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Nervous about switching from Letrazole to Exemestane
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Jul 5, 2025 | Replies (88)Comment receiving replies
Hi, I recently took a 6 week washout period from letrozole, and then started exemestane about a week ago. The last 2 nights I awoke with excruciating Charley horse in my right quadricep. The pain and muscle swelling lingered into the daytime hours, making it difficult to even drive.
Has anyone else experienced these terrible leg cramps?
I'm terrified to go to sleep tonight!
It makes the unpleasant side effects I had while on letrozole seem mild, and I am debating going back on letrozole.
Thank you for any guidance!
Xo, Harkey
Replies to "Hi, I recently took a 6 week washout period from letrozole, and then started exemestane about..."
Thank you! I started it two nights ago and have not experienced the awful cramps so far 🙏
I was on Letrazole since my mastectomy about a year ago. I could barely move with the joint pain and I had edema really bad in both legs--but especially my right leg along with constipation at 79 and weight gain. I mistook side effects for old age which is true 🙂 - but after reading about the side effects and moving became increasingly difficult- I stopped to see if a change off it would make a difference. It wasn't even 2 days that my joint pain, edema cleared up dramatically... Losing weight and constipation are still a work in progress but much better. Walking 4-5000 steps, and 10-12 glasses of water daily didn't touch the side effects! I was hesitant to stop. but so glad I did. 4 more years of pain, swelling. My Dr wants me to try exemestane- I hesitate with looking at side effects.. but will give it a try.
I was on a Anastrozole for 10 months and started to have pain in my hands and trigger fingers and had to have 2 trigger finger surgeries then I switched to Letrozole and my cholesterol went up. Went off of it for a month with no change so now I am on exemestane and I have to have 2 more trigger finger surgeries and my joints ache all the time! This entire process has been difficult. Has anyone else had Bilateral breast cancer ? It’s supposed to be only 2% of all breast cancers but my sister was diagnosed 3 months after I was with bilateral breast cancer. All of our genetic testing came back negative! Also my mom has had breast cancer in both breasts but 8 years apart. This cannot just be a coincidence but I’ve got no answers from my doctors. Plus my brother had colon cancer at 50 years old
Has anyone in your family had genetic testing?
Even with genetic testing, there may be some genes that are not tested.
Plus, they say that this is only 10% of the population with gene mutations.
I tried letrozole (greatly increased my tinnitus), then exemestane (again bad tinnitus), the 1 exemestane every other day (still bad tinnitus), then anatrozole--no significant problems! I did develop slight trigger finger (middle R hand), but not enough to bother me. Web will tell you that Letrozole is the strongest AI.
I strongly recommend trying all AIs before giving up.
Estrogen positive breast cancer in 2023. I had been on Letrozole for about 1.5 years but had reduced my intake on my own to 2-3x wk due to the serious issues with my hands that required trigger finger surgery on all 10 fingers. Better with trigger finger now but fingers very stiff and one very swollen knuckle. Dr asked me to try Exemestane - Only 2 weeks in but now im starting all over with the joint pain. Serious pain, hard to walk. im wondering if i should have stayed on letrozole? quality of life is seriously comprised. im wondering if its worth it!? I might go to 3x wk on the exemestane and see if it helps the pain but then question the effectiveness of it. anyone have suggestions? taking Motrin or Tylenol long term doesn't seem good for the body either? please help
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I’m on Anastrozole and it’s the best so far. Takes 6 weeks to 2 mos for side effects to lessen. And some physical therapy