How long does it take for Faslodex to start working?
Once Faslodex (fulvestrant) is given by intramuscular (into the muscle) injection it takes 7 days to reach peak levels. When Faslodex is at a therapeutic level it starts to treat the estrogen dependent breast cancer by blocking estrogen receptors on the breast cancer cells and also reducing the number of estrogen receptors.
Even though Faslodex has reached peak plasma levels and is blocking and reducing the number of estrogen receptors, the effect of Faslodex on your breast cancer will not be noticeable for some time.
To find out how long it will take for Faslodex to have a noticeable effect, you will need to discuss this with your cancer health care professional, who will be familiar with your clinical situation and history. They will be monitoring your treatment and will be able to discuss when you may expect to see results from Faslodex treatment.
How often is Faslodex injection given?
Faslodex is given as an injection every two weeks for the first three doses, then once a month thereafter. The half life, which is how long it takes for half of the dose to be removed from the body, is approximately 40 days so the Faslodex remains effective for a long time. This means once you are on the monthly maintenance dose the Faslodex levels remain consistently at a therapeutic level.
Bottom Line:
- Faslodex takes 7 days to reach peak plasma levels after intramuscular injection.
- The effect of Faslodex on your breast cancer will not be noticeable for some time.
- To find out how long it will take for Faslodex to have a noticeable effect on your breast cancer you need to discuss this with your cancer specialist, who is familiar with your individual situation.
References
Fulvestrant Medication information: https://www.drugs.com/ppa/fulvestrant.html
Fulvestrant Medication information: https://reference.medscape.com/drug/faslodex-fulvestrant-342224#10
Faslodex Medication information: https://www.drugs.com/faslodex.html
Read next
What is the strongest chemotherapy drug for breast cancer?
Doxorubicin is considered one of the strongest chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers, not just breast cancer. Doxorubicin is also known as “The Red Devil” because it is a clear bright red color. It can cause your urine or other body fluids to turn a reddish color for 1 to 2 days after a dose is given, which is normal and temporary. Continue reading
How long do letrozole side effects last?
Most side effects of letrozole are mild and temporary, lasting only a few days or weeks until your body gets used to taking the medication. Some other side effects of letrozole take a few months to develop and tend to persist long term until you stop taking letrozole. The half-life of letrozole is 2 days, so once you stop taking letrozole, you might continue to experience side effects for about a week to 10 days after your last dose. Continue reading
What happens when you stop taking letrozole?
When you stop taking letrozole, side effects such as swelling, cough, hot flashes, and nausea, should improve within a week or 10 days. Some, such as high cholesterol, bone loss, and hair thinning may take many months to resolve. As long as you have taken it for at least 5 years, then letrozole should continue to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back for many years after you stop taking it. Letrozole is usually taken for 5 years, but may be recommended for up to 10 years depending on individual circumstances. Continue reading
Related medical questions
- How long can you take Faslodex?
- Is Faslodex a form of chemotherapy?
- Why are my nipples sore? 7 possible causes
- Does anastrozole cause hair loss?
- What is the success rate of Keytruda?
- How do you relieve joint pain associated with tamoxifen or Aromasin?
- How long does Ibrance extend life?
- What does anastrozole do to your body?
- Is letrozole a form of chemotherapy?
- What are monoclonal antibodies?
- What is the success rate of Enhertu in metastatic breast cancer?
- What is the lifetime or cumulative dose for Adriamycin?
- Does Femara make your hair fall out?
- Why give Taxol (Paxel) before carboplatin?
- What is Herceptin? Is Herceptin a chemo drug? How does it work?
- Does letrozole affect blood sugar levels?
- How does AC (Adriamycin and Cytoxan [cyclophosphamide]) work for Breast Cancer?
- Will insurance pay for the cost of Ibrance?
- What is the success rate for Femara in breast cancer?
- What are 10 key Ibrance side effects to watch out for?
- What are the long-term side effects of Adriamycin?
- Why do you need to take Xeloda with food?
- Treatments for Menopause
- Is it common to lose hair AFTER stopping tamoxifen?
- Which is better - Aromasin or Femara?
- How long do you take Verzenio for?
- How long can you stay on Herceptin and Perjeta?
- How long does Herceptin stay in your body?
- What is Paxel called in the USA?
Drug information
Related support groups
- Faslodex (5 questions, 31 members)
- Fulvestrant (3 questions, 8 members)
- Breast Cancer (127 questions, 310 members)
- Breast Cancer, Metastatic (58 questions, 80 members)