Tell me about Femara please

steff13914

My RE was going to have me do Clomid, but I mentioned that I was concerned about my lining getting too thin on that since my periods aren't very heavy to begin with.  He said in that case I can do Femara.  He told me to research the cost of each and pick which one I wanted to do. I guess this means he isn't concerned about the lining issue.

But the money isn't really my concern. I want whatever will get me pregnant. He told me the pregnancy success rate is about the same for both. What have you been told? And if you've tried both drugs, which did you like better?

TIA!

MrsVo

I just finished my first round of Femara and I would say that the side effects on it were much less present.  I had hot flashes like crazy on Clomid.  I also don't have the exact numbers on the difference it made with my lining but my new RE was pleased with the lining I had with Femara.

Also, not to sway your decision, but there is a coupon for free Femara right now that I got off Papsies blog:

https://greekgirlie.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-femara-prescription.html

 

amandakRN

I did 3 rounds of clomid and never ovulated. This month is my first month of femara, so i can't tell you how i like it yet. But if you're worried about your lining, i'd say go with the femara, especially since your RE says the success rate is about the same.

Also, i didn't have any side effects from clomid, but i know some girls have horrible side effects and they say femara is much better. GOod luck with your decision!

baloneydisc

I've never done Clomid, so I can't compare them, but I had a good experience with Femara.  I had no side effects, my lining was good, I ovulated all three times I've tried it & got pregnant (but m/c) twice.  The research study is not complete yet, but the co-ordinator told me that so far the study shows higher pregnancy rates with Femara than with Clomid.  I believe that Femara is more expensive (I did it thru a research study, so I didn't pay for it), but more insurance companies cover it since it is not labeled for use in fertility treatments.

steff13914

MrsVo:

I just finished my first round of Femara and I would say that the side effects on it were much less present.  I had hot flashes like crazy on Clomid.  I also don't have the exact numbers on the difference it made with my lining but my new RE was pleased with the lining I had with Femara.

Also, not to sway your decision, but there is a coupon for free Femara right now that I got off Papsies blog:

https://greekgirlie.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-femara-prescription.html

 

OMG! I just found one for $10, but free is so much better! Did you have b/w taken before you started the Femara? I just had an u/s, and nothing was mentioned about b/w.

Amanda- same question to you. B/W? And I've the horror stories about side effects on Clomid too. I'm strongly leaning toward Femara, since it's out of your system quicker too.

steff13914

elainelbuck:

I've never done Clomid, so I can't compare them, but I had a good experience with Femara.  I had no side effects, my lining was good, I ovulated all three times I've tried it & got pregnant (but m/c) twice.  The research study is not complete yet, but the co-ordinator told me that so far the study shows higher pregnancy rates with Femara than with Clomid.  I believe that Femara is more expensive (I did it thru a research study, so I didn't pay for it), but more insurance companies cover it since it is not labeled for use in fertility treatments.

Thanks for your input. I'm sorry for your losses. I'm glad to know that it's more likely to be covered by insurance because I'm OOP for all things fertility related.

hootie123

Jumping in - I did 2 clomid rounds and am on my first of Femara.  I like Femara so much better too - I had the lining issue with clomid (4.7mm at my u/s - so really no way of getting pregnant).  And so far with my first Femara cycle my lining was over 8mm at CD10.  I should see this weekend what it will be at my IUI (since she is doing an u/s then too).  As for b/w - I did need to get a blood pregnancy test before I started - since it can cause birth defects if you take it when you are pregnant. 

I definitely recommend Femara.  GL!

amandakRN

Steff-im OOP too, unfortunately, so i know the feeling!

I had b/w done to dx me with PCOS and check for IR but no b/w specifically done before i could start femara. I also had an ultrasound done when we were trying to confirm the PCOS.

punkymama

I've only done Femara and awesome kkdavie told me to take it at night before bed so I had a few night flashes but was my only s/e.  

