The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. Do I have a higher risk for side effects than other people taking Femara. 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. hot flashes flushed skin increased sweating joint pain weakness edema (swelling), possibly in your ankles or feet headache dizziness bone pain The mild side effects of Femara that are less. Call your doctor if you think youve taken too much Femara. However, statistics show that many people with breast cancer have an excellent chance of. Femara is also used off-label to treat infertility. They may be able to suggest ways to help manage this side effect. Serious side effects of Femara that have been reported include: Learn more about some of the side effects Femara may cause. If you experience fatigue during your Femara treatment that doesnt go away or thats bothersome, talk with your doctor. If you have questions or concerns about these potential side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Mild side effects of many . But actual success rates of Femara for achieving pregnancy or having live births depend on many factors. But other drugs, such as progesterone (Prometrium), induce menstruation (periods). Oestrogen stimulates some breast cancers to grow. During your Femara treatment, consider keeping notes about any side effects youre having. The Femara dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. Femara can stay in your system for several weeks after your last dose. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. But both drugs are usually taken for 5 days at the start of your menstrual cycle. Femara may be used off-label to treat infertility due to PCOS and other causes. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. 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. More specifically, Femara is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. The aromatase enzyme helps make estrogen from other hormones called androgens. Femara is a brand-name prescription drug thats approved to treat breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. Also, if you experience fatigue, extreme tiredness, or dizziness while taking Femara, you shouldnt drive or operate heavy machinery. If youre already ovulating before taking Femara, the drug may cause more eggs than usual to mature and be released from your ovaries. Bone fracture; breast pain; chest pain Femara can cause mild or serious side effects. Like most drugs, Femara can cause an allergic reaction in some people. reduces the risk of a new breast cancer . 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. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. If you have questions or concerns about changes in your weight, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You shouldnt drive or operate machinery until you know how the drug will affect you. However, alcohol can cause side effects similar to those of Femara. If youre interested in using Femara for this purpose, talk with your doctor. Your doctor will also advise when you should start having sex if youre trying to conceive (TTC) naturally. Coming off letrozole. How do Femaras side effects compare with those of other cancer drugs? Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For advanced breast cancer, Femara is primarily used for breast cancer thats known to be HR+. 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 lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Femara may cause. Femara can interact with some other medications. If you are not tolerating it well due to side effects, sometimes temporarily stopping it or switching to another hormone drug may be considered. All rights reserved. Hormone therapy may also be used to treat hot flashes. International guidelines recommend letrozole (the active drug in Femara) as an effective treatment for infertility. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Femara. Although theyre not common side effects, in some cases, Femara can cause anxiety or depression. Call your doctor right away if you have bone pain. Am I at a higher risk for certain side effects from Femara? After five years, last September, my GP said that I should stop takingt the Letrozole, but could not answer any of my questions, e.g. Letrozole only works in women who have had their menopause. Femara is meant to be used as a long-term treatment for breast cancer. Femara is classified as an aromatase inhibitor. Swelling caused by Femara typically occurs in your arms, feet, hands, or legs. Spotting refers to slight vaginal bleeding when you arent having your period. Your doctor may prescribe Femara along with other breast cancer treatments. For breast cancer treatment, youll usually take Femara once each day. (To learn more, see Is Femara used for infertility? right above.) Will my breast cancer come back after I stop Femara treatment? Also, keep in mind that Femara isnt approved to treat breast cancer in females who havent gone through menopause yet. 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. They can suggest ways to help manage this side effect. To find out how effective Femara was for infertility in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. Taking Femara can cause high cholesterol in some people. And the drug doesnt need to be stopped gradually to prevent side effects from occurring. The recommended length of time that letrozole is taken for will depend on your individual situation. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. For oral dosage form (tablets): For breast cancer: Adults2.5 milligrams (mg) once a day. You may also be able to ease headaches by applying an ice pack or heating pad to your head. If youd like to know about using Femara for this purpose, talk with your doctor. Severe liver problems can cause the level of Femara to build up in your body, which can raise your risk for side effects. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. Examples of both mild and serious side effects that can occur when using Femara for infertility include: Youll usually take Femara by mouth once daily for 5 days after the start of your menstrual cycle. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as in bathrooms. This means that Femara will no longer be in your body when you ovulate or conceive. 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. Most people who use Femara take the drug for at least 5 years. Stopping Femara treatment isnt known to cause side effects. Chemotherapy describes traditional drugs used to treat cancer. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This is because drinking a lot of alcohol can increase your risk of osteoporosis, which is already increased by the drug. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Femara. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Femaras prescribing information. How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer: 10 Lifestyle Recommendations, Symptoms of Late Stage Metastatic Breast Cancer, What to Know and Consider Before Having Prophylactic Mastectomy. For these women, infertility may be caused by problems with ovulation, or it may not have an obvious cause (called unexplained infertility). What should be considered before taking Femara? (Enzymes help chemical reactions in your body to happen.). And talk with your doctor about ways to help improve your energy level during treatment. Breast cancer develops when cells in your breast tissue start to grow and multiply more quickly than usual. For more information about using Femara for infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. Hot flashes. Your doctor can recommend treatment options other than Femara. 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. Your doctor may order tests from time to time to check and see if the drug is working for you. