Femara induces (causes) ovulation and can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. 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. When estrogen is blocked, the pituitary gland gets a message that it needs to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the ovary to produce an egg. Femara can stay in your system after you stop taking the drug. If you are not tolerating it well due to side effects, sometimes temporarily stopping it or switching to another hormone drug may be considered. For these women, infertility may be caused by problems with ovulation, or it may not have an obvious cause (called unexplained infertility). Femara will start working soon after you start taking it. The half-life is the amount of time it takes for the drug level in your body to decrease by half. In studies, this was a common side effect reported in people taking the drug. No, you likely wont. In other words, it takes about 2 days for your body to get rid of half of a Femara dose. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include: A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. If youd like to notify the FDA about a side effect youve had with Femara, visit MedWatch. These hormones stimulate an egg in your ovary to mature and be released from your ovary. They work by lowering estrogen levels within your body, which helps stop the growth of breast cancer. You may also gain weight if you have swelling, which is another possible side effect of Femara. Femara induces (causes) ovulation and can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Early-stage breast cancer that has been treated with tamoxifen citrate for at least 5 years. But more research is needed to know whether higher doses of Femara are more effective than lower doses. Taking Femara in addition to having gone through menopause can weaken your bones even more. (With osteoporosis, you have weak, thin bones.). Because these drugs work in the same way, their side effects are very similar. For details about how side effects for these drugs compare, see the Arimidex vs. letrozole section of this article. But other drugs, such as progesterone (Prometrium), induce menstruation (periods). You actually will have a decrease in the effects of the Femara (letrozole) which are joint pain, hot flashes, fatigue and generalized dryness. Learn the signs and symptoms of metastasis, how you can make yourself as comfortable as possible, and tips for managing end-of-life symptoms. If your doctor confirms that you had a serious allergic reaction to Femara, they may have you switch to a different treatment. This condition is called controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, or superovulation. HR+ breast cancer is encouraged to grow by hormones, including estrogen. Female hormones that occur naturally in the body can increase the growth of some breast cancers. These types of therapies stop estrogen from encouraging breast cancer cells to grow. This may happen more often if used for a long time. ChildrenUse and dose must be determined by your doctor. Another 2019 review of studies found Femara and clomiphene to be similarly effective in treating unexplained infertility. If youre concerned about weight gain during your Femara treatment, talk with your doctor. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. 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--. If you have trouble swallowing Femara tablets, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about ways to help make it easier for you to take your medication. Dont take two doses together to make up for a missed dose. If youre taking Femara, your doctor may want to measure your bone mineral density. But after menopause, your estrogen levels fall, which can weaken your bones. In that case, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. And the drug doesnt need to be stopped gradually to prevent side effects from occurring. You should also talk with them if youre breastfeeding or considering breastfeeding. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. The following drugs should not be used while youre taking Femara: There arent any herbs or supplements that have been specifically reported to interact with Femara. Serious side effects from Femara can occur, but they arent common. For hot flashes, you should first try to relieve symptoms through lifestyle changes. Novartis, the maker of letrozole, provided funding for the trial, along with NCI and the International Breast Cancer Study Group. 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. However, if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room. Some that are rare (occurring in less than 10% of patients) are not listed here. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Femaras prescribing information. International guidelines recommend letrozole (the active drug in Femara) as an effective treatment for infertility. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you need financial support to pay for Femara, help is available. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects. Before taking Femara, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Visit Medicine Assistance Tool to find programs that may help lower your cost of Femara. Femara may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. Pet and bone scans show no metastatic activity (again, so far) so fingers crossed it keeps working. . Below are brief descriptions of each type of breast cancer Femara is used to treat: Before taking Femara, its important to talk with your doctor about your overall health and other medical conditions you have. It only has these risks if its taken when youre already pregnant. It works by stopping an enzyme (type of protein) called aromatase from working as usual. 1 Some fertility experts recommend taking the pills on days 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of your cycle. Hormone therapies stop estrogen from encouraging breast cancer cells to grow. Use of the term male in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. The greater the density, the stronger your bones are. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend some ways to manage this side effect. And you shouldnt become pregnant or breastfeed for at least 3 weeks after your last dose of the drug. In this article, learn about, Breast cancer, which mainly affects females, is common. However, if you find that Femara gives you a headache, or makes you feel dizzy, nauseous, or tired, drinking alcohol may worsen these side effects. These breast cancers are called hormone sensitive or hormone receptor positive. Off-label drug use is when a drug thats approved for one use is used for a different one thats not approved. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your doctor will usually recommend using an ovulation predictor test to help you know when youre about to ovulate. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Femara. Both Femara and Arimidex belong to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. Swelling, another common side effect of Femara, can cause you to gain weight as your body holds on to water. It may also be used when someone is premenopausal and having treatment to stop the ovaries working (temporary menopause). Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. * An allergic reaction is possible after taking Femara. Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? Before taking Femara, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Femara. And because Femara also lowers your estrogen level, the drug can add to this effect. Femara has been found to be effective in treating early breast cancer. If you think you could be pregnant or have pregnancy symptoms, tell your doctor before you start taking Femara. 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). Femara can weaken your bones, which may cause new or worsened osteoporosis. So, chemotherapy can affect both healthy cells and cancer cells. Femara is used to lower the risk of the cancer coming back. But sometimes the drug is used off-label in people with this condition. Other drugs are available that can treat breast cancer. Femara isnt FDA-approved to treat infertility, but sometimes its used off-label for this purpose in females. But sometimes the drug is used off-label to treat infertility in females* with PCOS. Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on: Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Femara. * Risk factors for osteoporosis include a family history of the condition, low physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol, and a diet low in calcium and vitamin D. It should be safe to drink alcohol during your Femara treatment. Or if youre using IUI, you doctor will recommend when you should go into the clinic for artificial insemination. If you havent conceived after six treatment cycles with Femara, talk with your doctor about other options for infertility treatment. Swelling from Femara usually occurs in your arms, feet, hands, or legs. 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. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include: Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Femara. Read on to learn how to take Femara, what its uses and side effects are, and more. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect 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. At that point, the aromatase enzyme is the main pathway that your body uses to make estrogen. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Femaras prescribing information. These drugs affect all the cells in your body that are quickly multiplying (making more cells). For example, they may order imaging tests to see if your cancer tumors are shrinking. . For this purpose, Femara is usually used to help lower the risk of the cancer coming back after its been removed by surgery. There's no way to completely predict or prevent breast cancer. If youre concerned about hair loss while taking Femara, talk with your doctor. They both do the same job but Anastrozole is the more similar tablet so could well have similar side effects - You could ask about the Exemestane which I think are steroid based ? Breast Cancer Treatment: Why Some Older Patients May Not Need Radiation, TV Host Samantha Harris Says her Breast Cancer Was Misdiagnosed for Months. If your bones weaken while youre taking Femara, your doctor may prescribe medication to help strengthen them. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. Letrozole lowers the levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen in the body. During clinical studies, both weight gain and weight loss were reported in people who took Femara for breast cancer treatment. You may want to ask about other treatments for breast cancer. Femara should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. High cholesterol. Most people who use Femara take the drug for at least 5 years. Theyre sometimes used by some women to help manage menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. Spotting refers to slight vaginal bleeding when you arent having your period. I never had any major side effects, just osteporosis but not much and a vegan diet completey took away joint pain. Femara can stay in your system after you stop taking the drug. Your side effect notes can include things such as: Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how the drug affects you. One thing that may help is trying to stay as active as possible. The list below includes factors to consider. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. Doing this temporarily lowers your estrogen level. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. They can suggest ways to help manage this side effect. If you have questions or concerns about changes in your weight, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Femara is also used off-label to treat infertility. Breast cancers that are stimulated by hormones, such as estrogen, are called hormone receptor-positive (HR+). Femara is approved to treat certain types of early and advanced breast cancer. With endometriosis, tissue thats similar to the tissue lining your uterus grows in other parts of your body. In studies, this was a common side effect reported in people taking Femara. These include: The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. This use of the drug is called ovulation induction. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. Clomiphene is approved to treat infertility in females. With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. This also includes the release of bisphosphonates from bone surfaces that end up in the bloodstream, because they can't attach themselves to the bone cells and are simply unused. Keeping cool with a fan or removing layers of clothing during hot flash episodes. Can breast cancer return while on letrozole? If you develop serious side effects while taking Femara, call your doctor right away. You shouldnt use Femara while pregnant or breastfeeding. See Femaras prescribing information for details. However, statistics show that many people with breast cancer have an excellent chance of. * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Femara is a brand-name prescription drug thats approved to treat breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. Use of the term female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/going-through-breast-cancer-treatment/hormone-therapy/letrozole-femara. You may also be able to ease headaches by applying an ice pack or heating pad to your head. Breast cancer cells may form a tumor in the breast and spread to other areas of the body. Ovulation tends to occur between 5 and 10 days after youve taken your last Femara tablet. Lymph node surgery helps doctors determine, Knowing the early signs of breast cancer can help a person seek prompt treatment and improve their chance of survival.
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