I’ve been taking letrozole for about 18 weeks now. I have hot flashes, low mood,I feel dizzy and have completely stopped sleeping. I feel ill and I’ve stopped taking them. How long before I feel normal?
A very warm welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear that you have stopped taking Letrozole, due to side-effects. Have you discussed these with your breast care nurse or consultant before you stopped them? There are various treatments for some of the side-effects and, if these don't work, you can always try another hormone therapy.
I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer and took Tamoxifen first time around and Letrozole for the second bout. I had all of the side-effects you mention and more besides, but I persevered for 7½ years and I'm glad that I did, as I'm still here 15 years on. The question I would be asking is not how soon you'll be back to normal, but will doing nothing keep the cancer at bay? If you haven't already discussed this with your care team, please do so and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
I’m sorry about how Letrozole has been affecting you and that you’ve now stopped taking it.
Once you stop letrozole, it usually begins to leave your system over a couple of weeks or so. Some people may start feeling better over this time while for others it can take several weeks for symptoms to improve.
It is important to let your specialist or breast care nurse know how much this drug has been impacting you and that you’ve stopped taking it and see what their advice is. They may recommend treatment to help manage theside effectsbetter or suggest trying another hormone drug to see if that suits you better.
I hope things improve soon and that you are able to speak to your team soon. Give us a ring if you would like to talk things over.The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9 am till 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
I'm glad to hear that you have an appointment with your oncologist coming up soon. Trying to cope with the side-effects is never easy. Some people find it better to take Letrozole in the evening, instead of the morning. Others find it easier if they stick to a particular brand of Letrozole. I hope that your care team can provide you with a solution.
