Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Femara. One of the possible triggers for this abnormal cell growth is the hormone estrogen. This helps stop breast cancer from growing. If you have questions about the risks of Femara use in pregnancy, talk with your doctor. This allows them to monitor how strong your bones are. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? So, side effects that you have while taking Femara may continue for a few weeks after you stop using it. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes the breast cancer medication tamoxifen. And they want you to get the best care possible. When used for this purpose, Femara helps lower the risk of your cancer coming back. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. 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. Learn the signs and symptoms of metastasis, how you can make yourself as comfortable as possible, and tips for managing end-of-life symptoms. Letrozole Information for Healthcare Professionals, Letrozole Updated 11/2020. Your doctor will order blood tests to check your cholesterol levels before you begin taking Femara and during your treatment. Femara is meant to be used as a long-term treatment for breast cancer. All rights reserved. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. (Day 1 of your menstrual cycle is the first day of your period.) If you dont understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you. This is because if you havent gotten pregnant after six treatment cycles, its likely that this drug wont work for you. This means that chemotherapy can affect both cancer cells and healthy cells. Letrozole can stop or slow the growth of these cancers. This increases your risk of breaking a bone during Femara treatment. . More specifically, Femara is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. The drug works by lowering estrogen levels in your body, which helps stop breast cancer from growing. Other drugs are available that can treat breast cancer. So, dont be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment. Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable. Pet and bone scans show no metastatic activity (again, so far) so fingers crossed it keeps working. It may also be used when someone is premenopausal and having treatment to stop the ovaries working (temporary menopause). They both do the same job but Anastrozole is the more similar tablet so could well have similar side effects - You could ask about the Exemestane which I think are steroid based ? And dont stop taking Femara unless your doctor recommends it. The highest dose of Femara for fertility treatment hasnt been determined. HR+ breast cancer is encouraged to grow by hormones, including estrogen. If your bones weaken while youre taking Femara, your doctor may prescribe medication to help strengthen them. These effects are called interactions. Femara is a prescription drug used in adult females* whove gone through menopause. Nausea. Femara may be used off-label to treat infertility due to PCOS and other causes. The standard Femara dosage is the same for all types of breast cancer the drug is used to treat. Its also worth noting that alcohol is known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Generic forms of Femara are available. If your cholesterol gets too high during your Femara treatment, your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication, such as a statin. Does letrozole affect blood sugar levels? Can diet help improve depression symptoms? For this purpose, tamoxifen must have been used for at least 5 years. Its a type of drug called an aromatase inhibitor. Heres a list of some of the mild side effects that Femara can cause. If youd like to know more about treatment options for infertility, talk with your doctor. Serious side effects from Femara arent common, but they can occur. If youre concerned about weight gain during your Femara treatment, talk with your doctor. Most doctors wont prescribe Femara for more than six cycles of treatment. What could happen if I become pregnant during my Femara treatment? Talk with your doctor if youre pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. (With dependence, your body needs the drug in order to function like usual.) And some may be easily managed, too. The usual dosage of Femara for breast cancer treatment is one tablet taken by mouth once each day. Femara may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. This stops estrogen from being able to stimulate breast cancer cells to grow and multiply. * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. The half-life of Femara is about 2 days. Femara is a hormone therapy thats approved to treat certain forms of breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. Femara and clomiphene work in slightly different ways in your body to induce ovulation. Femara may cause hair loss in some people. The greater the density, the stronger your bones are. Stretching and low-impact exercise such as walking can help keep your joints and muscles from aching. But sometimes the drug is used off-label in people with this condition. In studies, this was a common side effect reported in people taking the drug. You may take Letrozole with or without food. Weight gain was a common side effect in studies of Femara. Femara tablets come in one strength: 2.5 milligrams (mg). So, chemotherapy can affect both healthy cells and cancer cells. After menopause, your body produces less estrogen, which can weaken your bones. Stopping Femara isnt known to cause any withdrawal symptoms. 