half dose of Femara

I just read a study by the national Institute of health done in 2010 that discussed how various lower doses and infrequent doses of letrozole are just as effective as the 2.5 daily that we are required to take by our oncologists. It even went so far as to say that 2.5 once a week had the same affect as 2.5 once a day. I just passed my six year mark of being on AIs, mostly Letrozole, and I am just getting tired of the side effects. I feel like it is affecting my entire body - like my entire body is just falling apart. I have all kinds of random issues with my body and I mean ... I don’t drink, I’m pretty much a vegetarian, I don’t eat ice cream, I just quit cheese, I don’t drink soda, I don’t eat fried foods, blah blah blah blah blah. There’s really no reason for me to feel like I’m falling apart when I’m only 58 years old; and this is adding to a little bit of depression. I’m tired of the hair loss, the random hot sweats, the inability to sleep, and all of the other extremely random things that are going on with my body that I don’t think would ordinarily be going on if I wasn’t jampacked full of letrozole. After reading the article, the study, that I just mentioned and realizing it was written in 2010, I have decided that’s justification enough for me to reduce my dose and that is what I fully intend to do. I’m not sure I will telI my oncologist, but I am making her test my estradiol levels every single time she orders blood work ... and I agree with the person above -actually with the two people above - first about the medical field over killing us with drugs, where more is always better; and second of all with the person who mentioned the fact that their oncologist never tests her estradiol levels, and I have to agree, mine doesn’t either - with hell is that about

Did you talk to your doctor about the reduced dose? I'm so depressed. I am taking Adivan to help me sleep and I think it has helped my mood some. I can't sleep, cry a lot and have lost interest in everything. I wonder if cutting the dose would help..

Annie

I also wonder about a half dose of letrozole. I'm taking one everyday for a year now. Also felt depressed but with all that is going on in the world I'm not sure if it's the drug or just life. I am on an antidepressant but have recently cut that dose in half. I have never had my estradiol level checked. Will ask onco in July. I'm also on Prolia which I'm not thrilled about.