Letrozole - side effects

[DuckyMcDuck]

I've been taking Letrozole for nearly a year and although have had some joint pain, it's been manageable.

I was last given the brand Dr Reddy's and 12 days in, my joints are so painful I can hardly walk and I'm so tired, I feel like I've been hit by a bus.

Has anyone had the same with this brand. I think I'm going to ask my GP to prescribe some more of a different brand. Any suggestions of the most side effect free brand please?

Thanks

Did anyone tell you why the brand was changed? Was there a change in the prescription or did the pharmacist substitute it? A GP shouldn't be changing a letrozole prescription from whatever the hospital consultant originally prescribed. I wonder whether the pharmacy's supply has been affected by distribution problems.

I don't think anyone can tell you the "most side-effect-free" brand: different patients will experience side-effects with different brands. It sounds like your best bet would be to go back to whatever brand you had previously.

Are you also taking calcium/vitamin D? Have you had bone density scans before and during the treatment?

Joint pain is a common side-effect of letrozole. If you go back to the GP she/he should be sympathetic and try to sort out the problem, especially if you didn't have this side-effect with the brand you were taking previously.

I was changed to Letrazole after being on Tamoxifen. My joints became so painful I literally had to take pain killers before doing a Pilates class. I felt like an old woman hobbling around (my ankles were particularly bad).

My oncologist changed me back to Tamoxifen. I was on Letrazole for a year prior to that and had the joint pain with all the brands I had.

Thanks for the replies. I'd had a different brand near enough every time @SirTobyBelch and although I'd had some effects, no where near as badly as now.

I've had a density scan and am taking calcium and Vit D. I was on tamoxifen for 5 years and swapped last Sept. I did ask my oncologist about staying on tamoxifen but he recommended changing.

I've asked my GP if they will specify the Femara brand so I'll wait and see what they say.

Not letrozole but I used to take anastrozole and I found if the brand was switched I suffered side effects. I spoke to the pharmacist and she tried hard to get me the same brand each time and things settled down I think the pharmacies just get sent whatever is available. I’m one year out of treatment now and my joints are finally ok again

Good to know my joints will eventually get back to normal @mrsrhodgilbert.
Got an email back from GPs to say they've sent a new prescription to chemist so I'll try and pick it i after work tomorrow.

I do hope it is the letrozole that's making me feel so shite through.

I think we went though treatment at the same time @mrsrhodgilbert, I recognise you from the then tamoxigang threads (I've had a name change since then). Glad you're done and dusted now

Hmmm, now I’m intrigued to know who you ‘were’, I hope you’re doing okay. I’m also on the calcium/ vitamin D tablets, second dexa scan showed my bones are getting worse still. I should exercise more to strengthen them but I’m not very sure about going back to the gym when it reopens. It was strange not having a mammogram this April, I’m back in the national screening programme again. It will be a scary day when that appointment drops onto the doormat, the fear never leaves completely. I hope you can cope with the joint pain, my feet used to be the worst, so so painful.

I've DM'ed you @mrsrhodgilbert