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← Return to Estradiol levels with AI
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If you read this carefully, you will notice this:
"The authors found that both adverse events and menopausal symptoms were similar in all arms."
I have been speculating about this for years and often on this forum.
The Femara insert says that 20% of the normal dose reduces estradiol below detectabel levels. Eight years ago I asked my oncologist about taking it alternate days and was given permission (I stayed with full dose).
So logically, if estradiol is reduced enough to be effective, side effects would be the same regardless of the dose, right? Because side effects are from estrogen suppression. Including menopause-like effects and many others.
I hope people read that study carefully because it confirms side effects were the same with the lower dose. I don't see how it makes any difference what the dose is, if the drug suppresses estrogen at any level of dose.
Replies to "If you read this carefully, you will notice this: "The authors found that both adverse events..."
But the point of the study was in fact to examine whether a lower dose would be as effective in lowering circulating estradiol because the authors suggest a lower dose would presumedly result in lower toxicity (and therefore fewer nasty side effects). The lower dose was just as effective apparently but a longer follow up period needed to examine tolerability (SE issue). Personally I’d choose a lower dose if equally effective and I like that they point out that researchers are now questioning the premise that higher doses in general are necessarily better. (Big pharma won’t be on board with this!) Thanks for yr input!
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@windyshores “ So logically, if estradiol is reduced enough to be effective, side effects would be the same regardless of the dose, right? Because side effects are from estrogen suppression. Including menopause-like effects and many others.”
I’m thinking about this statement …. If I took say Ibuprofen & and took 8 all at once vs spreading over a 24 hour period the side effects would be different. There is something about taking more (80%) & less (20%) that the side effect is the same is not clear. I might be missing something. Maybe time release into our bodies plays a role. Is full dose more effective against estrogen than the 20%.?
I am not advocating for or against AIs as it is purely personal as all our bodies are so very different. Side effects get discussed a lot bit I’m not hearing do much about effectiveness. My doctor could not tell me if Anastrozole was actually working .. said they take it for granted. That not a very scientific or medical studied answer.