I'm not sure how long the side effects take to ease off, but I think it's a couple of months. I did read an interesting article where a doctor told his patient to start the Arimidex for three days a week, to get her body used to it and to add more days as time went on. As you have only 8 months to go, perhaps you could do it in the reverse? Ask your doctor if you could drop one pill per month, (say Monday) then two days the next month and so on. Come off the pill gradually. Well done you though, as you only have 8 months to go! Blessings!