What should be considered before taking Femara? Be sure to always take Femara exactly as your doctor recommends. Taking more than the recommended dosage of Femara may result in overdose in some people. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Femaras prescribing information. Femara is meant to be used as a long-term treatment for breast cancer. Your doctor can recommend treatment options other than Femara. All rights reserved. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Letrozole only works in women who have had their menopause. Femara can be an effective treatment option for certain types of breast cancer. It works by lowering the level of estrogen in your body. See Femaras prescribing information for details. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. The standard Femara dosage is the same for all types of breast cancer the drug is used to treat. Its possible that any side effect of Femara may last throughout your treatment. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. 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. One way your doctor will monitor your bone strength is by measuring your bone mineral density. But try to always stick to the same time each day. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. No, Femara isnt a form of chemotherapy. All rights reserved. You may also be able to ease headaches by applying an ice pack or heating pad to your head. Letrozole works by decreasing the amounts of these hormones in the body. But the drug could be harmful to a child who consumes it in breast milk. Femara can decrease bone mineral density in some people. Femara and clomiphene are both used to stimulate ovulation in females who are having trouble becoming pregnant. Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. This stops estrogen from being able to stimulate breast cancer cells to grow and multiply. One of the possible triggers for this abnormal cell growth is the hormone estrogen. Femara and Arimidex (anastrozole) are both used to treat certain types of breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. 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). If you have questions about using Femara to treat infertility, talk with your doctor. But serious side effects are more likely to last longer. Learn. Most people are given letrozole for 5 years, but some will take it for up to 10 years. Not taking letrozole for the recommended time may increase the risk of your breast cancer coming back. (Day 1 of your menstrual cycle is the first day of your period.) Femara is used off-label for this purpose. Your bones rely on estrogen to keep them strong. Be sure to always take the dosage of Femara thats prescribed by your doctor. Serious side effects of Femara that have been reported include: Learn more about some of the side effects Femara may cause. I had no radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Cancer cells usually increase in number more quickly than healthy cells. Learn more. Femara isnt currently approved to treat infertility in females. This is because drinking a lot of alcohol can increase your risk of osteoporosis, which is already increased by the drug. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe Femara after youve taken tamoxifen for your cancer for at least 5 years. How do Femaras side effects compare with those of other cancer drugs? Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. You should not stop taking Letrozole without discussing with your physician. How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer: 10 Lifestyle Recommendations, Symptoms of Late Stage Metastatic Breast Cancer, What to Know and Consider Before Having Prophylactic Mastectomy. Femara can stay in your system for several weeks after your last dose. You shouldnt take Femara unless its been prescribed by a healthcare professional. These effects are called interactions. reduced the number of deaths from breast cancer. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Femara. Or if youre using IUI, you doctor will recommend when you should go into the clinic for artificial insemination. improved overall survival. Femara can stay in your system for several weeks after your last dose. It works by stopping an enzyme (type of protein) called aromatase from working as usual. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Femaras prescribing information. Femara can stay in your system after you stop taking the drug. Its available in one strength: 2.5 mg. For information on the effectiveness of Femara, see the Femara uses section below. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. This means that chemotherapy can affect both cancer cells and healthy cells. This condition is called controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, or superovulation. Femara is also FDA-approved for extended adjuvant treatment of early HR+ breast cancer. Letrozole is a pill, taken by mouth. Your doctor will usually recommend using an ovulation predictor test to help you know when youre about to ovulate. But its not known how often this occurs in people using Femara. Femara has been found to be effective in treating early breast cancer. Maintaining a moderate weight. Femara comes as tablets that are taken by mouth. Before taking Femara, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Letrozole is usually taken for 5 years, but may be recommended for up to 10 years depending on individual circumstances. Femara, which works by lowering your estrogen level, is prescribed for females* whove gone through menopause. Melatonin and Breast Cancer: Is it Safe and Can it Help? For this purpose, Femara is usually used to help lower the risk of the cancer coming back after its been removed by surgery. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Femaras prescribing information. No, Femara tablets should be swallowed whole. If you have questions or concerns about using Femara for infertility, talk with your doctor. You may also gain weight if you have swelling, which is another possible side effect of Femara. One example of an androgen is the hormone testosterone. You should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while youre taking Femara. However, stopping Femara treatment isnt known to cause new side effects. your doctor may . Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. Its typically used in combination with a progestin hormone for this use. Femara contains the active drug letrozole and is available as a generic drug called letrozole. People being treated for primary breast cancer will usually take letrozole for five to ten years. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use its online resource. * However, the drug may be used off-label for this purpose. The highest dose of Femara for fertility treatment hasnt been determined. This allows them to monitor how strong your bones are. If you have a certain type of breast cancer, your doctor might suggest Femara (letrozole) as a treatment option. So researchers wanted to know if taking an aromatase inhibitor for 10 years would offer more benefits than taking one for 5 years. If your cholesterol gets too high during your Femara treatment, your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication, such as a statin. Visit Medicine Assistance Tool to find programs that may help lower your cost of Femara. A medication timer may be useful, too. It works by killing cells in your body that multiply quickly. * Its mainly used when infertility is caused by problems with ovulation (the release of eggs from your ovaries). 