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm.D., M.S., FASCP, Common sweetener erythritol tied to higher risk of stroke and heart attack, Gout: How metabolic syndrome may increase the risk, A new therapeutic target for the prevention of heart failure due to aortic stenosis, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. Heres some detail on several of the side effects this drug cause. If you have fatigue or dizziness while youre taking Femara, dont drive or operate other machines. You should talk with your doctor to discuss which hot flash treatments are best for you. Femara is FDA-approved to treat only certain types of breast cancer. Both Femara and clomiphene may be prescribed to treat female* infertility. Femara is also sometimes used off-label to treat infertility in females with endometriosis. Off-label use is when a drug thats approved to treat one condition is used to treat a different condition. Some people whove taken Femara have also benefited from complementary treatments, such as acupuncture and massage. Precautions. Your doctor may ask you to start taking the drug either on day 3 or day 5 of your menstrual cycle. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. Factors to consider include those in the list below. If so, this article on breast cancer treatment options may be helpful for you. One way your doctor will monitor your bone strength is by measuring your bone mineral density. And you should continue to avoid breastfeeding for at least 3 weeks after your last dose of the drug. Spotting may occur with Femara use. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. It is usually used when you have been through a natural menopause. But make sure you talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications with Femara. A 2014 study found Femara to be more effective than clomiphene in treating infertility in women with PCOS. What could happen if I become pregnant during my Femara treatment? You can also visit the Femara manufacturers website to see if there are support options. Osteoporosis. Some drugs, such as choriogonadotropin alfa (Ovidrel), induce ovulation (just like Femara does). If you have breast cancer, your doctor might prescribe Femara for you. HR+ breast cancer is encouraged to grow by hormones, including estrogen. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Femara. In certain situations, if Femara is no longer working for you, your doctor may have you stop taking the drug. Swelling, another common side effect of Femara, can cause you to gain weight as your body holds on to water. One example of an androgen is the hormone testosterone. Certain drugs, such as paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil), are used to treat hot flashes. For this purpose, tamoxifen must have been used for at least 5 years. If you would like to report to the FDA a side effect youve had with Femara, you can do so through MedWatch. 1 Some fertility experts recommend taking the pills on days 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of your cycle. More specifically, Femara is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. (Off-label use is when a drug thats approved for one condition is used to treat another.) Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil), may be effective for relieving headaches. If you develop serious side effects while taking Femara, call your doctor right away. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during . Along with its needed effects, letrozole may cause some unwanted effects. Talk with your doctor about how long you should take Femara for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. If youre interested in finding an alternative to Femara, talk with your doctor. Its possible that you may continue to have side effects from Femara even after you stop taking it. Femara is a kind of drug called an aromatase inhibitor. Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs they have approved. Learn the signs and symptoms of metastasis, how you can make yourself as comfortable as possible, and tips for managing end-of-life symptoms. These types of therapies stop estrogen from encouraging breast cancer cells to grow. * Its mainly used when infertility is caused by problems with ovulation (the release of eggs from your ovaries). Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. 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. Serious side effects are possible from taking Femara. Early-stage breast cancer that has been treated with tamoxifen citrate for at least 5 years. Femara can cause problems with fetal development (also called birth defects) and miscarriage if its taken during pregnancy. Its not known if Femara passes into breast milk. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. In that case, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Both Femara and Arimidex belong to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. If your doctor gives you the OK, here's a gentle routine to try. your doctor may . This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. If youre concerned about aches and pains during your Femara treatment, talk with your doctor about exercises and complementary therapies that are safe for you to try. This helps slow the growth and spread of cancer thats encouraged to grow by estrogen. Femara contains the active drug letrozole, while Clomid contains the active drug clomiphene. Here are some common questions about taking Femara tablets. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. Femara can weaken your bones, which may cause new or worsened osteoporosis. Its also worth noting that alcohol is known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Femara, which works by lowering your estrogen level, is prescribed for females* whove gone through menopause. Breast Cancer Treatment: Why Some Older Patients May Not Need Radiation, TV Host Samantha Harris Says her Breast Cancer Was Misdiagnosed for Months. Clomid was a brand-name drug thats no longer available. It only has these risks if its taken when youre already pregnant. 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. No, Femara isnt a chemotherapy drug. This drug may cause weak bones. Dont take two doses together to make up for a missed dose. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more. If you have a certain type of breast cancer, your doctor might suggest Femara (letrozole) as a treatment option. There's no way to completely predict or prevent breast cancer. Femara is used in the following ways to treat advanced breast cancer: Femara has been found to be effective in treating advanced breast cancer. And this medication doesnt need to be stopped gradually. It should be safe to drink alcohol during your Femara treatment. Femara isnt currently approved to treat infertility in females. How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer: 10 Lifestyle Recommendations, Symptoms of Late Stage Metastatic Breast Cancer, What to Know and Consider Before Having Prophylactic Mastectomy. Femara comes as tablets that are taken by mouth. But its not known if drinking alcohol after youre diagnosed with breast cancer can make your cancer worse or more likely to come back after treatment. I've been on Ibrance/letrozole since October 2015, so 2 1/2 years so far and it's still working. The drugs work by lowering estrogen levels in your body, which helps stop breast cancer from growing. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article. But some people may experience side effects while taking this drug. You should take Femara according to your doctors or another healthcare professionals instructions. How you can share this information with your doctor prescribes will depend on factors! 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