Reactions To Femara

Have been on Femara for about 3 years followng 18 mos on Tamoxifin.  Have  just beome stiff and have some joint pain-bearable but uncomfortable.  What do you know about the dangers  to joints etc. of continuing with this.  am 73 and have osteopenia.very mild.  Dr. has suggested i discontinue for a month  to see if pain goes away -- possibly pain is some form of arthritis,osteoporis  and aging.  Concerned about not taking the drug for fear of recurrence.  After 1 month  and  outcome might change me to arimodex or return to femara.  Comments????thanks

You might be able to figure out if the Femara is causing your pain by stopping for a shorter period of time. I've had a lot of unpleasant side effects on AI drugs since pretty nearly day 1 (I've been on them 2 years now) and twice I decided I needed a break from the hot flashes and the pain. Both times I stopped for just a week and I felt somewhat better while off the meds, but also had it a little easier for a while after I resumed taking them. I don't think anyone knows how long we can stop without endangering our health but I doubt that a week could make that much difference and it may be that a month is not too long either. Most breast cancer is very slow growing, particularly the breast cancers that are usually found in women who are middle aged or older. I hope you get some relief. We've all suffered enough!

 After 3 years of Tamoxifen with very mild side-effects I was put on Aromasin. Four months into it I could not take the increased hot flashes and really painful joints. I am 59 and have always been very active. I continue to walk each day and do some weights, but can no longer do aerobics class. I recently switched to Femara and have noticed that the joint pain has actually decreased - - it's still  there but  after I am up for a short time it seems to lessen. I am also wondering if anyone has experienced some "spotting" while on the aromatase inhibitors. I have had this happen 3 times in the last 6 months - - usually after some pretty intense activity like dancing for 4 hours or power walking several miles. The first time it happened I had to have a uterine biopsy - -don't want that again, but also wonder what's going on. Anyone experience this?? thanks

 

On 5/11/2008 Suzie M wrote:

You might be able to figure out if the Femara is causing your pain by stopping for a shorter period of time. I've had a lot of unpleasant side effects on AI drugs since pretty nearly day 1 (I've been on them 2 years now) and twice I decided I needed a break from the hot flashes and the pain. Both times I stopped for just a week and I felt somewhat better while off the meds, but also had it a little easier for a while after I resumed taking them.

I don't think anyone knows how long we can stop without endangering our health but I doubt that a week could make that much difference and it may be that a month is not too long either. Most breast cancer is very slow growing, particularly the breast cancers that are usually found in women who are middle aged or older.

I hope you get some relief. We've all suffered enough!

 

I have heard of "spotting" while on these drugs. I think vaginal bleeding is a rare side effect of the AI drugs and tamoxifen, but you should keep your oncologist informed about it. If you have had a uterine biopsy already I would think they wouldn't make you do it again. I had an endometrial biopsy--is that the same thing basically?--and it was really painful, although mercifully brief. I wouldn't want to do it again, either. I was really interested to hear about your experience with Aromasin versus Femara. I have been on all three and I am currently on Aromasin and I think the pain is a good bit worse. I think I will talk to my doc about switching back to Femara. I'm glad you mentioned the difference.