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

I got off it after 3 days. I cheated and only took 3/4 of a pill. Made my neuropathy much worse and numbness on neck and face. It's been almost 3 weeks and the pain has not gone away. Glad though that you're able to take it.

I had terrible joint pain with Anastrozole. My oncologist switched me to Letrozole at half dosage - my choice of a full tab every other day or 1/2 tab everyday. Shortly after I also started taking collagen supplements. I also have osteoarthritis in my knees, but with this change I am relatively pain-free suffering mostly from stiffness when immobile too long.

Just posting for balance here. I and many of my friends did not suffer significant joint pains with letrozole. I told my doctor that if I walked for 10 minutes, I had some pain, but if I kept going past, say, 40 minutes, the pain dissipated. My doc said she had heard this from other patients. I also did tai chi.

I totally respect the experience of those who had significant side effects, but for future readers or lurkers, I want to say that many of us did well with letrozole. I finished my 5 years and wanted to continue but tests showed no further benefit. I enjoyed feeling safer.

Yes, I couldn't tolerate the joint pain and two friends taking als had to have joint surgery.

I have heard that at Sloan Kettering and NYU Lagonne, some doctors are experimenting with having patients take Letrozole every other day. I too am cutting my dose down - 3/4ths but think will go to half. Strange pains in ear lobes and neck.

The insert that comes with letrozole describes studies where 20% of the regular dose is effective. Your doctor should know this. My doctor okayed taking it every other day or taking a half dose, but I never did because my side effects were negligible. Read the info from the company itself on the lower dose!

I have just started taking Letrozole a month ago. So far the only side effects seem to be some joint and muscle pain, especially in the hip area, early in the day. Easing up with movement. Some very rare, very mild, hot flashes. I will see what happens going forward. Just curious regarding half dose - my pills are super tiny, it would be pretty difficult to split them. Also, my oncologist told me that currently there does not seem to be a reliable (or any) test to check estrogen levels, so it would be hard to monitor what effect the Letrozole or any AI has.

I take a multivitamin every day, I have taken biotin but truly it did not change much. I am sure there are some that might help but I am like you, I didn’t want to put too much in the mix. I also don’t really know much about them and didn’t want to end up hurting myself. I did find that using nioxin shampoo once a week helped some, my hairdresser said it would help eliminate any drug buildup on my scalp and hair follicles that might cause thinning. Also because half of my hair ( in patches) came back really curly, I keep it permed which makes it look fuller. I know feeling like you are getting older isn’t really fun. Do you exercise at all? Have other hobbies that can help you stay strong?

Hi Thanks for the reply. I seemed to do so well for the first 18 months - I guess I was surprised to feel the changes all at once. Suddenly I found myself running to every specialist for some issue. Oncologist said side effects would have shown up sooner. I disagree. If my hair is suddenly thinning then I would assume other side effects might occur after 2 years also. She said I could try exestemine but I decided to wait before I possibly swap issues. Are you allowed to take any vitamins? or biotin? I have tried to NOT take supplements as not to have too much in the mix while assessing how I am feeling. My oncologist scan everything the moment I complain. I have had a PT scan, lung scan, brain scan and now she want a bone scan. Sounds like you have been through alot since young. Kudos to you for your strength, endurance and good attitude.

The point of this drug is to remove estrogen so it does not encourage the cancer. The reason it is a kind of a one size fits all is that they really want to starve the cancer of as much estrogen as possible. The side effect of no estrogen is aging. I am sorry for your loss (hair). I have suffered this loss as well. I am in my 50s and have been solid grey since chemo in my 30s, also thinning as time has gone by. My doc says I am a 75 year old woman in a 50 something body, but truly I am wrinkled and saggy too. Lol. I am grateful for the life I have and there certainly are other drugs in this type that might be a better fit for you. Have you talked to your doctor about trying a different one?