My RE does b/w on CD3 and I have to wait for them to call to tell me to start my Femara each month.  GL Steff!!!

MrsVo

steff13914:

MrsVo:

I just finished my first round of Femara and I would say that the side effects on it were much less present.  I had hot flashes like crazy on Clomid.  I also don't have the exact numbers on the difference it made with my lining but my new RE was pleased with the lining I had with Femara.

Also, not to sway your decision, but there is a coupon for free Femara right now that I got off Papsies blog:

https://greekgirlie.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-femara-prescription.html

 

OMG! I just found one for $10, but free is so much better! Did you have b/w taken before you started the Femara? I just had an u/s, and nothing was mentioned about b/w.

Amanda- same question to you. B/W? And I've the horror stories about side effects on Clomid too. I'm strongly leaning toward Femara, since it's out of your system quicker too.

I did not have bloodwork done before the Femara, but I did have an ultrasound on CD3 so it was obvious that I was not pregnant.  I took it on CD5-9 and had my monitoring ultrasound on CD11.  Then I triggered early in the morning of CD13 and IUI was CD 14.  Let me know if you have any more questions!  

steff13914

Thank so much ladies!  I am confident I don't need the b/w either. I wasn't sure what it would be for, but now that many of you mentioned it's to confirm you are not pregnant, I obviously can skip it.

I will be taking the Femara, and thanks again MrsVo for the voucher link. And thanks Papps.

OodlesOfNoodles

steff13914:

Thank so much ladies!  I am confident I don't need the b/w either. I wasn't sure what it would be for, but now that many of you mentioned it's to confirm you are not pregnant, I obviously can skip it.

I will be taking the Femara, and thanks again MrsVo for the voucher link. And thanks Papps.

I only did Femara one cycle and preferred it over Clomid hands down.  I also found this same free coupon for Femara and asked the nurse to right the script for 30 pills and this gave me a 3 month supply for FREE!  My dose was 2.5mg, take 2 tabs daily from days 3-7.  Good luck!

Edit: wording

MrsVo

steff13914:

Thank so much ladies!  I am confident I don't need the b/w either. I wasn't sure what it would be for, but now that many of you mentioned it's to confirm you are not pregnant, I obviously can skip it.

I will be taking the Femara, and thanks again MrsVo for the voucher link. And thanks Papps.

You are very welcome!  GL!!

steff13914

OodlesOfNoodles:

steff13914:

Thank so much ladies!  I am confident I don't need the b/w either. I wasn't sure what it would be for, but now that many of you mentioned it's to confirm you are not pregnant, I obviously can skip it.

I will be taking the Femara, and thanks again MrsVo for the voucher link. And thanks Papps.

I only did Femara one cycle and preferred it over Clomid hands down.  I also found this same free coupon for Femara and asked the nurse to right the script for 30 pills and this gave me a 3 month supply for FREE!  My dose was 2.5mg, take 2 tabs daily from days 3-7.  Good luck!

Edit: wording

I wish I had researched all of this before I went in! I went this morning, and I have the Rx for 5 pills. I am now trying to figure out how to get the signature for the voucher without having to drive back up there!  I would hate to also ask them to change the script. But if I can just get one cycle worth for free, I'll be happy. I have a $10 discount card from the same website if I need them again next cycle.

