Anxiety attacks, Femara? Palbociclib?

I have also experienced something similar @Unicornkisses. When I first started on Letrozole it would happen every night. I take my Femara tablet in the morning but every night as soon as I lay down I would be overcome with what I would describe as a wave of dread. It had very physical effects like increased heart rate and would often be followed by a hot flush. 

It never happened during my 2 years on Tamoxifen. I have now been on Femara for just over 2 years and it happens very rarely now. It is an awful side effect and can make me feel nauseous too. Your post has made me realise that it happens much less now. Hope it eases in time for you too.
xxx

One thing I remember from my menopause - hot flushes causing interrupted sleep didn’t help coping with daily life. Letrozole is designed I think to block estrogen - on reflection going thru the menopause is when estrogen levels fall and yes at that time I remember being substantially out of kilter so guess no surprise it’s happening again with Letrozole - only this time seems less severe as no longer working and sort of know why so less frightening as feel bit more in control .

I must say I have been doing a lot of exercise classes recently, which might have helped with the projected joint pain. Monday TaiChi, Wednesday "Wellness exercise class" 3/4 HR with physios,  Thursday Encore! Riding my horse on Sunday, Plus I walk to our shops a couple of times a week, about 2k there and back.
Most of the classes finish this week for Christmas, so I will have to increase the walking and riding, I think.

I am seeing a Psychologist at the Cancer Centre, so will bring it up with her, but like Zoffiel, I am pretty well convinced it is a side effect of the meds.
I will also bring it up with the Oncologist when I see him.
It is not overall anxiety, though I must say I cope with stress less well these days, it is a wave of anxiety that builds up, making me shaky, feel I can't cope, have to sit down and close my eyes, stop what I am doing and hang on until it passes, then it is over and I can get back to what I am doing.
Sometimes it is followed by a hot sweat, but only about half the time.

It helps slightly that I know what it is, but not at the time.

Thank you for your replies, as I am also getting the watery eyes which is a "rare" side effect of the Palbociclib, I guess I might just be sensitive to some of the drugs.

@Artferret I’ve been on Letrozole 4 plus months .I take Caltrate Bone and Muscle Health - 1 morning , 1 afternoon - is Calcium , Vit D and some other stuff plus 1 Krill capsule daily - thus far joint pain is manageable. Many on here swear by Magnesium for joint pain too. @melclarity might be able to advise on this. Oddly I think exercise helps with both joint pain and tiredness - I do a gentle Stretch/balance class twice weekly and the YWCA’s freebie hydrotherapy class called Encore too.

I've been on Letrozole for just over a month and yes did feel more anxious than usual and definitely the flushes ramped up but now in the second month things seemed to have calmed down. i think once i realized what was happening and the fact that it was knowing that this was the first month of 5 years to be on this drug put things into perspective for me, a perspective i don't really like but one I have to accept. It doesn't happen so often now and the flushes have virtually disappeared. i have more issues with joint pain and tiredness. If it keeps happening i'd see someone. There's nothing worse than being stressed and then having it amplified.

Sorry to hear that @Unicornkisses. I'm due to start on it tomorrow, both of them. Hope you find a solution.
XO

I take Letrozole which is the generic version of Femara and find I get stressed more easily.I have found a daily one hour walk helps keep things at bay mostly .Maybe it’s the release of endorphins that exercise causes countering things I don’t really know just know it makes a difference to my headspace.I might add I still have teenagers at home which bring their own unique challenges contributing to my stress levels.

@Unicornkisses - I'm not on anything atm and am waiting for my op in December. After 5 months of chemo this is my one month 'rest'. My anxiety about leaving the house is becoming quite unreasonable. I feel for you. It's time consuming and exhausting and I try to reason with myself to not be so confused. I think anxiety goes with the territory that we are all navigating. I wish you well.

I have been on femara for four and a half years and never had an anxiety attack (a few harsh words possibly, I have some other side effects but not that one!).  But I have never had hot flushes, aches or any of those side effects with it either.  If it is causing you distress, I would ask for some help now in how to possibly reduce these side effects, rather than waiting.