When talking with your doctor, you may want to ask the following questions: To learn more about breast cancer and its treatment options, sign up for Healthlines breast cancer newsletter. Femara can stay in your system after you stop taking the drug. Mild side effects of Femara can usually go away within a few days or a couple weeks. They may suggest an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), or a topical product, such as hydrocortisone cream, to manage your symptoms. 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. A 2014 study found Femara to be more effective than clomiphene in treating infertility in women with PCOS. Dont take two doses together to make up for a missed dose. PCOS is a condition that causes hormone problems, irregular or skipped periods, and cysts on your ovaries. ChildrenUse and dose must be determined by your doctor. And let your doctor know if you have more questions about these medications. 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. Prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove breast tissue. For information on how Femara performed in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. If your doctor confirms that you had a serious allergic reaction to Femara, they may have you switch to a different treatment. So, chemotherapy can affect both healthy cells and cancer cells. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. Femara may cause reduced bone mineral density (weakened bones) in some people. Your doctor will also advise when you should start having sex if youre trying to conceive (TTC) naturally. PCOS is a condition that causes hormone problems, irregular or skipped periods, and cysts on your ovaries. * Its mainly used when infertility is caused by problems with ovulation (the release of eggs from your ovaries). One thing that may help is trying to stay as active as possible. Femara tablets contain the active drug letrozole. More specifically, Femara is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. But more research is needed to know whether higher doses of Femara are more effective than lower doses. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Heres some detail on several of the side effects this drug cause. Spotting refers to slight vaginal bleeding when you arent having your period. Chemotherapy describes traditional drugs used to treat cancer. If youre breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before you start taking Femara. They may be able to suggest ways may help improve your energy level during your treatment. 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. * For more information about using Femara for infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion: Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. Clomid has been discontinued, but generic versions of clomiphene are still available. When is the best time of day to take letrozole? Your doctor will help you to weigh potential risks and benefits of taking Femara for a long period of time. But actual success rates of Femara for achieving pregnancy or having live births depend on many factors. If youre concerned about hair loss while taking Femara, talk with your doctor. Use of the term female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil), may be effective for relieving headaches. Femara is FDA-approved to treat advanced breast cancer thats hormone receptor-positive (HR+). If you think youve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. Breast cancer occurs when breast cells grow rapidly and out of control. Femara is a kind of hormone therapy. A 2019 review of studies also found Femara to be more effective than clomiphene in treating infertility in females* with PCOS. Women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer face years of adjuvant . In fact, aromatase inhibitors such as Femara are recommended in current guidelines for people with HR+ breast cancer. If you have questions about the risks of Femara use in pregnancy, talk with your doctor. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include: Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Femara. All rights reserved. But both drugs are usually taken for 5 days at the start of your menstrual cycle. This is because the drug can stay in your system for about 7 days after you stop the treatment. See Femaras prescribing information for details. If you experienced side effects while taking Femara, those side effects may not go away for a few weeks after your last dose. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. Risks of extended treatment to consider may include weakening of your bones or raised cholesterol levels. Taking letrozole for long periods of time has been associated with an increased risk of bone fractures and heart side effects. 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. But a generic version called clomiphene is available. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. 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. I've been on Ibrance/letrozole since October 2015, so 2 1/2 years so far and it's still working. In other words, it takes about 2 days for your body to get rid of half of a Femara dose. But sometimes the drug is used off-label in people with this condition. What can I do to help relieve this side effect? However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. Talk with your doctor about how long you should take Femara for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. * For more information about this side effect, see the "Side effect focus" section below. Also, if you experience fatigue, extreme tiredness, or dizziness while taking Femara, you shouldnt drive or operate heavy machinery. If you experienced side effects while taking Femara, those side effects may not go away for a few weeks after your last dose . You can take Femara with or without food. And there are other drugs used to treat infertility that do other things in your body. Femara may be used off-label to treat infertility due to PCOS and other causes. These hormones stimulate an egg in your ovary to mature and be released from your ovary. For hot flashes, you should first try to relieve symptoms through lifestyle changes. Its available in one strength: 2.5 mg. For information on the effectiveness of Femara, see the Femara uses section below. Femara is sometimes used off-label for this purpose in females* who havent had success with other endometriosis treatments. Femara isnt approved to treat endometriosis. Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. You may want to ask about other treatments for breast cancer. The usual dosage of Femara for inducing ovulation is 2.5 mg taken by mouth once daily for 5 days. (Off-label use is when a drug thats approved for one condition is used to treat another.) Taking Femara can help you to become pregnant if youre trying to conceive (TTC), by either having sexual intercourse or using intrauterine insemination (IUI). They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. Femara can interact with several types of drugs. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. Some people may experience mild or serious side effects during their Femara treatment. This signals your pituitary gland to release hormones called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Femara and Arimidex (anastrozole) are both used to treat certain types of breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. So, dont be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Weight gain was a common side effect in studies of Femara. You shouldnt take Femara unless its been prescribed by a healthcare professional. It is usually used when you have been through a natural menopause. This condition can become very painful and may lead to infertility in some people. Femara and clomiphene are both used to induce (cause) ovulation in females* who are having trouble becoming pregnant. Serious side effects from Femara arent common, but they can occur. Femara can cause mild or serious side effects. This enzyme is the main way that your body makes estrogen after youve gone through menopause. They can help determine if you should keep taking Femara or switch to a different treatment. Femara is a prescription drug used in adult females* whove gone through menopause. Femara has been found to be effective in treating early breast cancer. These lists do not include all possible side effects. They can recommend some ways to manage this side effect. As a type of hormone therapy, Femara works by lowering estrogen levels in your body. If you have questions or concerns about using Femara for infertility, talk with your doctor. What can I do to help prevent the aches and pains that Ive heard are a side effect of taking Femara? 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. https://www.drugs.com/pro/letrozole.html, Letrozole (Femara) Breast cancer now. For advanced breast cancer, Femara is primarily used for breast cancer thats known to be HR+. You should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while youre taking Femara. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Femara may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. 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. If you no longer need to take Femara and have leftover medication, its important to dispose of it safely. They can suggest ways to help manage this side effect. And this medication doesnt need to be stopped gradually. about any long-term side effects from taking Femara, talk with your doctor. Here are some common questions about taking Femara tablets. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Letrozole can stop or slow the growth of these cancers. 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. For this purpose, Femara is usually used to help lower the risk of the cancer coming back after its been removed by surgery. If so, this article on breast cancer treatment options may be helpful for you. If you have questions about using Femara to treat infertility, talk with your doctor. About 90% of radiolabeled letrozole is recovered in urine. If you have serious side effects from Femara, call your doctor right away. However, the drug may be used off-label for this purpose. Your doctor will explain how you should take Femara, such as how much to take and how often. 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. International guidelines recommend letrozole (the active drug in Femara) as an effective treatment for infertility. To find out how often these side effects occurred in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any herbs or supplement products while youre taking Femara. The greater the density, the stronger your bones are. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. Can Breast Cancer Be Detected in a Complete Blood Count (CBC)? Different interactions can cause different effects. Keep reading to learn more. Over the last week I have been feeling increasingly poorly, very lethargic and completely lacking in energy as I have just come back from a lovely week away there really shouldn't be any reason for how I am feeling and it just occurred to me that it could be related to stopping taking tamoxifen. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use its online resource. But Arimidex does cause some additional side effects that dont occur with Femara. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. 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