The list below includes factors to consider. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. But some people may experience side effects while taking this drug. When you stop taking letrozole, most persistent side effects should improve within a week or 10 days, and 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. You may have questions about Femara and your treatment plan. However, if you think youre having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number. Dont take two doses together to make up for a missed dose. 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. When you take the drug, it stops androgens in your body from converting into estrogen. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Femara may cause reduced bone mineral density (weakened bones) in some people. Taking Femara can help you to become pregnant if youre trying to conceive (TTC), by either having sexual intercourse or using intrauterine insemination (IUI). Femara, which works by lowering your estrogen level, is prescribed for females* whove gone through menopause. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Femara. For this use, youll usually take the drug for 5 years following surgery to remove the cancer. 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. But this side effect wasnt reported in studies. Medically reviewed by Carmen Fookes, BPharm. No, Femara tablets should be swallowed whole. Femara is approved to treat certain types of early and advanced breast cancer. Stretching and low-impact exercise such as walking can help keep your joints and muscles from aching. Letrozole may be used: Your doctor will also advise when you should start having sex if youre trying to conceive (TTC) naturally. Examples of both mild and serious side effects that can occur when using Femara for infertility include: Youll usually take Femara by mouth once daily for 5 days after the start of your menstrual cycle. Swelling from Femara usually occurs in your arms, feet, hands, or legs. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. Keep reading to learn more. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care. Keeping cool with a fan or removing layers of clothing during hot flash episodes. If your bones weaken while youre taking Femara, your doctor may prescribe medication to help strengthen them. Severe liver problems can cause the level of Femara to build up in your body, which can raise your risk for side effects. All rights reserved. Stopping Femara isnt known to cause any withdrawal symptoms. No, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasnt approved Femara for use in bodybuilding. Off-label drug use is when a drug thats approved for one use is used for a different one thats not approved. . your doctor may . Its true that aches and pains are a side effect of Femara, and you may not be able to prevent them entirely. Although theyre not common side effects, in some cases, Femara can cause anxiety or depression. If you and your doctor determine that Femara is safe and effective for you, youll likely take it long term. Femara tablets come in one strength: 2.5 milligrams (mg). Femara and Arimidex (anastrozole) are both used to treat certain types of breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. But both drugs are usually taken for 5 days at the start of your menstrual cycle. This increases your risk of breaking a bone during Femara treatment. If youre pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor. Femara can stay in your system for several weeks after your last dose. Femara isnt approved to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). And talk with your doctor about ways to help improve your energy level during treatment. Femara is used in the following ways to treat advanced breast cancer: Femara has been found to be effective in treating advanced breast cancer. They may suggest an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), or a topical product, such as hydrocortisone cream, to manage your symptoms. This condition is called controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, or superovulation. What are the serious side effects of Femara? They may be able to suggest ways may help improve your energy level during your treatment. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. If you experienced side effects while taking Femara, those side effects may not go away for a few weeks after your last dose . The drugs work by lowering estrogen levels in your body, which helps stop breast cancer from growing. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more. You may also gain weight if you have swelling, which is another possible side effect of Femara. Female hormones that occur naturally in the body can increase the growth of some breast cancers. Some research from 2011 showed that Femara can help manage pain related to endometriosis. Chemotherapy is a type of cancer drug. But its not known for sure what symptoms you may have from overdose. PCOS is a condition that causes hormone problems, irregular or skipped periods, and cysts on your ovaries. If youve had an allergic reaction to Femara or any of its ingredients, you shouldnt take Femara. Serious side effects from Femara arent common, but they can occur. Like most drugs, Femara can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Learn. Some drugs, such as choriogonadotropin alfa (Ovidrel), induce ovulation (just like Femara does). Femara is a kind of hormone therapy. With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. https://www.drugs.com/pro/letrozole.html, Letrozole (Femara) Breast cancer now. Based on when your period begins, your doctor will advise you when to start treatment. PCOS is a condition that causes hormone problems, irregular or skipped periods, and cysts on your ovaries. If youre sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while youre using Femara. If you have serious side effects from Femara, call your doctor right away. reduced the number of deaths from breast cancer. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. If you have questions about whether its safe for you to drive or operate machinery during your treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Femara comes as 2.5-mg tablets that are taken by mouth. If you have questions or concerns about changes in your weight, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Letrozole is a pill, taken by mouth. * For more information about this side effect, see the "Side effect focus" section below. When talking with your doctor, you may want to ask the following questions: To learn more about breast cancer and its treatment options, sign up for Healthlines breast cancer newsletter. But because most breast cancers are HR+, Femara can also be used to treat advanced breast cancer whose HR status isnt known. This allows them to monitor how strong your bones are. