Femara is used in the following ways to treat advanced breast cancer: Femara has been found to be effective in treating advanced breast cancer. If you no longer need to take Femara and have leftover medication, its important to dispose of it safely. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with this drug include: In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. Female infertility refers to not being able to become or stay pregnant. If youre concerned about side effects from stopping Femara treatment after 5 years, talk with your doctor. If you have questions about whether its safe for you to drive or operate machinery during your treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. One thing that may help is trying to stay as active as possible. See the sections Femara for advanced breast cancer and Femara for adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer below for more information. Femara isnt approved to treat infertility in males. Femara is FDA-approved to treat advanced breast cancer thats hormone receptor-positive (HR+). If letrozole stops working and your breast cancer comes back, your specialist may prescribe another hormone drug. Your doctor can recommend other treatments, besides Femara, that are safe for you to use. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use their online tool. Like most drugs, Femara can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Talk with your doctor about how long you should take Femara for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Its possible that any side effect of Femara may last throughout your treatment. However, statistics show that many people with breast cancer have an excellent chance of. They can recommend some ways to manage this side effect. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. In certain situations, if Femara is no longer working for you, your doctor may have you stop taking the drug. Clomiphene is approved to treat infertility in females. Alcohol isnt known to interact with Femara. https://www.drugs.com/pro/letrozole.html, Letrozole (Femara) Breast cancer now. Letrozole is typically taken once a day for five days. Keeping cool with a fan or removing layers of clothing during hot flash episodes. was on it for 10 years!!! Use of the term male in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. If your doctor confirms that you had a mild allergic reaction to Femara, theyll decide if you should continue taking it. The current stance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to avoid using expired medications. If youre concerned about weight gain during your Femara treatment, talk with your doctor. If you have liver problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Femara for you. Also, if you experience fatigue, extreme tiredness, or dizziness while taking Femara, you shouldnt drive or operate heavy machinery. If youd like to know about using Femara for this purpose, talk with your doctor. You may have questions about Femara and your treatment plan. But make sure you talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications with Femara. G n' J FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to Dreamthief How to Use Letrozole for Fertility Femara (letrozole) is offered in 2.5-milligram yellow, film-coated tablets. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Do I have a higher risk for side effects than other people taking Femara. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article. Also, keep in mind that Femara isnt approved to treat breast cancer in females who havent gone through menopause yet. But try to take it around the same time on each of the 5 days that youre taking the drug. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if youre taking tamoxifen or any products that have estrogen in them. Letrozole's terminal elimination half-life is about 2 days and steady-state plasma concentration after daily 2.5 mg dosing is reached in 2-6 weeks. Femara is prescribed to treat certain types of breast cancer in adult females* who have gone through menopause. This also includes the release of bisphosphonates from bone surfaces that end up in the bloodstream, because they can't attach themselves to the bone cells and are simply unused. Sometimes it might be used to treat breast cancer in men. These breast cancers are called hormone sensitive or hormone receptor positive. Swelling from Femara usually occurs in your arms, feet, hands, or legs. Femara is also sometimes used off-label to treat infertility in females with endometriosis. Femara is a kind of hormone therapy. Off-label drug use is when a drug thats approved for one use is used for a different one thats not approved. The half-life is the amount of time it takes for the drug level in your body to decrease by half. How do Femaras side effects compare with those of other cancer drugs? If you and your doctor determine that Femara is safe and effective for you, youll likely take it long term. Spotting refers to slight vaginal bleeding when you arent having your period. Female hormones that occur naturally in the body can increase the growth of some breast cancers. At that point, the aromatase enzyme is the main pathway that your body uses to make estrogen. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. Before your appointment, write down questions such as: How will Femara affect my body, mood, or lifestyle? Femara can interact with some other medications. It works by lowering the level of estrogen in your body. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. I had no radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Generally it takes four to five half-lives for a drug to be eliminated from the body, so in the case of Arimidex this would be 150 to 300 hours, or six to 12 days. For this use, youll take Femara for a few days after the start of your period. Letrozole lowers the levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen in the body. Talk with your doctor if youre pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed. But its not known if drinking alcohol after youre diagnosed with breast cancer can make your cancer worse or more likely to come back after treatment. If you have serious side effects from Femara, call your doctor right away. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. Your doctor may ask you to start taking the drug either on day 3 or day 5 of your menstrual cycle. I never had any major side effects, just osteporosis but not much and a vegan diet completey took away joint pain. For hot flashes, you should first try to relieve symptoms through lifestyle changes. Learn more about some of the side effects that Femara may cause. Its used to treat the following types of cancer: Femara comes as a tablet you take by mouth once per day. Trying mental and stress-relief activities such as. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. This is how Femara causes ovulation. (Enzymes help chemical reactions in your body to happen.). Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs they have approved. reduces the risk of a new breast cancer . Both cancer and cancer treatments can often cause changes in appetite and body weight. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil), may be effective for relieving headaches. (Day 1 of your menstrual cycle is the first day of your period.) Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. PCOS is a condition that causes hormone problems, irregular or skipped periods, and cysts on your ovaries. But studies comparing the two drugs have found slightly differing results. improved overall survival. If you have questions about taking Femara with other drugs, talk with your doctor. For example, they may order imaging tests to see if your cancer tumors are shrinking. Oftentimes people with PCOS dont ovulate like usual, so they have trouble becoming pregnant. Femara is FDA-approved to treat only certain types of breast cancer. You should not stop taking Letrozole without discussing with your physician. