Hormone Therapy

Hi all, I have been changed from Tamoxifen which I have been taking for 4 and half years to Arimidex after having ongoing endometrial issues. Fifth day and have been flat, teary and tired today. Had had a great five days when I actually felt a bit more clear headed than I jave for a long time..came crashing down today!! Any advice from anyone who has made same switch?
Thanks heaps as always xx

I’m in my 6 month of taking Letrozole & my body is finally adjusting to it. Touch wood!! It might be my imagination, but it seems to me, when I changed to taking it just before breakfast, instead of after, I coped better. Anyone else notice that? 

@sickgirl I only stopped for a month under medical advice. But no I didn't experience any dizziness when I started or stopped either of the medications. Keep in touch with your doctors and maybe keep a diary of symptoms that you can take with you to appointments. It's so easy to forget what you want to ask when the appointments are a few months apart!

Hi @sickgirl

I am currently on Exemestane (6 months) having previously been on Letrozole for 6 weeks.   

It was virtually this time last year, that I finished my Radiation regime.

@kezmusc I know that what we all report here, what our doctors say, and the things we experience, is considered anecdotal, but we are all commenting on the same subject. Some of what we experience and hear must be true, and valid, and right... I continued to be frustrated by the variance of medical opinions on almost any given topic within breast cancer. That's me though. I do like a scientific truth. Sigh...

@kmakm
It's very interesting to see all the different opinions of the doctors and the things that you read.  Some articles say that Tamoxifen, not sure about Letrozole, takes approx 100 days to get up to the levels they want it at ( hence the cumulitive effect of the longer you're on it the worse it gets for some I guess) but can leave your system quickly so they don't recommend it.
The next article you read says 3 on 1 off makes no difference at all and three on three off would be well Yahoo, awesome.

@Afraser I found quite a difference between the generic brand and the Novladex.  I had been having significant decreases in the intensity of the hot flushes each break and by switching brands they have improved even more. 

@sickgirl Always check with your oncologist before taking a drug holiday, but my oncologist said a study had been done which showed that taking it three months on/three months off made no difference to outcomes. They don't recommend it because it becomes too difficult to maintain as a drug taking regime. These drugs are so difficult for many that the doctors recognise the benefits of letting patients take a month off once every year or so. Some people have reduced side effects when they recommence taking the drug as well. K xox

Hmmm. I get a bit annoyed with chemists who provide generics instead of the brand your doctor prescribed. Often they do it because it's cheaper but sometimes it's just the pharmaceutical reps pushing product. You are of course still getting the same active ingredient but people do experience different reactions, if only comparatively mildly. Staying on one brand may help. 

Hi KarenJ, yes I didn’t know there were different brands I just take the script my onc gave me to chemist and sometimes it can be different what they give me? I also wonder if my hot flushes are more a menopause thing too as Chemo bought that on. I’d be scared of stopping for a month to find out? Do you get any dizziness at all?

@sickgirl i started on Letrozole Sandoz last year. At about the 4 month mark my side effects reallt started to kick in and got worse over the next 3 months. Mostly joint pain and hot flushes. I didn't know you could change brands and possibly get different results. My med onc told me to stop taking them for a month to see what side effects were from the drug and what were just me going thru menopause as a result of my hysterectomy. I have now been on Exemestane (aromasin) Sandoz for about a month. Still getting similar side effects but nowhere near as bad. But I'm reserving final judgement until I get to the 4 month point again to see if I get cumulative effects again.