Hormonal therapy Arimidex

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Wildplaces
Wildplaces Member Posts: 864
edited January 2017 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello members,

I am trying to understand how the doses of anti hormonal therapy were "decided" upon by the scientific/medical world.

Specifically Arimidex, a competitive inhibitor of aromatase - why 1mg per day - why not 0.5mg or 2 mg??

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I have asked my oncologist without receiving a sound response.

I imagine it may be related to a risk/benefit - but surely the risk is dependent on the individual it is administered to - in terms of bone density, cholesterol, liver function...



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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2017

    I'm not a pharmacist or scientist but I'm theorizing that it is the smallest amount that a majority sampling of patients responded to in a positive manner, in a clinical trial or other trial.

    The dose may also be tailored to weight, etc. (if a woman was very overweight, wouldn't they up the dosage?) but I believe it's more about the above.



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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited January 2017

    Hi all. From what I've been told 20 mg is the only dose that has been studied. IMO weight should be a factor but it is not. I would love to see more studies on it. Good luck to all


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  • Wildplaces
    Wildplaces Member Posts: 864
    edited January 2017

    My understanding is that Arimidex binds to an enzyme - aromatase - that converts androgens in extra-gonadal ( hence the use in post menopausal women) to estrogens.

    There is some thought that some breast cancers have aromatase.

    Arimidex binds reversible.

    Aromasin binds irreversibly.

    Serum oestradiol levels will tell you if it works. But many medicos don't do them routinely.

    At the prescribed doses both drugs lowers levels of oestrogen by about 80-90% but not entirely - which may be one of the reasons why they fail at some point...

    The bodybuilding world (and a I am a mother with a treadmill that is all) uses Arimidex to stop/reduce the side effects ( enlarged breasts) of taking androgens. But they use different dose regimens for shorter times/cycles.

    Hence my question how did we work out that 1mg is the correct dose??

    Well I will keep digging....😊

    And yes you are correct overweight ladies have more fat and that produces oestrogen...

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