Home Page > Categories > Cancer Treatment > Letrozole

Letrozole

 

Letrozole (generic Femara) Review

brand name: Femara
generic name: Letrozole

What is letrozole?

Letrozole blocks the use of estrogen by certain types of breast cancer that require estrogen to grow.

Letrozole is used with other medicines to treat breast cancer in women who have reached menopause.

Letrozole may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

What does my medication look like?

Letrozole is available with a prescription under the brand name Femara (Letrozole). Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Femara (Letrozole) 2.5 mg-round, dark yellow, film-coated tablets

• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, allergic reactions, drug interactions, warnings, precautions, directions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
• Remember, never share your medicines with others, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision Date: 2/27/06 11:24:05 AM.

Letrozole side effects

Stop using letrozole and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet.
• nausea; or
• fatigue, feeling weak;
• weight gain;
• night sweats;
• headache, muscle or joint pain;
• hot flashes, warmth or redness in your face or chest;

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Before using Femara (Letrozole) :

Some medical conditions may interact with Femara (Letrozole) . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

if you are still having menstrual periods or have not yet gone through menopause
• if you have severe liver disease
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, or dietary supplement
• if you are pregnant, herbal preparation, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Femara (Letrozole) may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Femara (Letrozole) . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Tamoxifen because it may decrease Femara (Letrozole) 's effectiveness

Important safety information:

• Femara (Letrozole) may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Femara with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Femara (Letrozole) may cause dizziness; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
• Lab tests, including bone mineral density tests, may be performed while you use Femara . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Femara (Letrozole) with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Femara should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Femara (Letrozole) if you are pregnant. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Femara is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Femara (Letrozole) , check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Do NOT use Femara (Letrozole) if:

you are allergic to any ingredient in Femara
• you are pregnant or may become pregnant

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.