Switch from letrozole to exemestane

Hi! Harkey:

I am so sorry that you've suffered such a painful experience after taking the Exemestane medication for one week:( It broke my heart to imagine that you are terrified to go to sleep because of this event!

Unfortunately for me, I have limited medical knowledge and have never taken Exemestane that I can't offer any help based on personal experience. Please contact your physician immediately, at the very least to make certain there's no other significant issues of your health that might cause this.

Best wishes to you all on the journey ahead!

I used to have horrible Charley-horses in my calves when I would try to sleep. Magnesium fixed that for me. When I get a canker soar in my mouth, a B-100 vitamin fixes it in one day. An orthopedic surgeon told me about my cure for canker soars. Wishing you the best❤️

This is my second time (20 years apart) taking exemestane. For me, leg cramps decreased ( also started magnesium), hot flashes-drenching hot flashes, sleep issues, fatigue, bone pain at times, hair thinning are more of a problem and were the same 20 years ago. I will stick with the drug ( it plus chemo & radiation kept the cancer at bay for + 20 years).

I had that problem with anastrozole. What might help is getting electrolyte mixes there are different brands. They are powders that you mix into your own water. I drink one in the evening and one in the morning. Some brand names are: Hydration, Nector, Drip Drop. They range in price around $1 a sleeve.

I am sorry you had such a bad Charley horse from that med. I have been on Letrozole since last November. It has caused bad joint pain and a trigger thumb that I will be having surgery on. I was going to try another one but am afraid of what it may cause. The one you said caused you such pain, I had heard from someone else they did better on. I guess it is individual how people respond. I use a frankincense salve that has helped my knees som. My hands are still very stiff and painful. Best of luck to all facing these issues.

Thank you so much for the suggestion of magnesium. I have taken, will keep trying. I'm so happy that you have remained cancer free all these years, you're right, despite the SE's, we are lucky to be able to take medication which helps keep us cancer free.

Initially started on Anastrazole. After about 8 months, the muscle and joint pain and leg cramps were taking its toll - not debilitating but constant, just moved around (today the left ankle tomorrow right hip and thigh). Electrolytes helped with the cramps. Oncologist took me off meds for a month and then started exemestane. Did fine till started 3rd month - then weight gain (10# in 1 week with no dietary or exercise changes), then fatigue set in. Initially not bad - might nod off after lunch or would have to take a nap a couple times a week. At visit 5 months in, he mentioned I “looked tired” and I told him I was - all the time. Asked if I was depressed (don’t really think so). 2 months later, he ran extra tests for fatigue and all was normal but this had progressed almost to an inability to function mid day, multiple “naps” (in quotes because don’t usually go to sleep, just lay there and try to relax - it’s more of a whole body fatigue if that makes sense). Now from 8 - 10 months in, I can’t sleep - lucky to get 3-4 hours a night which makes the fatigue even worse. I do have some muscle cramps but not excessive or severe. Having trouble getting exercise both because now have to talk myself into it and because I get tired and winded halfway through. So I think my side effects are - hot flashes/sweating, extreme fatigue, insomnia, hair loss and weight gain. I think it’s the exemestane but a) none of them do. They just keep pushing anti depressants and b) only thing left is letrazole and it may be worse. Or try Anastrazole again and live on pain meds but maybe without the other side effects.
Like several others here, I’ll continue because don’t feel I’m comfortable with stopping the meds and hope I survive the next 3 1/2 years.

Best of luck to you with your surgery! I have had trigger finger too while on the letrozole. And I have heard too that some ppl seem to do better on the exemestane. Please take care, and thank you for supporting my question. xo

Yes I got it from All the meds and it turned out to be Achilles tendinitis. I think the meds aggravated my weakened condition flaring it up. Got some therapy. Look up some stretching exercises!

To everyone taking hormone receptors drugs God Bless you ALL!!!!!!! Every Scientist, Drug Company every Oncologist Dr that prescribes should be CONCERNED of miserable side effects!!!! Chemo is one thing these drugs sound horror every one of them now is it they have not found BETTER more Natural user friendly in 2025!!!!! This scares me the side effects grueling.