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. * However, its sometimes used off-label for this use. All rights reserved. Learn about side effects, warnings, dosage. Femara has been found to be effective in treating early breast cancer. Below are brief descriptions of each type of breast cancer Femara is used to treat: Before taking Femara, its important to talk with your doctor about your overall health and other medical conditions you have. Early-stage breast cancer that has been treated with tamoxifen citrate for at least 5 years. If you have questions about using Femara, talk with your doctor. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. These lists dont include all possible side effects. But sometimes the drug is used off-label to treat infertility in females* with PCOS. If your doctor thinks Femara has stopped working for you, talk with them about whether stopping treatment could be beneficial for you. You can do this for about 10 minutes a few times each day. 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. If you find the side effects ease within the two weeks they may try you on Anastrozole or even Exemstane. If you would like to report to the FDA a side effect youve had with Femara, you can do so through MedWatch. They can help determine if you should keep taking Femara or switch to a different treatment. This use of the drug is called ovulation induction. Its available in one strength: 2.5 mg. For information on the effectiveness of Femara, see the Femara uses section below. Read on to learn how to take Femara, what its uses and side effects are, and more. You should also talk with them if youre breastfeeding or considering breastfeeding. Dont take two doses together to make up for a missed dose. But after menopause, your estrogen levels fall, which can weaken your bones. They may want to prescribe medication to help protect your bones during your Femara treatment. These cancers can be treated with hormone therapies that work by lowering estrogen levels in your body. Precautions. Sometimes it might be used to treat breast cancer in men. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. There are also some things you can do to help minimize loss of bone strength while youre taking Femara. During clinical studies, both weight gain and weight loss were reported in people who took Femara for breast cancer treatment. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Its typically used in combination with a progestin hormone for this use. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Femara. A study has found that taking Femara for 10 years instead of 5: reduces the risk of recurrence. If you have breast cancer, your doctor might prescribe Femara for you. (Day 1 of your menstrual cycle is the first of your period.) No, Femara isnt a chemotherapy drug. They can recommend some ways to manage this side effect. Talk with your doctor if you have bothersome spotting while taking Femara. For more information about using Femara to treat infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. The mild side effects of Femara that are more common* can include: The mild side effects of Femara that are less common** can include: * Occurred in more than 20% of people in clinical studies ** Occurred in 20% or less of people in clinical studies. Breast cancers that are stimulated by hormones, such as estrogen, are called hormone receptor-positive (HR+). Some people start taking letrozole after a few years of taking the hormone therapy drug tamoxifen . And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking letrozole: Less common. If you do drink alcohol while taking Femara, you might be more likely to experience: If you plan to drink alcohol while taking Femara, talk with your doctor about how much may be safe for you to drink. The most common cause of ovulation problems that result in infertility is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). But Femara is also sometimes used to treat infertility that doesnt have an obvious cause. Femara can stay in your system for several weeks after your last dose. If you have questions about how Femara may affect your bone density, talk with your doctor. However, if you think youre having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number. This is because the drug can stay in your system for about 7 days after you stop the treatment. And because Femara also lowers your estrogen level, the drug can add to this effect. Breast Cancer Treatment: Why Some Older Patients May Not Need Radiation, TV Host Samantha Harris Says her Breast Cancer Was Misdiagnosed for Months. Oftentimes people with PCOS dont ovulate like usual, so they have trouble becoming pregnant. Femara may cause fatigue (lack of energy) in some people. The following drugs should not be used while youre taking Femara: There arent any herbs or supplements that have been specifically reported to interact with Femara. If you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend that you take one tablet every other day. Breast cancer develops when cells in your breast tissue start to grow and multiply more quickly than usual. (To learn more, see Is Femara used for infertility? right above.) But if they become more severe or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. Swelling caused by Femara typically occurs in your arms, feet, hands, or legs. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. If youd like to know about using Femara for these purposes, talk with your doctor. However, if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room. Most people who use Femara take the drug for at least 5 years. Although theyre not common side effects, in some cases, Femara can cause anxiety or depression. In this article, learn about, Breast cancer, which mainly affects females, is common. Femara is used in the following ways to treat advanced breast cancer: Femara has been found to be effective in treating advanced breast cancer. 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