femara and cramps?

Murphy1128 · 08-03-2006, 09:32 PM

I am on my first month of femara and 7dpo and am having horrible cramps. I was on clomid twice and got big cysts (and was HORRIBLY moody). I am currently have cramps on both sides...which makes me think I ovulated (RE only tests first month of drugs to make sure you respond). I go from cramps on my side to sort of uterine cramps...is that normal? anyone experience cramps?

Nessa8 · 08-04-2006, 05:54 AM

I don't know if you know this or not, but last year Canada banned Femora from being used as an infertility treatment.
I'm just trying to fill you in on what's out there, just to give you some info., not to scare you...
You can read more about it below, or google it.
Best of luck to you

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/
Health Canada, Novartis Issue Alert Against Off-Label Use of Breast Cancer Drug To Treat Infertility
[Nov 30, 2005]
Health Canada, Canada's health regulatory agency, and Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis on Monday issued warnings against "off-label" use of the breast cancer treatment Femara, known generically as letrozole, to treat infertility because it might cause birth defects or miscarriage, Knight Ridder/Lexington Herald-Leader reports. The drug, which is approved to treat breast cancer patients who have undergone menopause, often is used off-label as a fertility treatment by doctors in the U.S. and Canada to induce ovulation, Knight Ridder/Herald-Leader reports. Thirteen adverse reactions worldwide have been reported involving women taking Femara while pregnant, and four of those cases involved adverse reactions in infants, according to Health Canada spokesperson Jirina Vlk. Based on studies on rats, FDA's prescribing information for Femara states, "If there is exposure to letrozole during pregnancy, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus and potential risk for the loss of pregnancy." Although FDA has not required a warning, Novartis plans to send letters to fertility specialists in the U.S. and Canada, warning against off-label use of the drug, according to company spokesperson Kim Fox (Young, Knight Ridder/Lexington Herald-Leader, 11/28).

med · 08-06-2006, 04:33 PM

I have gotten similar cramps on femera

I heard a lot of concerns when we first began femera and found that most of the concern was based on a study of women who took the drug while pregnant not TTC-of course I am not a scientist and I agree that you should research and be informed!

femera was a much better choice for us since clomid had rough side effects for me. So far the side effects have been much easier on femera and my eggs are on target

I would mention the cramping to the re
especially since you have had cysts previously, just to be safe... hope this helps! (please excuse the typos- working on a pocketpc. .,)

Murphy1128 · 08-06-2006, 06:10 PM

thank you! clomid had rough side effects on me too! I would have rather been off it than on it! My RE did a Beta HCG the day they put me on it just to be sure I wasn't because of the studies. So far..other than the cramps, I have felt good on femara. I am cd 25 so we will see if it works for us! How long have you been on it?

Abilene · 08-10-2006, 11:08 AM

My gyn told me I had to find an RE to put me on Femara (but he wouldn't -that should have been a hint, huh?). Two RE's have laughed him out of the office (so to speak). One said it is a 20 yr old drug that is no longer used and the other just smiled and laughed and would not even give a comment. I researched it and found it is not recommended to that use, but if you look at most IF drugs neither are they. Good luck. If it works who cares!

Abilene

JennyV · 08-31-2006, 07:27 AM

The study that said femara was unsafe for use in infertility was WRONG. It came out last year, and this spring they "debunked" the theory.

Femara is completely safe for use in infertility. I live in Canada, my RE is in Canada, and I'm on femara.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrin...tility/tb/3144

Femara Link To Birth Defects Called Incorrect
MONTREAL, April 21 — Concern about congenital malformations arising from the off-label use of Femara (letrozole) to induce ovulation appears to be unfounded, a study here has found.
"The message is clear—it is safe," Dr. Tulandi said. "That's not just (a message) for doctors but for patients—you have been given medication that is safe."

med · 08-31-2006, 11:14 AM

Murphy-Sorry, I just noticed you're question from b4, this is our fourth cycle on femera and I still am feeling very little side effects from it all (yeah!!) I have come o understand from the ladies around here that femera works more on egg quality than quantity, which is different from clomid as well.

How are you doing?

BC-LittleaBige · 09-19-2006, 06:54 PM

I am on Femara as well. First cycle. My RE also explained that the study was not accurate. Just to let you guys know that more than one person has been told that. Hope everything is well with you all.

Christi

beckyg1001 · 11-04-2006, 05:05 PM

I am also on Femara and have had cramps since I O'd over a week ago. My RE also said that it is definitely safe to take while TTC. Good luck!

WaitingMommy · 11-04-2006, 09:13 PM

THis is my second month on Femera. I did alot of research on it before taking it, I read all the things canad said about hte negitive side effects but everything had been disproved that was for people taking it while pregnant. Last month my first month I did have some cramping, I asked the Doc about it and APperantly it was cause I was ovulating. I did ovulate which I have never done on the clomid. I really didnt have any side effects like the clomid which was really nice. Good luck this month and hoope we all bet BFP

Robyn

08-03-2006, 09:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Murphy1128 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: northern california Posts: 184	femara and cramps? I am on my first month of femara and 7dpo and am having horrible cramps. I was on clomid twice and got big cysts (and was HORRIBLY moody). I am currently have cramps on both sides...which makes me think I ovulated (RE only tests first month of drugs to make sure you respond). I go from cramps on my side to sort of uterine cramps...is that normal? anyone experience cramps?