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking letrozole: Less common. My doctor said Femara may cause hot flashes. Early-stage breast cancer that has been treated with tamoxifen citrate for at least 5 years. Taking medications, vaccines, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works. Femara and clomiphene work in slightly different ways in your body to induce ovulation. Your doctor will explain how you should take Femara, such as how much to take and how often. Am I at a higher risk for certain side effects from Femara? Femara is FDA-approved to treat advanced breast cancer thats hormone receptor-positive (HR+). 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. The half-life is the amount of time it takes for the drug level in your body to decrease by half. Coming off letrozole. But this was not one of the most common side effects reported in studies of the drug. Last updated on Sep 27, 2021. Sometimes your doctor may recommend that you take a higher dosage of Femara, such as 5 mg or 7.5 mg daily for 5 days. G n' J FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to Dreamthief Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. Should I use other breast cancer treatments while taking Femara? Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Breast Cancer Treatment: Why Some Older Patients May Not Need Radiation, TV Host Samantha Harris Says her Breast Cancer Was Misdiagnosed for Months. 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. Although allergic reaction wasnt reported in studies of Femara, it can still happen. Ovulation tends to occur between 5 and 10 days after youve taken your last Femara tablet. It works by killing cells in your body that multiply quickly. It should be safe to drink alcohol during your Femara treatment. They may want to prescribe medication to help protect your bones during your Femara treatment. Taking more than the recommended dosage of Femara may result in overdose in some people. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects. (Off-label use is when a drug thats approved for one condition is used to treat another.) Letrozole is approved to be used alone or with other drugs to treat: Breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have any of the following types of breast cancer--. Serious side effects, which are explained in more detail below in Side effect details, include: You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. All rights reserved. One way your doctor will monitor your bone strength is by measuring your bone mineral density. If you have questions about any symptoms after stopping Femara, talk with your doctor. If you have questions about the risks of Femara use in pregnancy, talk with your doctor. Bone fracture; breast pain; chest pain Melatonin and Breast Cancer: Is it Safe and Can it Help? Breast cancer cells may form a tumor in the breast and spread to other areas of the body. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. Your bones rely on estrogen to keep them strong. For more information about Femara, including details about the types of breast cancer it treats, see this in-depth article on the drug. Letrozole lowers the levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen in the body. The current stance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to avoid using expired medications. If so, this article on breast cancer treatment options may be helpful for you. However, clomiphene is FDA-approved for treating infertility in women. Your doctor will usually recommend using an ovulation predictor test to help you know when youre about to ovulate. You can do this for about 10 minutes a few times each day. Some side effects, such as osteoporosis (weakened bones), will not get better on their own, even after you stop taking Femara. These and other important considerations are discussed in more detail below. Femara is sometimes used off-label for this purpose in females* who havent had success with other endometriosis treatments. For more information about using Femara to treat infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. Your doctor may ask you to start taking the drug either on day 3 or day 5 of your menstrual cycle. Femara contains the active drug letrozole and is available as a generic drug called letrozole. But the drug could be harmful to a child who consumes it in breast milk. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. You should take Femara according to your doctors or another healthcare professionals instructions. Mild side effects of Femara can usually go away within a few days or a couple weeks. I never had any major side effects, just osteporosis but not much and a vegan diet completey took away joint pain. If youre already ovulating before taking Femara, the drug may cause more eggs than usual to mature and be released from your ovaries. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can happen when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on. Femara induces (causes) ovulation and can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Femaras prescribing information. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Read on to learn how to take Femara, what its uses and side effects are, and more. Some people start taking letrozole after a few years of taking the hormone therapy drug tamoxifen . It is usually used when you have been through a natural menopause. They can recommend you how much alcohol is safe for you to drink during Femara treatment. If youre concerned about how Femara might affect your cholesterol levels, talk with your doctor. If you have more questions about how Femara and clomiphene are alike and different, talk with your doctor. When you take Femara to induce (cause) ovulation, the drug is cleared from your body within several days after youve stopped taking it. (Enzymes help chemical reactions in your body to happen.). If you experienced side effects while taking Femara, those side effects may not go away for a few weeks after your last dose. But sometimes Femara is used off-label for other conditions. Plasma concentrations at steady state are 1.5 to 2 times higher than predicted from the concentrations measured after a single dose, indicating a slight non-linearity in the And let your doctor know if you have more questions about these medications. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. Femara is classified as an aromatase inhibitor. Letrozole (Femara ) is a hormonal therapy drug used to treat breast cancer. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Femara is used off-label to treat infertility in females. What Types of Breast Cancer Have the Highest Recurrence Rates? You should also talk with them if youre breastfeeding or considering breastfeeding. Heres some detail on several of the side effects this drug cause. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. 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