Femara and Fatigue: What Users Say

• cau...
• August 30, 2013

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "I had stage 3 breast cancer, have been through chemo, radiation, and have been on Femara for 4 months. I started on Aromasin but had terrible joint and muscle pain, so my oncologist changed me to Femara. My joints and muscles feel better, but I am so tired that even my oncologist tells me I look worn out. I will live with the fatigue as I know this medicine works. I am 58, and I can no longer do what I did less than a year ago. I ride a bike 40 minutes a day, I eat healthy, but I just have no vitality. I miss my old self."

• dog...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 19, 2014

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "I was diagnosed in 2009, had lumpectomy, chemo, radiation. Managed to continue working through it all. Then took tamoxifen for 2 1/2 years... had horrible muscle cramping and hot flashes, switched to letrozole after determining I was postmenopausal. The major muscle cramps lessened considerably, as did the hot flashes. I took this for 2 1/2 years, just stopping 3 weeks ago. I have muscle, joint, bone achiness 24/7, no energy, tired always, feel like I'm in a fog, tinnitus, heartburn, slow metabolism with weight gain. How long will it take to reverse all of these side effects now that I no longer take it? I even quit taking ibuprofen because it doesn't do anything for the pains. I am now 2 months from being 50 years old."

• gre...
• November 2, 2015

For Breast Cancer "Had lump removed April 2014, 15 treatments of Radiotherapy then Letrozole. The doctor only warned about making my already present aches pains worse but felt this was the best for my age, now 70. I went out with my daughter on Friday and felt I had to drag myself around, so wiped out. I feel the need to sit down all the time. Going upstairs to bed, by the time I get to the top of the stairs, I'm sweating, very hot, and feel like I'm running out of air, I have to sit down on the toilet while I cool down. During the day, I constantly fall asleep. I feel this is a poor life with no energy to do anything. I wake up in the morning with a headache and sometimes feel sick."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2015

For Breast Cancer "Diagnosed May 2014 with Stage 3 Breast cancer after chemo, removal of the tumor & lymph nodes, radiation. I started Femara, been on it almost 6 months and I have daily joint & muscle pain, fatigue, hot flashes, and most of all weight gain. I'm really trying to eat healthy and exercise, but working a full-time job, it's a tough routine to keep up with every day (55 and post-menopausal). But hey, I'm still here and hopeful the medication does a good job of keeping the cancer at bay. Doing my best with the symptoms."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2021

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "Bone pain, trigger fingers, joint pain, hip pain, wrists/thumbs repeated tendonitis, low energy. From anastrozole to letrozole, issues persist, worse over time. Still on it, but had to stop working. Managing to stay on as benefit outweighs risk."