Femara Question
 

Hello....I am interested in getting some feedback from those who have taken or are currently taking Femara.
I have been in and out of menopause since Chemo 2003. My doc tells me that my next blood test my numbers probably will come back that I am in full menopause. I have been off the tamoxifen for almost three years. I am currently looking for other oppions for side affects and any problems while taking it or how it compares to the others like arimidrex (spelling?).
Any info would be greatly appreciated...
Thank you so much!
Kristen

Re: Femara Question
 

Hi Kristen,

I've never taken Femara but have been on arimidex for five years and while I did have some side effects in the first year I've found these have lessoned as the years went on. (or I just became used to them!)

I'm hoping I can remain on this longer but have early bone loss on my last dexa so not sure the onc will agree!

Re: Femara Question
 

Hi Kristen,
I did take Armidex for almost a year. I then switched over to Femara. Both work fairly much the same.
I found that the Armidex gave me headaches, strong bone aches...ankle and joint pain. Very important to walk, do exercise (which helps greatly). While on Femara I do not have the joint pain, headaches, back pain etc. Doing just great on the Femara. Just remember when taking either AI do not eat grapefruit as the enzymes in grapefruit do not go well with the AI med. Make sure you take CQ10 and I do take Cosamin ds which I have found to be wonderful. I also take my Femara at night before bed.
Best wishes
jean

Re: Femara Question
 

Kristen,
Femara is the only AI I have been on. I have stopped and started it a couple times due to trts I've been on. Both times I started back on the Femara I always noticed at 1st I have lots of mild aches and pains but nothing to serious. The more you move the better off you are. It's when I sat down too long without moving that I would pay for it dearly. I would get really stiff every where and it was hard to get going at 1st. But once I was up and moving a few minutes the stiffness all went away. So for me it really hasn't been too much of a problem. :) (I found taking my Femara at bed time helped me sleep thru some of the side affects.) ;)

Since I have stopped and started Femara a couple times, it seems to take me about 4 months or so and my body adjusts to Femara rather well. As time goes on I hardly notice a thing. Some women have a hard time with some of the AI's...but many times just switching to another AI will fix the problem since we are all so different. You just have to see what works for you. Good luck to you.

Chelee

Re: Femara Question
 

I took Femara for over 5 years. I suggest you take it at night to lessen annoying side effects.
In my case it eventually started to lessen my bone density and I had to take a bone strengthening pill as well to off set this. however not everyone has this problem but I would suggest you ask about having yearly or so bone density tests to make sure you don't have this problem. Also take magnesium with B6 (I took 2 pills 3x a day) then at night a calcium with D3. (D3 even as a separate supplement is suggested). Generally speaking (some supplement expert on this site can better answer this) magnesium and calcium should not be taken together but you need to take magnesium for the calcium to be better absorbed.
Some Femara side effects are tingling, hot flushes, irritability but the pharmacist can probably tell you what might happen and how to deal with any side effects as can your oncologist or GP.
you'll see on this site that several people had severe problems with AIs (Femera is an AI) but then many didn't. The most important thing to remember, in my opinion, is that it's saving your life and so like horrible chemo, it's a price to pay to enjoy life for a little longer.
I hope you'll be one of the people who have no problems with it or only tolerable ones.
health and happiness
Sarah