Some research from 2011 showed that Femara can help manage pain related to endometriosis. These hormones stimulate an egg in your ovary to mature and be released from your ovary. Serious side effects of Femara that have been reported include: Learn more about some of the side effects Femara may cause. Like other drugs, Femara can cause mild or serious side effects. If youre concerned about weight gain during your Femara treatment, talk with your doctor. And because Femara also lowers your estrogen level, the drug can add to this effect. 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--. Other drugs are available that can treat breast cancer. For some people, Femara may cause fatigue or dizziness. You should not stop taking Letrozole without discussing with your physician. They can recommend you how much alcohol is safe for you to drink during Femara treatment. In this article, learn about, Breast cancer, which mainly affects females, is common. See the sections Femara for advanced breast cancer and Femara for adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer below for more information. These types of therapies stop estrogen from encouraging breast cancer cells to grow. One thing that may help is trying to stay as active as possible. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. They may recommend that you take Femara after youve had surgery to remove early breast cancer.With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread beyond your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. What can I do to help relieve this side effect? Below youll find answers to some frequently asked questions about Femaras side effects. Generic forms of Femara are available. Letrozole works by decreasing the amounts of these hormones in the body. You actually will have a decrease in the effects of the Femara (letrozole) which are joint pain, hot flashes, fatigue and generalized dryness. Here are some common questions about taking Femara tablets. These include: Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Femara, see the Femara side effects section above. Sometimes it might be used to treat breast cancer in men. These cancers can be treated with hormone therapies that work by lowering estrogen levels in your body. This is because the drug can stay in your system for about 7 days after you stop the treatment. Theyre sometimes used by some women to help manage menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. This can make your bones weaker and easier to break. Mild side effects of many . 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. But both drugs are usually taken for 5 days at the start of your menstrual cycle. Before taking Femara, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. 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. Its meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. So, side effects that you have while taking Femara may continue for a few weeks after you stop using it. 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 1 Some fertility experts recommend taking the pills on days 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of your cycle. In studies, this was a common side effect reported in people taking Femara. Femara is used in the following ways for early HR+ breast cancer: Femara is used in the following ways for advanced breast cancer thats either HR+ or whose hormone receptor status isnt known: * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. It works by lowering the amount of estrogen your body makes. Its also worth noting that alcohol is known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer. reduces the risk of a new breast cancer . Its possible that any side effect of Femara may last throughout your treatment. Off-label use is when a drug thats approved to treat one condition is used to treat a different condition. They can help determine if you should keep taking Femara or switch to a different treatment. In addition, a small study found that Femara may be effective in treating infertility in men who have both obesity and low testosterone levels. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. What should be considered before taking Femara? When Femara is used off-label to treat infertility, the drug doesnt increase the risk of birth defects or miscarriage. The list below includes factors to consider. All rights reserved. For more information about using Femara to treat infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. All rights reserved. If you have questions about using Femara to treat infertility, talk with your doctor. However, this particular treatment approach isnt right for everyone. Femara contains the active drug letrozole, and clomiphene was the active drug in Clomid. You should talk with your doctor to discuss which hot flash treatments are best for you. 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. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Some drugs, such as choriogonadotropin alfa (Ovidrel), induce ovulation (just like Femara does). For hot flashes, you should first try to relieve symptoms through lifestyle changes. When you take the drug, it stops androgens in your body from converting into estrogen. If you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend that you take one tablet every other day. November 24, 2017. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking letrozole: Less common. Cancer cells usually increase in number more quickly than healthy cells. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Femara to treat certain conditions. You may want to ask about other treatments for breast cancer. But 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). 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. Its a type of drug called an aromatase inhibitor. Keeping cool with a fan or removing layers of clothing during hot flash episodes. Talk with your doctor if youre pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed. If you have serious side effects from Femara, call your doctor right away. What should I know about Femara vs. Arimidex? So researchers wanted to know if taking an aromatase inhibitor for 10 years would offer more benefits than taking one for 5 years. Breast Cancer Treatment: Why Some Older Patients May Not Need Radiation, TV Host Samantha Harris Says her Breast Cancer Was Misdiagnosed for Months. . The usual dosage of Femara for inducing ovulation is 2.5 mg taken by mouth once daily for 5 days. Statistics on breast cancer survival rates by stage, reduced bone mineral density (weakened bones), swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet, swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, whether youre using Femara with other fertility treatments, spotting (light vaginal bleeding between periods), rarely, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which occurs when more eggs than usual develop in your ovaries, the condition youre taking Femara to treat. Trying mental and stress-relief activities such as. Hi Dancey, i came across your post because I just stopped taking letrozole. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Your doctor may ask you to start taking the drug either on day 3 or day 5 of your menstrual cycle. This was common in clinical studies of the drug. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. After youve gone through menopause, your ovaries no longer produce estrogen. Letrozole may be used: You can also visit the Femara manufacturers website to see if there are support options. For this use, youll usually take Femara for 5 years after youve already taken tamoxifen for 5 years following surgery to remove the cancer. Liver problems. Spotting refers to slight vaginal bleeding when you arent having your period. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use its online resource. This condition can become very painful and may lead to infertility in some people. Below are lists of medications that can interact with Femara. This signals your pituitary gland to release hormones called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). But if you think youre having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. The standard Femara dosage is the same for all types of breast cancer the drug is used to treat. Femara is used in the following ways to treat advanced breast cancer: Femara has been found to be effective in treating advanced breast cancer. A hot shower or bath may also provide some headache relief. Chemotherapy describes traditional drugs used to treat cancer. Use of the term female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. Swelling, another common side effect of Femara, can cause you to gain weight as your body holds on to water. Femara and clomiphene work in slightly different ways in your body to induce ovulation. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. If youd like to know about using Femara for this purpose, talk with your doctor. 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