Letrozole: When will I start feeling/seeing side effects?

@francine6829, here is some information about pharmacogenomic testing (PGx) http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/center-for-individualized-medicine/pharmacogenomics-pgx.asp#what-is-pharmacogenomics-pgx

In brief: "PGx is the study of how your genes may affect your body’s response to, and interaction with, some prescription or over-the-counter medications. Genes, which are inherited from your parents, carry information that determine characteristics such as eye color and blood type. Genes can also influence how you process and respond to medications. Depending on your genetic make-up, some medications may work faster or slower, or produce more or fewer side effects."

Letrozole mimicked a heart attack for me after 20 days. Zero heart problems before. Went to ER for EKG and followup stress test. No heart damage, just a rare side effect of Letrozole. Heart attack-like symptoms continued for a couple weeks after stopping Letrozole then ceased entirely. No problems since.

In response to joint and bone pain remedies--acupuncture has been shown to help. Unfortunately it is not usually covered by insurance.

Side effects are much more common and intense in reality in my opinion, based on my several years of experience with various drugs and interacting with women taking these drugs, than the "literature" suggests. "Well tolerated" my foot.

Elsie37 - I’m experiencing the exact thing from Arimidex. ER and now doing all cardiac tests. Indeed, the side effects can be devastating on joints & muscles. After 2 years, I had to stop taking it. Wishing all of you the very best ❤️❤️❤️

@buckimom- I'm feeling like a broken record here, weighing in with the same thing so many times, but I'm waiting for my oncologist to return from her vacation so I can get her advice. I'm having such pain everywhere from the Arimidex, I want to try going off of it for a one month test to make sure that's whats causing the pain. But I want to be sure that one month without the Arimidex won't put me at risk for a recurrence. If it IS the Arimidex, then I don't know where to go from there. It sounds like Letrozole is NOT the answer either, and I'm not sure about Tamoxifen. I've been on Arimidex for almost a year and a half, and if I have to tolerate this for another 3 years, I will, but sheesh!!

@buckimom- I'm feeling like a broken record here, weighing in with the same thing so many times, but I'm waiting for my oncologist to return from her vacation so I can get her advice. I'm having such pain everywhere from the Arimidex, I want to try going off of it for a one month test to make sure that's whats causing the pain. But I want to be sure that one month without the Arimidex won't put me at risk for a recurrence. If it IS the Arimidex, then I don't know where to go from there. It sounds like Letrozole is NOT the answer either, and I'm not sure about Tamoxifen. I've been on Arimidex for almost a year and a half, and if I have to tolerate this for another 3 years, I will, but sheesh!!