mpayne

Hi Steff13914: I have to agree with the other ladies on the posts that Femara is much better than the clomid. I took clomid for two cycles and at the lowest dose (50 mg) I didn't have any side effects but at the 100 mg I had horrible hot flashes and migraines. I also never Ovulated at all on the clomid but rather developed large amounts of cysts all over my ovaries. I have PCOS so it's normal to have cysts on your ovaries but I had so many that it was ridiculous and I had to stop taking the clomid. This is my first month of femara and I LOVE IT. I will find out on Monday if I o'd when I get my progesterone tested but I can tell you that I had two u/s's done one at CD 12 which was an 8.3 (small compared to where it should have been but they way I see it is it's a follie that I never had before in my life) and then I went back for another u/s b/c I have been told that the slower growing follies could be the healthier follies (I don't know if it's true or not) but I had another u/s done to verify and I had a follie that measured 11.3. The thing that my doc and I are confused about is that the 8.3 looked like it had collapsed on my CD 12 which usually means that I O'd but that would have been early (not that it's not possible, hence another reason why I went back in a few days later for another u/s) however, when I went back in on CD 16 and they found the 11.3 follie it didn't look like it was collapsed so I'm confused. I guess I'll find out if I O'd on Tuesday or Wed after I get the results of Mondays b/w. GL I wish you the best and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the femara. On a side note: I was told that the clomid will stay in your system for 6-8 weeks after you take the last pill (which means it could POSSIBLY help you down the road get prego) however, the femara is in and out of your system that month. So, it's only good for a one time usage. I don't know if it's true or not but that's what I have read. GL, for more info see the link below

 

https://www.ivf.com/clom.html

 

 

steff13914

mpayne:

 

Thanks for your input! I hope you get some answers on Monday! Good luck to you as well.

brandywine2010

steff13914:

MrsVo:

I just finished my first round of Femara and I would say that the side effects on it were much less present.  I had hot flashes like crazy on Clomid.  I also don't have the exact numbers on the difference it made with my lining but my new RE was pleased with the lining I had with Femara.

Also, not to sway your decision, but there is a coupon for free Femara right now that I got off Papsies blog:

https://greekgirlie.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-femara-prescription.html

 

OMG! I just found one for $10, but free is so much better! Did you have b/w taken before you started the Femara? I just had an u/s, and nothing was mentioned about b/w.

Amanda- same question to you. B/W? And I've the horror stories about side effects on Clomid too. I'm strongly leaning toward Femara, since it's out of your system quicker too.

The $10.00 one works, too. Once you use the free voucher you can switch over to the $10.00 copay voucher and I think you can use it until June of 2011, if needed.

I only have experience with Femara and I think it definitely does the job. During my cycles on it my follicles have ranged from 1 mature (first cycle-low dose) to five mature (increased dose). I do have hot flashes with Femara.

My biggest concern about Femara is that it is not FDA approved for TTC and I am starting to wonder about the long-term side effects of taking it. I have had some serious mood changes and symptoms of depression in the last months that I took it. I am not sure if it has anything to do with Femara, but I can't help but wonder. 

Good luck with whatever you decide!  

steff13914

Thanks brandywine! I sure hope I don't need to use that other coupon, but good to know it works too!  The concern you mentioned about it not being FDA approved has me a little concerned too, but I read that there is a study being conducted on using the drug in treating infertility. It's just under a different name than Femara, and the company is seeking to market it for fertility. You may have seen this before, but this is the web site that swayed my decision to go for the Femara over Clomid: https://www.ivf1.com/letrozole-femara-infertility/. It mentions the study I was talking about.

I hope the side effects and depression subside for you in your future cycles. Are you doing Femara again?

brandywine2010

steff13914:

Thanks brandywine! I sure hope I don't need to use that other coupon, but good to know it works too!  The concern you mentioned about it not being FDA approved has me a little concerned too, but I read that there is a study being conducted on using the drug in treating infertility. It's just under a different name than Femara, and the company is seeking to market it for fertility. You may have seen this before, but this is the web site that swayed my decision to go for the Femara over Clomid: https://www.ivf1.com/letrozole-femara-infertility/. It mentions the study I was talking about.

I hope the side effects and depression subside for you in your future cycles. Are you doing Femara again?

I am going to talk to my RE about it on Monday and see what she says. I already have a supply of Femara for the cycle, so I am sure I'll do it at least one more time. I am hoping that since the lap is over along with the bad winter, I can put those feelings behind me.  I have seen that webpage, but it's been a while. Thanks for sharing it. GL with this cycle!