08-06-2006, 04:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
med 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: tn Posts: 3,675	I have gotten similar cramps on femera I heard a lot of concerns when we first began femera and found that most of the concern was based on a study of women who took the drug while pregnant not TTC-of course I am not a scientist and I agree that you should research and be informed! femera was a much better choice for us since clomid had rough side effects for me. So far the side effects have been much easier on femera and my eggs are on target I would mention the cramping to the re especially since you have had cysts previously, just to be safe... hope this helps! (please excuse the typos- working on a pocketpc. .,) __________________ ME(34) DH(45) MoM to b/b twins born 8.10.07 TTC: 4+ yrs (ED,LPD, LAP(FIBROID)6/05,HSG 7/06="UNDX IF")IUI#1-#6 all BFN IVF#1:BFP

08-31-2006, 11:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
med 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: tn Posts: 3,675	Murphy-Sorry, I just noticed you're question from b4, this is our fourth cycle on femera and I still am feeling very little side effects from it all (yeah!!) I have come o understand from the ladies around here that femera works more on egg quality than quantity, which is different from clomid as well. How are you doing? __________________ ME(34) DH(45) MoM to b/b twins born 8.10.07 TTC: 4+ yrs (ED,LPD, LAP(FIBROID)6/05,HSG 7/06="UNDX IF")IUI#1-#6 all BFN IVF#1:BFP

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08-04-2006, 05:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Nessa8 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 34	I don't know if you know this or not, but last year Canada banned Femora from being used as an infertility treatment. I'm just trying to fill you in on what's out there, just to give you some info., not to scare you... You can read more about it below, or google it. Best of luck to you http://www.kaisernetwork.org/ Health Canada, Novartis Issue Alert Against Off-Label Use of Breast Cancer Drug To Treat Infertility [Nov 30, 2005] Health Canada, Canada's health regulatory agency, and Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis on Monday issued warnings against "off-label" use of the breast cancer treatment Femara, known generically as letrozole, to treat infertility because it might cause birth defects or miscarriage, Knight Ridder/Lexington Herald-Leader reports. The drug, which is approved to treat breast cancer patients who have undergone menopause, often is used off-label as a fertility treatment by doctors in the U.S. and Canada to induce ovulation, Knight Ridder/Herald-Leader reports. Thirteen adverse reactions worldwide have been reported involving women taking Femara while pregnant, and four of those cases involved adverse reactions in infants, according to Health Canada spokesperson Jirina Vlk. Based on studies on rats, FDA's prescribing information for Femara states, "If there is exposure to letrozole during pregnancy, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus and potential risk for the loss of pregnancy." Although FDA has not required a warning, Novartis plans to send letters to fertility specialists in the U.S. and Canada, warning against off-label use of the drug, according to company spokesperson Kim Fox (Young, Knight Ridder/Lexington Herald-Leader, 11/28).

08-06-2006, 06:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Murphy1128 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: northern california Posts: 184	thank you! clomid had rough side effects on me too! I would have rather been off it than on it! My RE did a Beta HCG the day they put me on it just to be sure I wasn't because of the studies. So far..other than the cramps, I have felt good on femara. I am cd 25 so we will see if it works for us! How long have you been on it?

08-10-2006, 11:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Abilene 200-299 post 4 of hearts Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 234	My gyn told me I had to find an RE to put me on Femara (but he wouldn't -that should have been a hint, huh?). Two RE's have laughed him out of the office (so to speak). One said it is a 20 yr old drug that is no longer used and the other just smiled and laughed and would not even give a comment. I researched it and found it is not recommended to that use, but if you look at most IF drugs neither are they. Good luck. If it works who cares! Abilene

08-31-2006, 07:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
JennyV Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 208	The study that said femara was unsafe for use in infertility was WRONG. It came out last year, and this spring they "debunked" the theory. Femara is completely safe for use in infertility. I live in Canada, my RE is in Canada, and I'm on femara. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrin...tility/tb/3144 Femara Link To Birth Defects Called Incorrect MONTREAL, April 21 — Concern about congenital malformations arising from the off-label use of Femara (letrozole) to induce ovulation appears to be unfounded, a study here has found. "The message is clear—it is safe," Dr. Tulandi said. "That's not just (a message) for doctors but for patients—you have been given medication that is safe."

09-19-2006, 06:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
BC-LittleaBige PCOS / Parenting Preemies Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right where I want to be! Posts: 4,126	I am on Femara as well. First cycle. My RE also explained that the study was not accurate. Just to let you guys know that more than one person has been told that. Hope everything is well with you all. Christi

11-04-2006, 05:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
beckyg1001 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 119	I am also on Femara and have had cramps since I O'd over a week ago. My RE also said that it is definitely safe to take while TTC. Good luck!

11-04-2006, 09:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
WaitingMommy 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 195	THis is my second month on Femera. I did alot of research on it before taking it, I read all the things canad said about hte negitive side effects but everything had been disproved that was for people taking it while pregnant. Last month my first month I did have some cramping, I asked the Doc about it and APperantly it was cause I was ovulating. I did ovulate which I have never done on the clomid. I really didnt have any side effects like the clomid which was really nice. Good luck this month and hoope we all bet BFP Robyn