Has anyone gone from Letrozole to Anastrozole and found that the side effects eased or did they just stay the same? My right hand is just ballistic at the moment, stiff, sore all over particularly round the thumb area extending down the wrist. I do use my left hand more but am wary of doing too much with it for fear of it going down the same track. Last night I'm awake at 4am with an extremely sore right hip and not able to massage it cos of sore hands. Very frustrating! Also for those who have had a holiday from the drug how long were you off it for and when you went back on were the side effects eased somewhat or just gone back to what they were before? I am planning a break from the drug but would like to hang out till winter to do it as last winter was pretty bad for my hands. I see my onc in April. Exemestane is not an option for me as I've been told it will play havoc with my cholesterol levels and as i now got them down to where they need to be without drugs I'd rather not upset the apple cart. I'm due to see my GP next week so I'll have a chat to her. I do exercise a fair bit at the gym but am finding that it's not a lasting fix in the joint stiffness area. It's good while i do it and it does give me the joint mobility but then later on in the day it just degenerates back to its usual status.Any pearls of wisdom?

I had a foggy mind, awful sweats and couldn't stop crying while on Letrozole. Since I started on Anastrozole a few months ago have had no discernible side effects at all.

This is a timely discussion for me as I am off to the oncologist tomorrow. I have been on Letrozole for just over 3 years (was on Tamoxifen for 2 years before that). I have just finished writing a list of side effects, their time of onset, my attempts at counteracting them, and the degree of success or failure of these counteractions. Trying to be factual rather than emotional about it! :s The whole time my right thumb was in agony as I held and moved the pen!I feel as though I have reached the time where I can no longer manage some of the quality of life effects with what seemed to work up until recently. The past 6 months have seen a marked deterioration in my ability to ‘hold my own’ against the effects. My intention is to explore all options. @Vangirl your experience gives me hope that a simple swap might be the answer. Will be interested if anyone else has found a change beneficial. I guess at this point I am ready to try as I have nothing to lose!

For me it was 6 months only on Femara. The bone pain is what drove me balmy. At 3 months Michael asked me to persevere to see if my body would adjust.I am now on Aromasin and my GP gave me palexia for the bone pain so I could enjoy Christmas however within days a different problem started, non BC and palexia wasn't working. I think Aromasin suits me. I did not quite 3 years on tamoxifen however I had 2 surgeries as a result of tamoxifen induced troubles.Our bodies are fickle Best wishes Take care

Dear @Artferret , I can't compare, but I have been on Anastrozole since November last year and have had minimal side-effects; a little aching of the left ankle which soon wears off in the morning. Lucky I think.from jennyss in Western NSW

Dear @Artferret, wait a minute, make that on Anastrozole since December 2017 LOL!

Letrozole vs anastrozole | BCNA Online Network

26 Replies

arpie
Member
7 years ago
I've been on Anastrozole/Arimidex for a couple of months now after stopping Exemestane & Letrozole for extreme side effects

So far, so good!! My thumbs (particularly the left one) is still a problem & I've been giving the base of it a good 'massage' whenever I think of it to try & break down the lump that has calcified around the tendon, causing the Trigger Thumb & pain. Time will tell.

I occasionally have a bad sleep (but that was common even before I was diagnosed) - and I seem to be coping with it quite well so far. Mind you, it took 6 months for the Exemestane to get everything really painful .....

All the best xx
Romla
Member
7 years ago
I’ve been on Letrozole nearly 2 years. I did have joint aches at the outset but found daily walking for an hour enabled me to walk thru it I think.I do notice it if I don’t walk as my joints seem to seize up a bit.I also take 1 Krill Oil capsule daily at the recommendation of my prescribing oncologist Dr Selva.

I too have vaginal atrophy which is problematical as I have to have annual Pap smears which are difficult to perform , uncomfortable and getting a result difficult.I use Vagifem pessaries for 5 days prior to my pap which helps esp in getting a result.

That said I have had 2 other health issues which MAY be related to Letrozole.I had glaucoma in one eye for a few years prior to starting Letrozole and my eye pressure spiked necessitating a series of operations . The non operated eye has recently had a vitreal detachment which is mainly problematical as it carries a risk of retinal detachment.I know from my reading that Tamoxifen carries eye side effects and wonder if AIs do too but is as yet underresearched as they are relatively new.

The second issue may also be related to Letrozole I have had a painful tennis elbow which has made dressing , preparing meals and even opening doors difficult.Tennis elbow is a tendon injury and have noted many on here taking Letrozole speaking of trigger thumb and carpal tunnel.
Blondy
Member
7 years ago
I did my first six months on Letrozole. I'd get sudden onset migraines lasting for 10 hours or more. Lethargy plus lower back pain. Been 6 months on Anastrozle now. Only mild headaches now and then. Energy returned. Sore back on the other side now. I did have the sore thumb and base of thumb, plus the trigger. Bought a figure 8 to hold the thumb out. I could do anything pain free but when I took it off it was even more painful. It was a mixed bag. I rubbed Voltaren cream around my thumb and got some relief. I also started taking Glucosomine, 1 a day. Arthritic people seem to benefit from it so maybe I am too. I had an ultrasound on my thumb and was told the tendon is thickening. Injections or an op was the solution. Well that must have scared the crap out of my thumb as it immediately started getting better. It's been nearly 3 weeks and I can bend the top of my thumb with only a twinge. The base pain has gone too. The pharmacist told me that Anastrozle can cause carpel tunnel.
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Good to read there's signs of improvement @primek. That must be a relief for you. K xox
Afraser
Member
7 years ago
I’ve been on Femara (letrozole) for over 5 years. I am doing it now year by year with bone density monitoring. My bone density is still OK (affected though) but it was extremely good to begin with (I was 68). I have vaginal atrophy which is responding to oestrogen cream. I have no aches, pains or flushes and never had. It’s a lottery. But being proactive about your own treatment (with sensible research and advice) is the way to go.
Patti_J
Member
7 years ago
I know we are all different but I was offered Arimidex after I had finished 5 years of Tamoxifen. The first time I took it it gave me a migraine headache. I was not prepared to experience those headaches again. My oncologist at the time told me that I didn't need to take them.
Now I take Letrozole as well as Palbociclib. I do not have any side effects from the Letrozole.
primek
Member
7 years ago
I've been on anastrazole going into 3 weeks now.
So letrozole caused joint stiffness...ankles, wrists, back and shoulders.
So far anastrazole has been different with bone pain in feet and hands (more between the actual bones) but it seems to be improving so I am hopeful.
iserbrown
Member
7 years ago
@Cupcakes

Hopefully your treatment plan is more settled
iserbrown
Member
7 years ago

@Cupcakes
I can see everyone is encouraging you to bring it up with your Oncologist! Appointment not far away - Monday wéek? Let your Oncologist know what the Breast care nurse had said as well as.

We're all different. For me I had a bleed well into my 50s. Menopause was late and apart from BC I sailed through. I went down the Zoladex path. After the first injection with the Oncologist I was able to have the rest of the injections through my GP. Very doable!

My experience and others are all individual.

Here's hoping your path of treatment is smooth sailing. Make notes as there's always little quirky bits that you may feel dismissive about but they like to know to ensure the treatment is just right for you.

Take care and best wishes
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
@Cupcakes I'd let your onc know. Can you email him/her?