Femara - best time to take?

Mzmerz, this is a great question!  Also in terms of efficacy, as I've always wondered whether taking it at night (which I've been doing) may be more effective.  There's a school of thought that indicates that chemo may be more effective in the wee hours, so I figure, why not an AI as well?

Since I have always taken Femara before bedtime, I can't offer input about changing the time.  But perhaps others will have some additional thoughts to share.

From reading the Femara posts, when folks take it and their individual reactions are really varied. I have always taken mine before bed, too. Others seem to do better when they take it in the morning or even at other times. You may want to experiment with it but, once you find the best timing for you, be consistent with that time. My MO mentioned that it is better to take it at the same time each day and other posters mentioned that, as well. Good luck!

Guess I am the only one who had to switch the time to take it, because I have started Xeloda for a week now. Morning & at Xeloda, noon Femara said MO. I've been also on Lupron the entire time I started taking Tamoxifen, then Femara - like since July. So kind of can predict SE's a bit. 

Back when I used to do take Femara before bedtime, I had to wait like an hour to GET to sleep, because approximately in that interval the hot flashes started kicking in & I felt lousy for a while. After a change of T-shirt & drinking water, I got to sleep like a baby till morning. But that's me of course. Interestingly, after started taking it at noon, I haven't experienced (yet of course) that strong hotflash, though I have my hot/cold flashes regularly throughout the day. Btw, was told my MO I could take it whenever I wanted at the start. 

Lupron is Lupron. Hot flashes regularly throughout the day, but have been much MILDER. 

Hope you find the best for yourself.

Ebru

When I started letrozole (generic femara), I took it in the morning. Got so tired from it, looked it up, and changed to about 6 pm with my other meds. Funny thing is, it did not make me tired when I took it at 6. Weird.

I heard whatever time you take it, you just needed to be consistent.  I take mine b/4 bed because I felt funny taking it in the morning--it made me a little nauseaus maybe on an empty stomach. 

I also remember taking it b/4 bed and take the vitamins, D3 in the morning.

Terri

I started out taking mine at night, but my joints ached too much in the mornings. So I started taking it in the morning and I wake up not quite as stiff.

While I was on Arimidex, and now Femara, I was taking them at night and the hot flashes woke me up like every hour.  Or do they call it night sweats when it happens at night?  My onc. told me to take it in the morning so the hot flashes would happen during the day and I could sleep at night.  It did not work for me but it might be worth a try.  What has worked so far is taking Effexor- now I might only have 1 episode per night and none during the day.  I also take ibuprofen for the joint pain when needed but that has eased over the past 3-4 months.