Brand : LETROZ (Femara, Letrozole)
Drug Information provided by: Micromedex
US Brand Names : Femara
Description
Letrozole is used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women.
Female hormones that occur naturally in the body can increase the growth
of some breast cancers. Letrozole works by decreasing the amounts of
these hormones in the body. This medicine is meant to be used only by
women who have already stopped menstruating.This medicine is available
only with your doctor's prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience
may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although
these uses are not included in product labeling, letrozole is used in
certain patients with the following medical conditions:
* Breast cancer that is hormone receptor-positive in women who have
already gone through menopause (treatment before surgery) .This product
is available in the following dosage forms: Tablet
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must
be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your
doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction
to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional
if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives,
or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package
ingredients carefully.
Geriatric
This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different
effects in older women than in younger adults.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category Explanation
All Trimesters D Studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the
fetus. However, the benefits of therapy in a life threatening situation or
a serious disease, may outweigh the potential risk.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when
using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits
against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other
cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction
might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose,
or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional
if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter
[OTC]) medicine.
Other Interactions LETROZ (Femara, Letrozole)
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating
food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using
alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions
to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine
with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems,
especially:
* Cirrhosis or
* Kidney disease or
* Liver disease or
* Severe liver disease—Problems are not likely to occur in people with
mild kidney or liver disease. However, the dose of letrozole should be reduced
in patients with cirrhosis and severe liver disease
Proper Use
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more
of it, and do not take it more often than your doctor ordered.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients.
Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following
information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your
dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do
so.The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the
medicine. 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.
* For oral dosage form (tablets):
o For breast cancer:
+ Adults—One 2.5–milligram tablet a day.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However,
if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go
back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from
heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.Keep out of the
reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular
visits to make sure that the medicine is working properly and does not
cause unwanted effects. This medicine may cause you to become dizzy or
drowsy; use caution if you are driving an automobile or using machinery
.
Side Effects
More common
* Shortness of breath Less common * Chest pain Rare
* Continuing or severe nervousness
* Cough
* Dizziness or lightheadedness
* Fainting
* Fast heartbeat
* Heart attack
* Increased sweating
* Nausea
* Pain in chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves
* Severe, sudden headache
* Slurred speech
* Severe and sudden, unexplained shortness of breath
* Sudden loss of coordination
* Sudden, severe weakness or numbness in arm or leg
* Vision changes
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side
effects occur:
Less common
* Bone fracture
* Breast pain
* Chills, fever, or flu-like symptoms
* Mental depression
* Swelling of feet or lower legs
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts
to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell
you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check
with your health care professional if any of the following side effects
continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
* Anxiety * Confusion * Constipation * Diarrhea
* Dry mouth * Headache
* Increased thirst and urination * Loss of appetite or weight loss
* Metallic taste * Skin rash or itching * Sleepiness
* Spinning or whirling sensation causing loss of balance
* Stomach pain or upset
* Trouble sleeping
* Unusual tiredness
* Vomiting
* Weakness
* Weight gain
Letrozole sometimes causes a loss of hair.
