glad I read this. I have been on anastrozole 3 years and complained of joint pain. Was given a month rest then put on letrozole. Oh my god been on it a month and I just want to lie down and die cannot take this pain any longer day and night. Constant headache shoulders hips knees feet hands. And I have a good pain threshold. Not taking it again 

Update my Doc took new blood test after I stopped taliking Letrozole. My liver enzymes had risen whilst on it, they went back to normal once I stopped taking it! . No more Letorzole for me, still have bone pain 

Hi Judpet,

I do know people who have got on well with Citolopram, but also a few who haven't. There are other anti-depressants which might work better for you, so please get back to your care team to see about this. Also, be aware that you cannot just stop taking these tablets, you have to come off them gradually, or you will feel really awful.

I am so sorry to hear that you are having this trouble and hope that you can get it settled soon. I take Venlafaxine and have had no problem with it over the past 9 years.

Don't forget to let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi jolamine well tried citolopram couldnt cope with it so came off them was just wondering if when you were on letrozole did your side effects get worse over time or better I am thinking of changing to a different drug as I can’t cope with the sickness any more kind regards petjud

Hi Judpet,

We all react differently to drugs. The side-effects were obvious pretty quickly with me, but remember that I had already been taking Tamoxifen for the previous year. Other side-effects didn't manifest themselves until I was about 3 years into taking Letrozole. At that stage I had to have both knees replaced and had 5 eye operations throughout the following 2 years.

I am sorry to hear that the Citolopram didn't work for you. There are a number of different anti-depressants and, it's a case of finding one that works for you. You can also get an anti-nausea medication and a pain killer if needed. I hate taking tablets of any kind, but had to take all 3 types to get through the course.  Did you ask your care team about changing to another hormone therapy? It sounds as if this might be the best solution. Why not call your breast care nurse on Monday and discuss this?

I hope that you find something that works for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi jolamine well I’ve changed from letrozole to anastrozol and have been on them a week now and still having the same side effects nausea sweating I think they must all have the same side effects no difference just hoping the longer I am them will the side effects get less hope so as I have had enough seriously thinking of stopping them altogether and getting some quality of life back kind regards judpet 

You need to give them 6 weeks for it to get out of your system.  I gave it a month & thought there's no difference, but it took about 6 weeks to notice the difference.

Hi clairebr did you just stop taking them altogether without permission from the consultant or did he tell you to. stop taking them did you also have bad side effects from the tablets kind regards judpet

Hi clairebr think I might have misread your last post sorry did you mean you changed from letrozole to anastrazol and it took six weeks for the letrozole to get out of your system if so are you ok with anastrozol now kind regards judpet

Actually I moved from Letrozole after one year, after complaining about pains & aches, then onto anastrozole for 3 or 4 years (not any better) then moved onto Tamoxifen.  It was only after 6-8 weeks on Tamoxifen that I was able to move again.  I did keep stopping anastrozole myself for a month at a time but because I was doing this the consultant recommended moving me onto tamoxifen which I wasn't keen on because of side effects friends had, but I've definitely been better on Tamoxifen.  I was not going to carry on with anastrozole.  Quality of life was more important than being crippled.

Thank you for your prompt reply could I ask when you stopped taking them fora month did you feel any better also my main side effect is nausea did you have that as well I can’t seem to get rid of it kind regards petjud 

I didn't see an improvement after a month.  I did have light nausea first thing in a morning or just after breakfast, but nothing major.  It was the pain & stiffness that I suffered from.

I didn't see an improvement after a month.  I did have light nausea first thing in a morning or just after breakfast, but nothing major.  It was the pain & stiffness that I suffered from.