And dont stop taking Femara unless your doctor recommends it. Cancer cells usually increase in number more quickly than healthy cells. Femara induces (causes) ovulation and can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. When will I ovulate after taking letrozole? Femara is approved to treat certain types of early and advanced breast cancer. How to Use Letrozole for Fertility Femara (letrozole) is offered in 2.5-milligram yellow, film-coated tablets. Your doctor will usually recommend using an ovulation predictor test to help you know when youre about to ovulate. If you have questions about using Femara for breast cancer, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Most side effects of Femara are mild. So, dont be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment. ChildrenUse and dose must be determined by your doctor. In other words, it takes about 2 days for your body to get rid of half of a Femara dose. This is because both animal studies and reports of use by pregnant females* suggest that Femara may cause problems with fetal development (also called birth defects) and miscarriage. If you have questions about any symptoms after stopping Femara, talk with your doctor. Treatment will be taken over five consecutive days. 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. If you have questions or concerns about using Femara for infertility, talk with your doctor. Be sure to follow your doctors instructions. Its a hormone therapy for breast cancer. For information on how Femara performed in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. They may be able to suggest ways may help improve your energy level during your treatment. For oral dosage form (tablets): For breast cancer: Adults2.5 milligrams (mg) once a day. The aromatase enzyme helps make estrogen from other hormones called androgens. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Femara to treat certain conditions. You also shouldnt use the drug for conditions it hasnt been prescribed to treat. If you find the side effects ease within the two weeks they may try you on Anastrozole or even Exemstane. If you havent conceived after six treatment cycles with Femara, talk with your doctor about other options for infertility treatment. My doctor said Femara may cause hot flashes. If youd like to know more about treatment options for infertility, talk with your doctor. There are also some steps you can take to help strengthen your bones naturally. Learn about side effects, warnings, dosage. (With osteoporosis, you have weak, thin bones.). 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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 should not stop taking Letrozole without discussing with your physician. Mild side effects of Femara that have been reported include: Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Severe liver problems can cause the level of Femara to build up in your body, which can raise your risk for side effects. But if they become more severe or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Theyre sometimes used by some women to help manage menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. Be sure to always take Femara exactly as your doctor recommends. Letrozole is usually taken for 5 years, but may be recommended for up to 10 years depending on individual circumstances. If your doctor confirms that you had a mild allergic reaction to Femara, theyll decide if you should continue taking it. Heres a list of some of the mild side effects that Femara can cause. Those that have been reported with Femara include: To learn more about each of these side effects, see Side effects explained below. Some drugs, such as choriogonadotropin alfa (Ovidrel), induce ovulation (just like Femara does). And you shouldnt become pregnant or breastfeed for at least 3 weeks after your last dose of the drug. Keep reading to learn more. You might take a look at the Calling Long Term Survivors thread, I believe there's a couple of women who have been on it for 4+ years. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include: Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to 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. If you have questions about how Femara may affect your bone density, talk with your doctor. You can take Femara with or without food. If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Oestrogen stimulates some breast cancers to grow. Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. If so, this article on breast cancer treatment options may be helpful for you. There's no way to completely predict or prevent breast cancer. No, Femara tablets should be swallowed whole. These lists do not contain all the drugs that may interact with Femara. If you experienced side effects while taking Femara, those side effects may not go away for a few weeks after your last dose . 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Common side effects can be like menopause symptomsand include hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, tiredness and low mood. It may also be used when someone is premenopausal and having treatment to stop the ovaries working (temporary menopause). Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. Does letrozole affect blood sugar levels? It works by lowering the level of estrogen in your body. How many cycles of letrozole are needed to get pregnant? The standard Femara dosage is the same for all types of breast cancer the drug is used to treat. 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. If you have questions or concerns about these potential side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. * An allergic reaction is possible after taking Femara. Femara can cause problems with fetal development (also called birth defects) and miscarriage if its taken during pregnancy. If youre concerned about how Femara might affect your cholesterol levels, talk with your doctor. At that point, the aromatase enzyme is the main pathway that your body uses to make estrogen. But a generic version called clomiphene is available. Breast cancers that are stimulated by hormones, such as estrogen, are called hormone receptor-positive (HR+). The recommended length of time that letrozole is taken for will depend on your individual situation. If your doctor confirms that you had a serious allergic reaction to Femara, they may have you switch to a different treatment. Femara belongs to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. Before taking Femara, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. All rights reserved. You should talk with your doctor to discuss which hot flash treatments are best for you. Be sure to always take the dosage of Femara thats prescribed by your doctor. This is how Femara causes ovulation. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Femara. The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. Your doctor will explain how you should take Femara, such as how much to take and how often. Swelling caused by Femara typically occurs in your arms, feet, hands, or legs. During clinical studies, both weight gain and weight loss were reported in people who took Femara for breast cancer treatment. Letrozole can stop or slow the growth of these cancers. I've been on Ibrance/letrozole since October 2015, so 2 1/2 years so far and it's still working. A generic drug is an exact copy of a brand-name medication. Mild side effects of Femara can usually go away within a few days or a couple weeks. Some people may have an allergic reaction to Femara. As with all medications, the cost of Femara can vary. They can help determine if you should keep taking Femara or switch to a different treatment. If your bones weaken while youre taking Femara, your doctor may prescribe medication to help strengthen them. Femara may cause reduced bone mineral density (weakened bones) in some people. However, statistics show that many people with breast cancer have an excellent chance of. They may want to prescribe medication to help protect your bones during your Femara treatment. However, this particular treatment approach isnt right for everyone. Doing this temporarily lowers your estrogen level. Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Femara. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. Like most drugs, Femara can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Most people are given letrozole for 5 years, but some will take it for up to 10 years. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during . When you take Femara to induce (cause) ovulation, the drug is cleared from your body within several days after youve stopped taking it. Learn more. Femara contains the active drug letrozole and is available as a generic drug called letrozole. Sometimes it might be used to treat breast cancer in men. If you drink alcohol and youre concerned about how this might affect your condition, talk with your doctor. The drug works by lowering estrogen levels in your body, which helps stop breast cancer from growing. Infertility is often caused by problems with ovulation (when eggs are released from your ovaries). * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. If you have serious side effects from Femara, call your doctor right away. If youre taking Femara, your doctor may want to measure your bone mineral density. The types include: To learn more about these conditions and how Femara is used to treat them, see the What is Femara used for? section below. Letrozole may be used: Femara is a type of hormone therapy used to treat breast cancer. HR+ breast cancer is encouraged to grow by hormones, including estrogen. 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. You should take Femara according to your doctors or another healthcare professionals instructions. Femara is classified as an aromatase inhibitor. For this purpose, Femara is used after treatment with another breast cancer drug that blocks. Femara is a kind of drug called an aromatase inhibitor. If you miss a dose, do not take a double dose the next day. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Femara. Most people will take Femara to treat their breast cancer for at least 5 years. Your doctor may prescribe Femara along with other breast cancer treatments. (With off-label use, a drug thats approved to treat one condition is used to treat another.). Its a prescription drug thats used to treat certain types of breast cancer in adult females* who have gone through menopause. However, if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room. And ovulation problems commonly happen because of a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Nausea. The half-life of Femara is about 2 days. * 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. was on it for 10 years!!! * In this article, we use the term female to refer to someones sex assigned at birth. Femara contains the active drug letrozole, while Clomid contains the active drug clomiphene. With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. Before taking Femara, talk with your doctor about your health history. Such drinks and foods may worsen hot flashes. Spotting refers to slight vaginal bleeding when you arent having your period. Do not stop taking letrozole without talking to your treatment team first. They can recommend you how much alcohol is safe for you to drink during Femara treatment. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. Weight gain. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. Headaches were a common side effect in studies of Femara. In certain situations, if Femara has stopped working for you, your doctor might ask you to stop taking the drug in order to cause a withdrawal response. This response is a hormonal shift thats caused by stopping Femara. Will my breast cancer come back after I stop Femara treatment? . Like most drugs, Femara may cause mild or serious side effects. 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. If youve had an allergic reaction to Femara or any of its ingredients, you shouldnt take Femara. In this case, stopping Femara can sometimes improve your breast cancer, rather than causing side effects. With endometriosis, tissue thats similar to the tissue lining your uterus grows in other parts of your body. Can Breast Cancer Be Detected in a Complete Blood Count (CBC)? This helps slow the growth and spread of cancer thats encouraged to grow by estrogen. But its not known for sure what symptoms you may have from overdose. If your cholesterol gets too high during your Femara treatment, your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication, such as a statin. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. . Generally it takes four to five half-lives for a drug to be eliminated from the body, so in the case of Arimidex this would be 150 to 300 hours, or six to 12 days. If your bones become weak during treatment, your doctor may prescribe medication for you to help strengthen your bones. Call your doctor right away if you have bone pain. If you and your doctor determine that Femara is safe and effective for you, youll likely take it long term. One 2011 study looked at using doses higher than the current standard dose to treat infertility. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use their online tool. Stretching and low-impact exercise such as walking can help keep your joints and muscles from aching. Its important to discuss all of your concerns with your doctor. These can include: If these changes dont ease your symptoms of hot flashes, you may need to take medication. What are the more common side effects of Femara? This also includes the release of bisphosphonates from bone surfaces that end up in the bloodstream, because they can't attach themselves to the bone cells and are simply unused. But this side effect wasnt reported in studies. But you wont be able to notice it working in your body. But after menopause, your estrogen levels fall, which can weaken your bones. Some people whove taken Femara have also benefited from complementary treatments, such as acupuncture and massage. And they want you to get the best care possible. See the sections Femara for advanced breast cancer and Femara for adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer below for more information. A 2014 study found Femara to be more effective than clomiphene in treating infertility in women with PCOS. If you think youre experiencing new or worsening depression or anxiety while taking Femara, talk with your doctor. Femara is also used off-label to treat infertility. If you have trouble swallowing Femara tablets, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about ways to help make it easier for you to take your medication. Off-label use is when a drug thats approved to treat one condition is used to treat another condition. If you think you could be pregnant or have pregnancy symptoms, tell your doctor before you start taking Femara. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Femara. drug can stay in . When used for this purpose, Femara helps lower the risk of your cancer coming back. Femara is a prescription drug used in adult females* whove gone through menopause. 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