Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. If you have more questions about how Femara and clomiphene are alike and different, talk with your doctor. For this purpose, tamoxifen must have been used for at least 5 years. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. These lists dont include all possible side effects. headache*. How to Use Letrozole for Fertility Femara (letrozole) is offered in 2.5-milligram yellow, film-coated tablets. If youd like to know more about treatment options for infertility, talk with your doctor. What are the more common side effects of Femara? Femara induces (causes) ovulation and can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. If you think you could be pregnant or have pregnancy symptoms, tell your doctor before you start taking Femara. For more information about Femara, including details about the types of breast cancer it treats, see this in-depth article on the drug. Femara belongs to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. Femara is a prescription drug used in adult females* whove gone through menopause. In all of these cases, Femara is used to treat infertility by inducing (causing) ovulation. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. What are some frequently asked questions about Femara? People being treated for primary breast cancer will usually take letrozole for five to ten years. * However, its sometimes used off-label for this use. If you have questions about using Femara to treat infertility, talk with your doctor. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. But make sure you talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications with Femara. Some people may experience mild or serious side effects during their Femara treatment. 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. 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. Femara and Arimidex (anastrozole) are both used to treat certain types of breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. How long side effects last can vary from person to person. Off-label use is when a drug thats approved to treat one condition is used to treat a different condition. Femara may cause reduced bone mineral density (weakened bones) in some people. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. Such drinks and foods may worsen hot flashes. Serious side effects from Femara can occur, but they arent common. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you have liver problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Femara for you. Estrogen helps to keep your bones strong. In that case, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. These breast cancers are called hormone sensitive or hormone receptor positive. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with this drug include: In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. (To learn more, see Is Femara used for infertility? right above.) 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Femaras prescribing information. If your doctor gives you the OK, here's a gentle routine to try. Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs they have approved. Factors to consider include those in the list below. Breast cancer occurs when breast cells grow rapidly and out of control. But its not known for sure what symptoms you may have from overdose. Sometimes it might be used to treat breast cancer in men. Liver problems. What should be considered before taking Femara? This condition can become very painful and may lead to infertility in some people. Spotting may occur with Femara use. Available for Android and iOS devices. You can take Femara at any time of day. If your doctor confirms that you had a serious allergic reaction to Femara, they may have you switch to a different treatment. Femara may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. Use of the term female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. The aromatase enzyme helps make estrogen from other hormones called androgens. (Off-label use means using a drug for a condition other than the one its approved to treat.). Use of the term male in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. Femara comes as tablets that you take by mouth. 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. Read on to learn how to take Femara, what its uses and side effects are, and more. This stops estrogen from being able to stimulate breast cancer cells to grow and multiply. And ovulation problems commonly happen because of a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). They shouldnt be crushed, split, or chewed. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. When you stop taking letrozole, most persistent side effects should improve within a week or 10 days, and as long as you have taken it for at least 5 years, then letrozole should continue to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back for many years after you stop taking it. To find out how effective Femara was for infertility in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. Femara can weaken your bones, which may cause new or worsened osteoporosis. * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. However, the drug may be used off-label for this purpose. Early-stage breast cancer that has been treated with tamoxifen citrate for at least 5 years. If your bones become weak during treatment, your doctor may prescribe medication for you to help strengthen your bones. Femara is used in the following ways to treat advanced breast cancer: Femara has been found to be effective in treating advanced breast cancer. Femara is used to lower the risk of the cancer coming back. Swelling from Femara usually occurs in your arms, feet, hands, or legs. This means that Femara will no longer be in your body when you ovulate or conceive. Both Femara and Arimidex belong to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. What could happen if I become pregnant during my Femara treatment? Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as in bathrooms. 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 hot flashes, you should first try to relieve symptoms through lifestyle changes. Serious side effects are possible from taking Femara. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends that 10 years should be the maximum duration of therapy, based on their 2019 clinical practice guideline update. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil), may be effective for relieving headaches. This is how Femara causes ovulation. Adjuvant treatment of breast cancer is treatment thats taken to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back after surgery. You should take Femara according to your doctors or another healthcare professionals instructions. The usual dosage of Femara for inducing ovulation is 2.5 mg taken by mouth once daily for 5 days. This helps stop breast cancer from growing. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Femara to treat certain conditions. Talk with your doctor if you have bothersome spotting while taking Femara. And the drug doesnt need to be stopped gradually to prevent side effects from occurring. Allergic reaction. If you have a certain type of breast cancer, your doctor might suggest Femara (letrozole) as a treatment option. If youre pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor. Sometimes your doctor may recommend that you take a higher dosage of Femara, such as 5 mg or 7.5 mg daily for 5 days. * For more information on this side effect, see the Side effect focus section below. Last updated on Sep 27, 2021. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. (Off-label use is when a drug thats approved for one condition is used to treat another.) Some side effects, such as osteoporosis (weakened bones), will not get better on their own, even after you stop taking Femara. No, Femara isnt a form of chemotherapy. Nausea. Femara comes as tablets that are taken by mouth. In addition to the uses listed above, Femara may be used off-label. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. If your doctor confirms that you had a mild allergic reaction to Femara, theyll decide if you should continue taking it. If you miss a dose of Femara, take it as soon as you remember, unless its almost time for your next dose. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. Femara can stay in your system after you stop taking the drug. If you have questions about using Femara for breast cancer, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you have questions about using Femara, talk with your doctor. If you have questions about any symptoms after stopping Femara, talk with your doctor. If your doctor thinks Femara has stopped working for you, talk with them about whether stopping treatment could be beneficial for you. How many cycles of letrozole are needed to get pregnant? This includes the breast cancer medication tamoxifen. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. Heres some detail on several of the side effects this drug cause. swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet, swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe, what dosage of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect, how soon after starting that dosage you experienced it, any other medications you were also taking, any other information you feel is important. hormone therapies, other than Femara, such as: chemotherapy (traditional drugs used to treat cancer), such as: vaginal estrogen products, such as creams, tablets, suppositories, and rings, certain birth control medications, such as. 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. If youre interested in using Femara for this purpose, talk with your doctor. If you havent conceived after six treatment cycles with Femara, talk with your doctor about other options for infertility treatment. You shouldnt use Femara while pregnant or breastfeeding. Maintaining a moderate weight. Its meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. Before taking Femara, talk with your doctor about your health history. Your doctor might ask you to take Femara on either cycle days 3 to 7 or cycle days 5 to 9. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Femara. However, alcohol can cause side effects similar to those of Femara. In this article, learn about, Breast cancer, which mainly affects females, is common. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Both medications belong to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. But both drugs are usually taken for 5 days at the start of your menstrual cycle. Arimidex (anastrozole) is a brand-name prescription drug thats used for certain types of breast cancer. What can I do to help relieve this side effect? However, its possible that certain plant-based estrogens (called phytoestrogens) could make Femara less effective. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. 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. When Femara is used off-label to treat infertility, the drug doesnt increase the risk of birth defects or miscarriage. Femara shouldnt be taken during pregnancy. 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. 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