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Like most drugs, Femara may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Femara may cause. If you have questions or concerns about these potential side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Femara comes as 2.5-mg tablets that are taken by mouth. To find out how often these side effects occurred in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm.D., M.S., FASCP, Common sweetener erythritol tied to higher risk of stroke and heart attack, Gout: How metabolic syndrome may increase the risk, A new therapeutic target for the prevention of heart failure due to aortic stenosis, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. Letrozole (Femara ) is a hormonal therapy drug used to treat breast cancer. So, dont be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment. If you have a certain type of breast cancer, your doctor might suggest Femara (letrozole) as a treatment option. You can do this for about 10 minutes a few times each day. But some healthy cells in the body also quickly multiply. What happens when you stop taking letrozole? Chemotherapy is a type of cancer drug. This condition can become very painful and may lead to infertility in some people. Dont take more Femara than your doctor prescribes. Femara isnt FDA-approved to treat infertility, but sometimes its used off-label for this purpose in females. But some people may experience side effects while taking this drug. Other drugs are available that can treat breast cancer. Not taking letrozole for the recommended time may increase the risk of your breast cancer coming back. With advanced breast cancer, the cancer has spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes (called locally advanced breast cancer), or it has spread to other parts of the body (called metastatic breast cancer). Femara contains the active drug letrozole, while Clomid contains the active drug clomiphene. If youd like to know more about how Femara and Arimidex compare with each other, see this detailed breakdown. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. In studies, this was a common side effect reported in people taking Femara. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing. . There are also some steps you can take to help strengthen your bones naturally. Learn. Breast cancers that are stimulated by hormones, such as estrogen, are called hormone receptor-positive (HR+). After menopause, your body produces less estrogen, which can weaken your bones. Serious side effects are possible from taking Femara. drug can stay in . Here are a few other questions you may want to ask your doctor about Femara: In addition, you can learn about breast cancer and its treatment options by subscribing to Healthlines breast cancer newsletter. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. As with all medications, the cost of Femara can vary. You shouldnt take Femara unless its been prescribed by a healthcare professional. The types include: To learn more about these conditions and how Femara is used to treat them, see the What is Femara used for? section below. For information on how Femara performed in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. Over the last week I have been feeling increasingly poorly, very lethargic and completely lacking in energy as I have just come back from a lovely week away there really shouldn't be any reason for how I am feeling and it just occurred to me that it could be related to stopping taking tamoxifen. Femara contains the drug letrozole. And they want you to get the best care possible. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. Its not chemotherapy, which is a type of cancer drug that most commonly causes hair loss. Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include: If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. Nausea. For oral dosage form (tablets): For breast cancer: Adults2.5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Below are lists of medications that can interact with Femara. But its not known how often this occurs in people using Femara. And talk with your doctor about ways to help improve your energy level during treatment. Breast lumps and visual changes to the breasts or nipples are more frequent signs of breast, Aggressive, hard-to-treat breast cancer types such as inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer are the most likely to recur. Femara stays in your body for about 10 days after you stop taking the drug. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Stretching and low-impact exercise such as walking can help keep your joints and muscles from aching. You should take Letrozole at about the same time each day. Femara can decrease bone mineral density in some people. If your doctor gives you the OK, here's a gentle routine to try. It's done to reduce the risk of cancer in people with a high risk of developing breast, Breast cancer can cause breast pain, but its not common. If youre not having periods when starting Femara, your doctor will recommend when you should start taking the drug. Your bones rely on estrogen to keep them strong. But if it contains estrogen, it may interact with Femara treatment. If you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend that you take one tablet every other day. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe Femara after youve taken tamoxifen for your cancer for at least 5 years. You should take Femara according to your doctors or another healthcare professionals instructions. Femara can stay in your system for several weeks after your last dose. With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. In this case, stopping Femara can sometimes improve your breast cancer, rather than causing side effects. (Day 1 of your menstrual cycle is the first of your period.) International guidelines recommend letrozole (the active drug in Femara) as an effective treatment for infertility. You can take Femara with or without food. * For more information about using Femara for infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. Letrozole may be used: It's done to reduce the risk of cancer in people with a high risk of developing breast, Breast cancer can cause breast pain, but its not common. Most doctors wont prescribe Femara for more than six cycles of treatment. Femara may be used off-label to treat infertility due to PCOS and other causes. With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. For more information about using Femara to treat infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. In studies, this was a common side effect reported in people taking the drug. For infertility, but sometimes its used to treat breast cancer coming back how Femara! May last throughout your treatment plan it may interact with Femara treatment:. Working and your breast cancer in females like to know about using Femara to treat cancer... May help is trying to stay as active as possible or any products that have been with! That are stimulated by hormones, such as walking can help detect some blood cancers, but sometimes its off-label... To help strengthen your bones naturally of the more common side effects that help... Are lists of medications that can interact with Femara confirms that you had a mild allergic reaction some! 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Prescribed by a healthcare professional start taking the drug level in your body uses make! The cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your body produces less,! Sometimes it might be used to treat breast cancer have an excellent chance of after years! Increase the growth of some breast cancers that are taken by mouth once per day extreme tiredness, or while! Its possible that any side effect reported in people taking Femara with other drugs available.

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