Letrozole
Drug Info
Generic Name: Letrozole (LET-roe-zole)
Brand Name: Femara
Letrozole is used for:
Primarily treating certain kinds of breast cancer in women past
menopause. It may also be used for other conditions as determined
by your doctor.
Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor. It works by reducing the
total amount of estrogen produced primarily in the body. This
helps to starve cancer cells by depriving them of estrogen.
Do NOT use Letrozole if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in Letrozole
you have not started menopause
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any
of these apply to you.
Before using Letrozole :
Some medical conditions may interact with Letrozole . Tell your
doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially
if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation,
or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
if you have severe liver disease
if you are still having menstrual periods or have not completely finished
menopause
if you are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Letrozole . Tell your health
care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially
any of the following:
Tamoxifen because it may decrease Letrozole 's effectiveness
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may
occur. Ask your health care provider if 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.
How to use Letrozole :
Use Letrozole as directed by your doctor. Check the label on
the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Take Letrozole by mouth with or without food.
Take Letrozole on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
If you miss a dose of Letrozole , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost
time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing
schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about
how to use Letrozole .
Important safety information:
Letrozole may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects
may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines.
Use Letrozole with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly
unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
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.
If you may become pregnant, you must use effective birth control while you
take Letrozole . Women who are going through or have recently gone through
menopause may still become pregnant. Talk with your doctor about the use of
effective birth control while you take Letrozole .
Lab tests, including bone mineral density tests, may be performed while you
use Letrozole . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check
for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Use Letrozole with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to
its effects.
This medicine should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in
children have not been confirmed.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use 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 Letrozole is found in breast
milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Letrozole , check
with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby. Possible side effects of Letrozole :
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no,
or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these
most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Arthritis; back, bone, leg, or arm pain; breast pain; constipation;
cough; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; hot flushes; flu-like symptoms;
flushing; increased sweating; indigestion; infection; joint or
muscle pain; loss of appetite; nausea; night sweats; pain; sleeplessness;
stomach pain; tiredness; urinary tract infection; vaginal dryness;
vomiting; weakness; weight gain or loss.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side
effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty
breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face,
lips, or tongue); calf pain or tenderness; chest pain; confusion;
numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; severe stomach
pain; shortness of breath; sudden severe headache, vomiting,
dizziness, or fainting; swelling of the ankles or feet; unexplained
sore throat or fever; unexplained vaginal bleeding or discharge;
vision or speech changes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur.
If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects,
contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side
effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control
Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm),
or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Letrozole :
Store Letrozole at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage
at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees
C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do
not store in the bathroom. Keep Letrozole out of the reach of
children and away from pets.
General information:
If you have any questions about Letrozole , please talk with
your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Letrozole is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do
not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your
doctor.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all
information about Letrozole . If you have questions about the
medicine you are taking or would like more information, check
with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider. |