Femara lower dose to reduce issues impacting QOL?

Opale

Any success in getting doctors to agree to lower dose to reduce side effects and improve Quality of Life (QOL)? If yes, what was the impact on your side effects? I'm taking 2.5 mg 1x day. Thanks, Opale

dtad

HI there. IMO you will never get a doc to approve a lower dose because there are no studies to back it up. However there are women on this forum that take half the dose and it has helped with the SEs. QOL is important too! Good luck...

Opale

Thanks dtad, I'm going to ask my doc. And, I always do my own thing anyway. I'm thinking of taking a short femara "holiday" and get my estrodiol and FSH readings just to see what is happening now naturally. That may play into my decisions. Best, Opale

Opale

I have a really great doctor.  We discussed my options.  She said she could not recommend a 1/2 dose and pill every other day because there are no studies to prove that dose is sufficient to keep my estrogen at a low level.  However, she was ok for me to take another 1 month drug "holiday" to check what my normal estrogen level is currently.  I had a baseline estrogen test done before I met with her.  Next steps for me will be based on the current normal estrogen levels.  If they remain fairly low, I may stop hormone treatment.  If not, I may do what she suggested and try another AI.  She seemed ok if I stop the drug completely since I completed about 2. 5 years of treatment. 

Trisha-Anne

Hi Opale

I'm in Australia, and my onc is very receptive to trying new things. I was having thunderclap headaches and hallucinations on Femara. I'd already tried Arimidex and Aromasin which didn't agree with me, so Femara was my last hope before going to Tamoxifen.

I'm on half a tablet daily, and it's been fine for me. No headaches or hallucinations. Still get a lot of joint pain, but I can live with that.

I had triple positive breast cancer in 2010, and had a new primary in 2015 that was triple negative, so the half tablet of Femara seems to be keeping my estrogen levels down at least!

Hope this helps.

Trish

Opale

That's great news Trisha-Anne. I think I can "play" around quite a bit because I took the initiative to get my baseline estrogen level done while I am on letrozole. The last estrogen test done by my specialists was 1 month after starting Letrozole way back in Feb 2015. Best, Opale

TarheelMichelle

I started taking Femara, as a treatment not a preventive, every other day. My first 3-month scan showed no progression and some regression.

Maybe there aren't any studies, but I'm fed up with doctors who push drugs that are ruining QOL. There aren't any studies that show a reduced dose is harmful. :-p

I tried increasing my dose to every day and it was horrible. I felt depressed and tired. Took a month long vacation from Femara, suggested by my MO. Now I'm on a two days on, one day off regimen. I don't feel great, but I'm taking Claritin every day and it's been a lifesaver in reducing my joint pain. Going to see how long I can handle Femara. I'm taking Ritalin to help with fatigue. I don't think I'll ever be able to take Femara daily

I also took Tamoxifen every other day, and had good results in keeping my tumors from spreading.

Opale

Hi TarheelMichelle. Glad to hear that you are doing what you feel is right for you! QOL is so important. I'm looking forward to my month long break from Letrozole starting tomorrow! Best, Opale

amaasing

My SE was High Blood Pressure that was close to Stroke Level. My Oncologist quickly said to start taking Femara every other day rather than every day. Reasoning was that the half-life of Femara is 1-2 days and therefore it is still in my system during the day I don't take it. That change did wonders for me. If you talk with your doctor about changing to every other day and they balk, just ask about the half-life of the medicine. My DR already knew the half-life and was prepared to take steps to keep the SEs down.

Opale

Hi amaazing - that's awesome! Glad you have a doctor that understood your SE and your needs.Best, Opale