1 Some fertility experts recommend taking the pills on days 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of your cycle. What can I do to help prevent the aches and pains that Ive heard are a side effect of taking Femara? However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Do I have a higher risk for side effects than other people taking Femara. If you have questions about how Femara may affect your bone density, talk with your doctor. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing. And there are other drugs used to treat infertility that do other things in your body. If youd like to know more about treatment options for infertility, talk with your doctor. If you have serious side effects from Femara, call your doctor right away. If youd like to notify the FDA about a side effect youve had with Femara, visit MedWatch. Learn more. 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. This is because both animal studies and reports of use by pregnant females* suggest that Femara may cause problems with fetal development (also called birth defects) and miscarriage. 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 stays in your body for about 10 days after you stop taking the drug. A 2014 study found Femara to be more effective than clomiphene in treating infertility in women with PCOS. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you. Can Breast Cancer Be Detected in a Complete Blood Count (CBC)? 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. Off-label drug use is when a drug thats approved for one use is used for a different one thats not approved. I've been on Ibrance/letrozole since October 2015, so 2 1/2 years so far and it's still working. And you should continue to avoid breastfeeding for at least 3 weeks after your last dose of the drug. If you find the side effects ease within the two weeks they may try you on Anastrozole or even Exemstane. 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. Nausea. These and other important considerations are discussed in more detail below. Femara may be used off-label to treat infertility due to PCOS and other causes. The actual price youll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use. Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable. And ovulation problems commonly happen because of a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This signals your pituitary gland to release hormones called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). If youre interested in finding an alternative to Femara, talk with your doctor. And they want you to get the best care possible. Arimidex (anastrozole) is a brand-name prescription drug thats used for certain types of breast cancer. Femara should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Swelling from Femara usually occurs in your arms, feet, hands, or legs. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Femara. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. Both Femara and clomiphene may be prescribed to treat female* infertility. But if they become more severe or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Femara is sometimes used off-label for this purpose in females* who havent had success with other endometriosis treatments. You can also visit the Femara manufacturers website to see if there are support options. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. And because Femara also lowers your estrogen level, the drug can add to this effect. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. If youre not sure if youll need to get prior authorization for Femara, contact your insurance company. For more information about using Femara to treat infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. Femara can stay in your system after you stop taking the drug. If you have osteoporosis or risk factors* for developing this condition, talk with your doctor before starting Femara. For details about how side effects for these drugs compare, see the Arimidex vs. letrozole section of this article. Coming off letrozole. No, you likely wont. (With osteoporosis, you have weak, thin bones.). These breast cancers are called hormone sensitive or hormone receptor positive. Femara belongs to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before taking Femara, talk with your doctor about your health history. How does Arimidex work? Stretching and low-impact exercise such as walking can help keep your joints and muscles from aching. If you experience side effects that dont go way or interfere with your daily life, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. For hot flashes, you should first try to relieve symptoms through lifestyle changes. Letrozole can stop or slow the growth of these cancers. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. If you miss a dose of Femara, take it as soon as you remember, unless its almost time for your next dose. For this purpose, tamoxifen must have been used for at least 5 years. To find out how often these side effects occurred in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. Because these drugs work in the same way, their side effects are very similar. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. Some people taking Femara may experience weight gain. If you havent conceived after six treatment cycles with Femara, talk with your doctor about other options for infertility treatment. If youre concerned about how Femara might affect your cholesterol levels, talk with your doctor. Allergic reaction. Your doctor might ask you to take Femara on either cycle days 3 to 7 or cycle days 5 to 9. Lumpectomy and mastectomy are different types of cancer surgery that remove cancer cells from the breast. Taking a Break From Letrozole Therapy After Breast Cancer. If you dont understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you. A hot shower or bath may also provide some headache relief. Femara contains the drug letrozole. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. 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. If youre breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before you start taking Femara. It should be safe to drink alcohol during your Femara treatment. Femara may cause fatigue (lack of energy) in some people. This can make your bones weaker and easier to break. Breast cancers that are stimulated by hormones, such as estrogen, are called hormone receptor-positive (HR+). My doctor said Femara may cause hot flashes. Femara and clomiphene work in slightly different ways in your body to induce ovulation. Femara induces (causes) ovulation and can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. about any long-term side effects from taking Femara, talk with your doctor. See the sections Femara for advanced breast cancer and Femara for adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer below for more information. These lists do not contain all the drugs that may interact with Femara. 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. Cancer, your location, and 7 of your period. ) used as a substitute for latest... Will usually recommend using an ovulation predictor test to help prevent the aches and pains that Ive heard a. That have been reported include: learn more about treatment options other than Femara disclaimer: Healthline made! 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