Who takes Femara?

If it's any comfort---the above quote about Femara sounds like me on Arimidex. They changed me to Femara and things are much better. Still rarely creaky and sometimes can't sleep but, at my age (63) can't blame that entirely on Femara.



Femara works by knocking off any estrogen your body may still be producing---it's in much lower amounts once we go thru menopause but our bodies still produce/release small amounts.



We react to different meds in different ways---I'm thankful we're not stuck with just one choice.

Amy,-

Boniva targets the spine as opposed to the hips.  I had a conversation about a year ago voicing my concern--fact is -no matter what the ads say --none of the oral ones do a great job at the hips. For a 1% difference over a placebo I'd rather

have the convenience of a once a month pill and less esophageal problems but that has been my choice.

This is from 

From medicalconumers.org 

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"The goal of osteoporosis drug therapy is not to stop bone loss or improve bone density. Rather it is to reduce the chance of having a serious fracture. Over the years, osteoporosis researchers have found that improving bone density does not always lead to fracture reduction. The drug class called bisphosphonates has dominated the osteoporosis drug market ever since Fosamax became available in 1994. Actonel, another bisphosphonate soon followed. Boniva is the latest drug in this class.

  How good are these drugs at reducing the rate of hip fracture, the most serious consequence of osteoporosis? Not very. The first clinical trial proving Fosamax’s benefit showed that at three years,

1% of the drug-treated women had had a hip fracture, compared with 2% of the women on the placebo.

Significantly, the elderly women in this trial all had evidence of a previous fracture; whereas many younger women are inappropriately put on long-term Fosamax purely because a bone-mineral density test showed bone loss. "

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Yearly Infusions of Zometa (Reclast), however, do work significantly against hip fractures  and spinal fractures as has been shown in the Horizon Bisphosphonate trial. 

How this once a year infusion would affect the chance of Osteonecrosis of the jaw, atrial fibrillation, and kidney toxicity is something that would have to be considered. 

Amy---Also, for your knees you may want to try the Traumeel that Joan of Ardmore suggested---It does work --and works quickly!  She got hers from WF.  I got mine from iherb.com   ---very good prices----you don't need to pay more for the gel ..Joan told me the ointment isn't sticky and its much cheaper.

Maryl---

I wouldn't give the switch a second thought.  You've already probably had

worse hot flashes on Tamoxifen than you'll have on Femara.  I felt they were more intense on Tamoxifen.  You won't have as many foot and leg cramps.

Sleep--well that is another matter---but you can try melatonin (you need to stay with it for at least a week for it to work without weird dreams), or moon drops works great with a pleasant relaxing vanilla taste (thats available from Whole Foods and is a homeopatic lozenge )

I'm not big on Ambien CR (didn't work for me)or Lunesta (gave me metal mouth)and if you need more get a script for clonazopam (Klonopin).  It will stop you from re-waking 2 hours after you finally fall asleep. 

Musculoskeletal symptoms sometimes get better with time---and do not kick in overnight.  Also, they tend not to be as bad in the under 50 crowd.  ---Just us arthritic oldies who already have issues.

Don't think too much---you may do just fine!  And you are not going to get every SE---I promise---and the ones you do get will vary in intensity---so my advise to you ---Don't anticipate.  You'll do fine.  

I've made it into year 5 and counting down----I know you will too!

Pam-

I can't help with the hair issues--I know some have talked of Biotin.  Maybe one of the other gals will have some suggestions.

But, as to the spasms I can suggest Magnesium---I've been taking it for the past five years daily to help with the spasming from my Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy----I can tell you --This is one supplement I would not be without---It does help.  Also there are reports that vitamin D3 can help with pain. I've been taking 2000mg for the past year and I feel that is helping as well.

As I said above you may want to try the Traumeel ointment on the areas bothering you,  --this has been way more successful for me than the countless other things I've tried. I won't bore you with that extensive list. LOL

Take care 

.