Greetings, everyone!
So grateful to find this thread…I’ve just started taking Letrozole (11/24) and have just had two ocular migraines (mostly visual disturbances, only slight headache and queasiness). First one 3 days ago, and this morning another. Worrying! I’d only ever had one before in my whole life (am 62). The possible link with Letrozole occurred to me so I googled. Thank you all for posting your experiences and thoughts! Really helps — I already have some of the common side effects (hot flashes and some bone/joint pain), but saw no mention of headaches. Makes sense to me, hormonal swings used to occasionally cause headaches when I was younger. But the neon flashing from these ocular ones is very unsettling!
Anyway, grateful for this community…wishing each of you a healthy and peaceful 2024b
Thank you, @colleenyoung!
Yes, I told my team - they said it’s not likely to be a side effect but that I should see a neurologist. I had an appointment with a neuro-ophthalmologist and because my “auras” were all in the same area of my field of vision, he has ordered a brain MRI and MRA — just to make sure the Letrozole isn’t causing blood coagulation 😞. Better safe than sorry, I know, but a little anxious. Oncologist’s office also wants a copy of the results to check for any possible metastases (though unlikely, I think). I have a feeling the ocular migraines are a result of my 7 weeks of estrogen suppression, so a hormonal effect.
Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best!
Thanks so much for checking in with me!
I've had occasional ocular migraines (no headache, thankfully) in the past. Started anastrozole about 3 months ago. In the past month, I've had about 1 ocular migraine per week. They don't last long (15 minutes, maybe) but they disturb my vision significantly. If the past, if one started when I was driving, I'd pull over until it went away. They disturb my vision enough that close work, e.g. reading, isn't possible. Either I do something else, e.g. load the dishwasher, or else I just lie down until they go away. At the moment, they are just a nuisance. I just hope they don't become more frequent, last longer, or get worse in some other way.
I've had occasional ocular migraines (no headache, thankfully) in the past. Started anastrozole about 3 months ago. In the past month, I've had about 1 ocular migraine per week. They don't last long (15 minutes, maybe) but they disturb my vision significantly. If the past, if one started when I was driving, I'd pull over until it went away. They disturb my vision enough that close work, e.g. reading, isn't possible. Either I do something else, e.g. load the dishwasher, or else I just lie down until they go away. At the moment, they are just a nuisance. I just hope they don't become more frequent, last longer, or get worse in some other way.
You just described my experience during the first few months with anastrozole. It went away after a while but I had to switch to exemestane because of the finger stiffness, so bad that I couldn’t pull my blanket up at night. I did occasionally experience ocular migraines in the past without pain. Exemestane worked better for me until it caused petechiea on my calves. So now I’m on Letrozole. So far so good. For me, side effects usually happened after a few months and they got worse. The ones that appeared right away would go away after a while. So hang in there. Hopefully it’ll go away eventually.
I have been in exemestane for years and have felt my migraines progress significantly. They now include an occasional ocular migraine. My oncologist & neurologist say there is no correlation between the meds & migraines but from experiences shared here and my own reading, there is a clear relationship between hormones & migraine. I think they are wrong. Seeing my neurologist PA today & my oncologist next week. I am looking for advice on how to express this.
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Welcome, @risagee. Have you had a chance to tell your team about the migraines and visual disturbances? How are you doing?
Thank you, @colleenyoung!
Yes, I told my team - they said it’s not likely to be a side effect but that I should see a neurologist. I had an appointment with a neuro-ophthalmologist and because my “auras” were all in the same area of my field of vision, he has ordered a brain MRI and MRA — just to make sure the Letrozole isn’t causing blood coagulation 😞. Better safe than sorry, I know, but a little anxious. Oncologist’s office also wants a copy of the results to check for any possible metastases (though unlikely, I think). I have a feeling the ocular migraines are a result of my 7 weeks of estrogen suppression, so a hormonal effect.
Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best!
Thanks so much for checking in with me!
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2 ReactionsI've had occasional ocular migraines (no headache, thankfully) in the past. Started anastrozole about 3 months ago. In the past month, I've had about 1 ocular migraine per week. They don't last long (15 minutes, maybe) but they disturb my vision significantly. If the past, if one started when I was driving, I'd pull over until it went away. They disturb my vision enough that close work, e.g. reading, isn't possible. Either I do something else, e.g. load the dishwasher, or else I just lie down until they go away. At the moment, they are just a nuisance. I just hope they don't become more frequent, last longer, or get worse in some other way.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYou just described my experience during the first few months with anastrozole. It went away after a while but I had to switch to exemestane because of the finger stiffness, so bad that I couldn’t pull my blanket up at night. I did occasionally experience ocular migraines in the past without pain. Exemestane worked better for me until it caused petechiea on my calves. So now I’m on Letrozole. So far so good. For me, side effects usually happened after a few months and they got worse. The ones that appeared right away would go away after a while. So hang in there. Hopefully it’ll go away eventually.
I have been in exemestane for years and have felt my migraines progress significantly. They now include an occasional ocular migraine. My oncologist & neurologist say there is no correlation between the meds & migraines but from experiences shared here and my own reading, there is a clear relationship between hormones & migraine. I think they are wrong. Seeing my neurologist PA today & my oncologist next week. I am looking for advice on how to express this.