For information on how Femara performed in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. 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. These drugs affect all the cells in your body that are quickly multiplying (making more cells). You should take Letrozole at about the same time each day. Femara induces (causes) ovulation and can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Side effects usually improve after a few months as your body gets used to the medicine. If youre concerned about weight gain while taking Femara, talk with your doctor. The greater the density, the stronger your bones are. How to Use Letrozole for Fertility Femara (letrozole) is offered in 2.5-milligram yellow, film-coated tablets. The actual price youll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. But its not known how often this occurs in people using Femara. In that case, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. Melatonin and Breast Cancer: Is it Safe and Can it Help? The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Femara may cause. Learn more about some of the side effects that Femara may cause. Its a hormone therapy for breast cancer. Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. Below are lists of medications that can interact with Femara. Heres some detail on several of the side effects this drug cause. Letrozole can stop or slow the growth of these cancers. 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. And some may be easily managed, too. (Letrozole is the active drug in Femara.) This condition can become very painful and may lead to infertility in some people. The Femara dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. PCOS is a condition that causes hormone problems, irregular or skipped periods, and cysts on your ovaries. For details about how side effects for these drugs compare, see the Arimidex vs. letrozole section of this article. And this medication doesnt need to be stopped gradually. By stopping aromatase from working, Femara lowers the amount of estrogen in your body. But some people may experience side effects while taking this drug. But studies comparing the two drugs have found slightly differing results. Femara isnt currently approved to treat infertility in females. If you have fatigue or dizziness while youre taking Femara, dont drive or operate other machines. Femara and clomiphene are both used to stimulate ovulation in females who are having trouble becoming pregnant. Clomid was a brand-name drug thats no longer available. During your Femara treatment, consider keeping notes about any side effects youre having. For more information about using Femara to treat infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. Off-label use is when a drug thats approved to treat one condition is used to treat another condition. This article explains how the foods you eat affect your estrogen levels and covers what dietary patterns are associated with elevated, as well as, Researchers say radiation treatments for breast cancer in women over the age of 65 do not appear to affect the rate of survival, The former Dancing with the Stars host shares how becoming her own advocate saved her life and why she's passionate about sharing the benefits of, New research suggests that melatonin may help lower the risk of breast cancer, slow the growth of breast cancer, and help make breast cancer. Femara has been found effective for treating certain types of breast cancer. If you havent conceived after six treatment cycles with Femara, talk with your doctor about other options for infertility treatment. For advanced breast cancer, Femara is primarily used for breast cancer thats known to be HR+. Learn. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing. If you think youve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. The highest dose of Femara for fertility treatment hasnt been determined. If you have questions or concerns about this potential side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove breast tissue. Be sure to always take the dosage of Femara thats prescribed by your doctor. So, side effects that you have while taking Femara may continue for a few weeks after you stop using it. If you have breast cancer, you may be wondering if it's safe to practice yoga. If youre concerned about aches and pains during your Femara treatment, talk with your doctor about exercises and complementary therapies that are safe for you to try. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Femara, which works by lowering your estrogen level, is prescribed for females* whove gone through menopause. 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. Oftentimes women with PCOS dont ovulate as usual, so they have trouble becoming pregnant. Taking Femara can cause high cholesterol in some people. But if you think youre having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. After surgery, the women were randomly assigned to one of four groups: 5 years of letrozole (letrozole monotherapy), 5 years of tamoxifen (tamoxifen monotherapy), or one of the two sequential treatment groups. They can help determine if you should keep taking Femara or switch to a different treatment. But this side effect wasnt reported in studies. PCOS is a condition that causes hormone problems, irregular or skipped periods, and cysts on your ovaries. Learn about side effects, warnings, dosage. All rights reserved. If you have breast cancer, your doctor might prescribe Femara for you. Femara comes as 2.5-mg tablets that are taken by mouth. If you drink alcohol while taking Femara, you may be at a higher risk for these side effects, which can include: If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the amount thats safe for you while taking Femara. So, side effects that you have while taking Femara may continue for a few weeks after you stop using it. 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. 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. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. Your doctor will order blood tests to check your cholesterol levels before you begin taking Femara and during your treatment. Letrozole lowers the levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen in the body. After five years, last September, my GP said that I should stop takingt the Letrozole, but could not answer any of my questions, e.g. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. What are the mild side effects of Femara? Serious side effects from Femara can occur, but they arent common. Not taking letrozole for the recommended time may increase the risk of your breast cancer coming back. Bone fracture; breast pain; chest pain (A drug class is a group of medications that work in a similar way.). Talk with your doctor about how long you should take Femara for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. If you have more questions about how Femara and clomiphene are alike and different, talk with your doctor. These effects are called interactions. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. ChildrenUse and dose must be determined by your doctor. During clinical studies, both weight gain and weight loss were reported in people who took Femara for breast cancer treatment. Femara is a prescription drug used in adult females* whove gone through menopause. Spotting refers to slight vaginal bleeding when you arent having your period. Learn more. Serious side effects from Femara arent common, but they can occur. 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. If you drink alcohol and youre concerned about how this might affect your condition, talk with your doctor. 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--. 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. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. hot flashes flushed skin increased sweating joint pain weakness edema (swelling), possibly in your ankles or feet headache dizziness bone pain The mild side effects of Femara that are less. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. The list below includes factors to consider. Dont take two doses together to make up for a missed dose. . For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. For example, they may order imaging tests to see if your cancer tumors are shrinking. Femara may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. You should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while youre taking Femara. November 24, 2017. The current stance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to avoid using expired medications. Nausea. Studies conducted by maxillofacial surgeons have shown that most of the free-flowing chemical in the bloodstream is eliminated in approximately three to four months. A generic drug is an exact copy of a brand-name medication. No, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasnt approved Femara for use in bodybuilding. If your bones become weak during treatment, your doctor may prescribe medication for you to help strengthen your bones. These can include: If these changes dont ease your symptoms of hot flashes, you may need to take medication. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. If your doctor gives you the OK, here's a gentle routine to try. Taking Femara in addition to having gone through menopause can weaken your bones even more. 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. If your doctor confirms that you had a serious allergic reaction to Femara, they may have you switch to a different treatment. Be sure to always take Femara exactly as your doctor recommends. But if they become more severe or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Its not known if Femara passes into breast milk. See Femaras prescribing information for details. Female hormones that occur naturally in the body can increase the growth of some breast cancers. And because Femara also lowers your estrogen level, the drug can add to this effect. 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