Forum Discussion
Letrazole side effects
Does any of this sound familiar?
I have aching legs, they feel tired and weak.
The muscles feel tight when I wake up in the morning. I haven't done any extreme exercise, although it feels like I have.
Could this be a side effect of Letrazole? I've been on it since December.
I hadn't noticed this until last few weeks. I'm seeing my Oncologist in July and will ask him too.
I'm 62 and I'm starting to wonder if it is age, as a problem, but I have my doubts.
I don't feel unwell otherwise.
I have aching legs, they feel tired and weak.
The muscles feel tight when I wake up in the morning. I haven't done any extreme exercise, although it feels like I have.
Could this be a side effect of Letrazole? I've been on it since December.
I hadn't noticed this until last few weeks. I'm seeing my Oncologist in July and will ask him too.
I'm 62 and I'm starting to wonder if it is age, as a problem, but I have my doubts.
I don't feel unwell otherwise.
42 Replies
- I think arched slippers would make a difference. I know during covid and being stuck at home i am wearing slippers more often. I do need to wear more supportive shoes inside. My calves are extremely tight too and I feel I am shufflling like an 99 year old woman.
- Strangely I had very sore stiff feet every morning when I was taking HRT, my feet wouldn’t bend until they warmed up so I would need to hobble around for a while. But not now (or yet) on Femara. They are fine now.I work at home and did start wearing homyped arch support slippers around the house, which seemed to help.
- Yes, those side effects sound very familiar indeed. I've just started my fourth year on Letrozole. Since the beginning some side effects have got better. Many have stayed the same. I wasn't menopausal before I was diagnosed and I wonder if some of these things are because I am now in that phase of life. I guess I won't know until I'm off the AI. Either way, my quality of life is not as good as it was before cancer. But it's the price I pay for a chance at a longer life. K xox
- Hi @Abbydog, I felt 100 years old on Letrozole. I switched to Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane) and feel a lot better. Not without aches and pains entirely, but much improved.
- I started Femara the same time as you @Mazbeth. I don’t know, but I’d prefer to stick to an AI. They are more effective, and from what I’ve read T causes similar side effects, as well as possible heavy periods. For me being pre menopausal, I’m very happy not to get long and painful periods anymore.
- Geez and can relate to all of these comments! @Abbydog I wish I could offer you some amazing advice, but I am in the same boat as you. I started on Femara in August 2020 and really tried to convince myself that I would not get SE - 6 weeks later and boom! I tried to just hang in there but my onc is so great, he was pretty determined that I try something else as he wanted me in it for the long haul.I started a generic Anastrozole at the start of 2021 and my feet are soooooo stiff in the mornings but get better with movement. Imagine the Tinman needing oil and that’s me getting out of bed or standing after a lot of sitting. I had to get a new script the other day and I am giving the brand name Arimidex a go and I am hoping there may be a difference. The onc said there is no difference in the active ingredient but the fillers are different - we’ll see.@Sister I also had ILC so I am very determined to stick with the AI. My onc is worried that one day I will just throw the towel in so he really wants me to have a bit of a play around with it to find something that has the least SE. Interestingly he would really like me to have a 4 week break and then give tamoxifen a go - less reports of aches, better for the bones. I told him I was worried given the ILC and he said that ‘yes AI’s are a bit better, but tamoxifen is still a very good option and worth it if it means less SE and more chance I will stay on it for a really long time.’ He also said that the 4 week break will give me a chance to see if it is just part of getting older or is actually the AI.I would welcome any ideas/suggestions about anything that may help. Thank you everyone for your responses - it’s good not feel alone, but I wish there was a solution to this.
- I'm having pain in my legs. After 30 mins of gardening I'm in a lot of pain.
- Sounds very familiar. I have struggled through with Letrozole for almost 3 years and it was dreadful for much of that time but has improved a lot in the last few months. However, I have also been doing a lot more regular (but careful) exercise. I've stuck with it because it is supposed to be the best for lobular and if I'm going to stuff my body around then I want to know that the one I'm on is the most likely to be effective.
- In case you haven't read this from the BCNA website
"Hormone therapy | Breast Cancer Network Australia" https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/treatment/hormone-therapy/
If you are struggling your Oncologist may change your medication. I have been on Tamoxifen, Zoladex injections, Letrozole, Aromasin and now back to Tamoxifen. My ovaries have shrunk and my body has adjusted. I still have side effects but they are bearable and I still have 4 years to go!
Take care - Me too. The first month on it I was so happy cos I had no side effects, apart from the odd hot flush. But then the legs started hurting, and soon after whole body. Then I also developed carpal tunnel in both wrists. So I swapped to Exemestane. A bit better, but still sore and tingling in hands came back. Another 3 months and I swapped to Arimidex. Been on it almost 2 months and I think it’s the best one for me. Pain mostly in feet and hands, which goes after some movement. Minimal tingling in hand. Pain in knees when squatting. But other than that I feel good 👌🏻
