozole, have been for 3 years and whilst I don’t have the SEs you have, I do have another side effect.
In April I saw my Onc and I asked for a break from Letrozole as I was having real problems with Letrozole. I have it as I had Primary BC and had previously had 5 years of Tamoxifen so our circumstances could be different. Anyway I was allowed a 4/6 week break, I am now back on it, SE no better!
As you want to go back to Arimidex, if I was you I would go to your GP, ask the question, and see if he/she can contact the hospital and check.
Hope that helps a bit and that you have other posts with more information or advice.
Hazel
Bump
hi pam
it’s not at all uncommon to have a break for a few weeks - after all, that’s nothing out of the whole 5 years
i started with letrazole but didn’t get on with it & now i’m on exemestane (aromasin) which i get on with better
i never had se’s as bad as yours though- you poor thing
i’d think about talking to your gp about having a break from them while you’re away & enjoyying the calming effects of producing a tiny bit of oestrogen!
whatever you decide to do, i hope you have a lovely holiday
Thanks Hazel and Norberte. I see from the time Norberte that you are unable to sleep as well. Thats another of the side effects I have, I am always tired. I slept yesterday afternoon for 3 hours, back in bed at 9.30pm and now wide awake. I shall be back asleep later this morning. Just hoping I can see GP tomorrow and get this sorted out.
Pam
there was a thread a while back on insomnia, & i picked up the idea of using phenergan - an antihistamine
it’s fantastic, but i find my body gets used to it v quickly so only use it twice a week or so
& mainly i’m awake at the moment cos of shoulder pain - even oxycodone won’t touch it (typing v slowly with the other hand!)