Some may be a better fit for you than others. So researchers wanted to know if taking an aromatase inhibitor for 10 years would offer more benefits than taking one for 5 years. This is because drinking a lot of alcohol can increase your risk of osteoporosis, which is already increased by the drug. 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. Your doctor will usually recommend using an ovulation predictor test to help you know when youre about to ovulate. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. Does letrozole affect blood sugar levels? 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. Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include: If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. Femara induces (causes) ovulation and can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Both cancer and cancer treatments can often cause changes in appetite and body weight. The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. your doctor may . headache*. (Enzymes help chemical reactions in your body to happen.). 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. If youre taking Femara, your doctor may want to measure your bone mineral density. What are the serious side effects of Femara? When Femara is used off-label to treat infertility, the drug doesnt increase the risk of birth defects or miscarriage. Before taking Femara, talk with your doctor about your health history. Learn the signs and symptoms of metastasis, how you can make yourself as comfortable as possible, and tips for managing end-of-life symptoms. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. The half-life is the amount of time it takes for the drug level in your body to decrease by half. Femara and clomiphene are both used to induce (cause) ovulation in females* who are having trouble becoming pregnant. 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. Instead, Femara is a hormone therapy. As a type of hormone therapy, Femara works by lowering estrogen levels in your body. You should talk with your doctor to discuss which hot flash treatments are best for you. You can do this for about 10 minutes a few times each day. Use of the term female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. For this use, youll take Femara for a few days after the start of your period. Lumpectomy and mastectomy are different types of cancer surgery that remove cancer cells from the breast. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. Do not stop taking letrozole without talking to your treatment team first. Mild side effects of Femara can usually go away within a few days or a couple weeks. This use of the drug is called ovulation induction. And some may be easily managed, too. This is because the drug can stay in your system for about 7 days after you stop the treatment. Femara is a brand-name prescription drug thats approved to treat breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. Learn. If you have osteoporosis or risk factors* for developing this condition, talk with your doctor before starting Femara. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Femara. Other drugs are available that can treat breast cancer. No, Femara isnt a chemotherapy drug. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. What are the more common side effects of Femara? Before you take Femara, tell your doctor if you have any liver problems, including cirrhosis. This increases your risk of breaking a bone during Femara treatment. Taking letrozole for long periods of time has been associated with an increased risk of bone fractures and heart side effects. What should I know about Femara vs. Arimidex? It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. Femara is used off-label for this purpose. However, its important to note that alcohol and Femara can have similar side effects. Clomid has been discontinued, but generic versions of clomiphene are still available. Whether Femara or clomiphene is more effective for you may depend on the cause of your infertility. If you have serious side effects from Femara, call your doctor right away. For these women, infertility may be caused by problems with ovulation, or it may not have an obvious cause (called unexplained infertility). Visit Medicine Assistance Tool to find programs that may help lower your cost of Femara. The standard Femara dosage is the same for all types of breast cancer the drug is used to treat. Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion: Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. If you have questions about the risks of Femara use in pregnancy, talk with your doctor. Femara may be used off-label to treat infertility due to PCOS and other causes. reduces the risk of a new breast cancer . Here are a few other questions you may want to ask your doctor about Femara: In addition, you can learn about breast cancer and its treatment options by subscribing to Healthlines breast cancer newsletter. Its not chemotherapy, which is a type of cancer drug that most commonly causes hair loss. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Different interactions can cause different effects. Factors to consider include those in the list below. For breast cancer treatment, youll usually take Femara once each day. For this use, youll usually take the drug for 5 years following surgery to remove the cancer. Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Such drinks and foods may worsen hot flashes. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Treatment will be taken over five consecutive days. Natco Pharma Limited. It works by killing cells in your body that multiply quickly. Some people taking Femara may experience weight gain. So, dont be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment. Letrozole works by decreasing the amounts of these hormones in the body. Femara and clomiphene are both used to stimulate ovulation in females who are having trouble becoming pregnant. It should be safe to drink alcohol during your Femara treatment. More specifically, Femara is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. Learn about side effects, warnings, dosage. * 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. This may happen more often if used for a long time. 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. Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs they have approved. If youre not sure if youll need to get prior authorization for Femara, contact your insurance company. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any herbs or supplement products while youre taking Femara. If your doctor thinks Femara has stopped working for you, talk with them about whether stopping treatment could be beneficial for you. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. Before taking Femara, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. All rights reserved. They may be able to suggest ways may help improve your energy level during your treatment. If your cholesterol gets too high during your Femara treatment, your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication, such as a statin. (To learn more, see Is Femara used for infertility? right above.) If youre interested in finding an alternative to Femara, talk with your doctor. Estrogen helps to keep your bones strong. Because of this, you shouldnt breastfeed while youre taking Femara. If you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend that you take one tablet every other day. The highest dose of Femara for fertility treatment hasnt been determined. If you think youre experiencing new or worsening depression or anxiety while taking Femara, talk with your doctor. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. How do Femaras side effects compare with those of other cancer drugs? Nausea. A medication timer may be useful, too. Osteoporosis. These lists do not contain all the drugs that may interact with Femara. Theyre sometimes used by some women to help manage menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. This signals your pituitary gland to release hormones called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). If you miss a dose of Femara, take it as soon as you remember, unless its almost time for your next dose. Femara is prescribed for females with certain forms of either early or advanced breast cancer. Common side effects can be like menopause symptomsand include hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, tiredness and low mood. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. Letrozole only works in women who have had their menopause. Femara has been found to be effective in treating early breast cancer. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking letrozole: Less common. Be sure to follow your doctors instructions. But more research is needed to know whether higher doses of Femara are more effective than lower doses. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Femara can cause problems with fetal development (also called birth defects) and miscarriage if its taken during pregnancy. These effects are called interactions. Plasma concentrations at steady state are 1.5 to 2 times higher than predicted from the concentrations measured after a single dose, indicating a slight non-linearity in the The usual dosage of Femara for inducing ovulation is 2.5 mg taken by mouth once daily for 5 days. Most people are given letrozole for 5 years, but some will take it for up to 10 years. In this case, stopping Femara can sometimes improve your breast cancer, rather than causing side effects. These can include: If these changes dont ease your symptoms of hot flashes, you may need to take medication. You can take your dose at any time of the day. Before your appointment, write down questions such as: How will Femara affect my body, mood, or lifestyle? Spotting may occur with Femara use. All rights reserved. If youre interested in using Femara for this purpose, talk with your doctor. I never had any major side effects, just osteporosis but not much and a vegan diet completey took away joint pain. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Femaras prescribing information. All rights reserved. Phytoestrogens are supplements made from plants. No, Femara isnt a form of chemotherapy. If you experienced side effects while taking Femara, those side effects may not go away for a few weeks after your last dose. Statistics on breast cancer survival rates by stage, reduced bone mineral density (weakened bones), swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet, swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, whether youre using Femara with other fertility treatments, spotting (light vaginal bleeding between periods), rarely, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which occurs when more eggs than usual develop in your ovaries, the condition youre taking Femara to treat. After youve gone through menopause, your ovaries no longer produce estrogen. 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. 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