Letrozole and Neuropathy

Unfortunately, I had crippling pain, in my feet, all joints etc. I also suffered neuropathy in my hands and trigger finger in several fingers. My oncologist prescribed wellbutrin (sp?) to no effect. I literally could not walk to the car.

He discontinued it with a chuckled and said, "seems it's too strong for you". The bottom line was - the benefits were far outweighed by the side effects. The percentage of recurrence difference with vs without AI's is what everyone should take seriously and look at very closely. My difference was less than 2% difference. My oncologist did not make a recommendation to change to a different AI, he simply ended that treatment.

It has taken at least six-eight months for my body to recover - and - I still have occasional trigger finger and permanent neuropathy in one finger.

My case/side effects might be the exceptional severe case - but it was horrific, sorry to say.

Yes, i have been on Letrozole for almost a year. Hot flashes and night sweats are now tolerable, but I now have neuropathy in my hands. It started about 2 months ago and was just tingling. Now it is tingling and burning, and not just in the morning. I plan on stopping the drug. I cannot afford to lose my hands. I will see my oncologists in 2 week.

@jnorki, I have trigger finger also and in reading, I found out that all AIs can produce neurotherapy. It can also affect your balance. Apparently our bodies like and want our estrogen.

Hi. I was on Letrozole for 4 months. Stopped because of blue, red, sore feet and pain. Stabbing, itching. I stopped on 16 January, so it is almost 6 weeks, but my neuropathy gets worse and worse. My pain is so bad at night. I can hardly type because I am shaking so much from panic. It is unbearable and I keep reading that neuropathy is permanent. I don't understand why it is getting worse when I have stopped. I am so scared.

@primrose01
I had severe headaches from Letrozole. Now I’m on exemestane and doing ok so far. I have light petechiea and manageable aches and pains. You may want to try exemestane. You might be able to tolerate it.

@myoga Hi. Thank you. So "petechiea" is the name of what I had. When I first discovered that my foot was purple underneath, on 20 Dec (after taking Letrozole for just over 3 months) the purple area was surrounded by small clusters (thumnail size) of these little reddish brown dots that must have been petechiea. Thank you so much for this, since I am getting nowhere with the doctors. They send me to the podiatrist that says that the purple is a normal reaction to temperature change. No, it isn't. Thanks again.

@primrose01
You’re welcome! Both petechiea and purpura (large purple patches) can be from medication. They mostly appear on the legs. When you stop Letrozole, did they go away? If it did, then it must be from the medication.
I didn’t have petechiea the first time I took exemestane. It happened after I stopped exemestane for surgery. When I took it again, it was pretty bad that my doctor sent me to bunch of blood tests. I think she tried to rule out other causes. I’m ok now. The petechiea is almost unnoticeable.
When I started Exemestane again after the petechiea was gone I took it every other day for two weeks, then two days on one day off until my body got used to it. Now I only take one day off a week. Give it a try to see if it works for you.
Btw, I still have photos of my petechiea. I can send them to you through private message if you want to see.