And the drug doesnt need to be stopped gradually to prevent side effects from occurring. 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. Taking Femara can help you to become pregnant if youre trying to conceive (TTC), by either having sexual intercourse or using intrauterine insemination (IUI). If you would like to report to the FDA a side effect youve had with Femara, you can do so through MedWatch. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Femaras prescribing information. 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. When used for this purpose, Femara helps lower the risk of your cancer coming back. Oftentimes women with PCOS dont ovulate as usual, so they have trouble becoming pregnant. reduces the risk of a new breast cancer . But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor will also advise when you should start having sex if youre trying to conceive (TTC) naturally. . If you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend that you take one tablet every other day. You also shouldnt use the drug for conditions it hasnt been prescribed to treat. All rights reserved. You shouldnt take Femara unless its been prescribed by a healthcare professional. Femara, which works by lowering your estrogen level, is prescribed for females* whove gone through menopause. With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. Femara is used in the following ways to treat advanced breast cancer: Femara has been found to be effective in treating advanced breast cancer. Early-stage, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer that has been treated. Some that are rare (occurring in less than 10% of patients) are not listed here. 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. Femara has been found effective for treating certain types of breast cancer. When you take the drug, it stops androgens in your body from converting into estrogen. Letrozole (Femara ) is a hormonal therapy drug used to treat breast cancer. Not all side effects are listed above. A study has found that taking Femara for 10 years instead of 5: reduces the risk of recurrence. Another 2019 review of studies found Femara and clomiphene to be similarly effective in treating unexplained infertility. 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. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if youre taking tamoxifen or any products that have estrogen in them. Both cancer and cancer treatments can often cause changes in appetite and body weight. Your doctor will help you to weigh potential risks and benefits of taking Femara for a long period of time. If you drink alcohol while taking Femara, you may be at a higher risk for these side effects, which can include: If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the amount thats safe for you while taking Femara. They shouldnt be crushed, split, or chewed. I had no radiotherapy or chemotherapy. A medication timer may be useful, too. If youre breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before you start taking Femara. The standard Femara dosage is the same for all types of breast cancer the drug is used to treat. Femara contains the active drug letrozole and is available as a generic drug called letrozole. But if you think youre having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. Off-label use is when a drug thats approved to treat one condition is used to treat another condition. If youre sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while youre using Femara. But make sure you talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications with Femara. A medication timer may be useful, too. You should talk with your doctor to discuss which hot flash treatments are best for you. * Its mainly used when infertility is caused by problems with ovulation (the release of eggs from your ovaries). Femara should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Ophthalmology 54 years experience Few: Femara ( letrozole) blocks the formation of estrogen. The usual dosage of Femara for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer is one tablet taken by mouth once each day. Its not known if Femara passes into breast milk. Use of the term male in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. Will my breast cancer come back after I stop Femara treatment? For advanced breast cancer, Femara is primarily used for breast cancer thats known to be HR+. If you have questions or concerns about this potential side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. What are the more common side effects of Femara? But try to always stick to the same time each day. Its a type of drug called an aromatase inhibitor. These breast cancers are called hormone sensitive or hormone receptor positive. What Types of Breast Cancer Have the Highest Recurrence Rates? 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. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. Your doctor will explain how you should take Femara, such as how much to take and how often. Femara shouldnt be taken during pregnancy. 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. Femara will start working soon after you start taking it. No, Femara isnt a chemotherapy drug. Serious side effects from Femara can occur, but they arent common. Breast cancer occurs when breast cells grow rapidly and out of control. In addition, drugs and other products that contain estrogen, such as vaginal creams, may decrease the effects of Femara. And you shouldnt become pregnant or breastfeed for at least 3 weeks after your last dose of the drug. With advanced breast cancer, the cancer has spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes (called locally advanced breast cancer), or it has spread to other parts of the body (called metastatic breast cancer). Talk with your doctor if you have bothersome spotting while taking Femara. During your Femara treatment, consider keeping notes about any side effects youre having. If you dont understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you. 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. Learn about the dosage for Femara in treating certain types of breast cancer. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. See Femaras prescribing information for details. How many cycles of letrozole are needed to get pregnant? 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. Both Femara and Arimidex belong to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. The most common cause of ovulation problems that result in infertility is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). But Femara is also sometimes used to treat infertility that doesnt have an obvious cause. 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. For example, they may order imaging tests to see if your cancer tumors are shrinking. Its used to treat the following types of cancer: Femara comes as a tablet you take by mouth once per day. Learn more. G n' J FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to Dreamthief Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Most people who use Femara take the drug for at least 5 years. Femara may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Spotting may occur along with other side effects from Femara, such as belly pain or cramping. Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Femara may cause. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. Lumpectomy and mastectomy are different types of cancer surgery that remove cancer cells from the breast. However, statistics show that many people with breast cancer have an excellent chance of. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Clomid was a brand-name drug thats no longer available. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Femara. Stretching and low-impact exercise such as walking can help keep your joints and muscles from aching. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Femara is used to lower the risk of the cancer coming back. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Femaras prescribing information. You should keep taking Femara for as long as your doctor recommends. 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. With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. For hot flashes, you should first try to relieve symptoms through lifestyle changes. Your doctor might ask you to take Femara on either cycle days 3 to 7 or cycle days 5 to 9. Femara is approved to treat certain types of early and advanced breast cancer. about any long-term side effects from taking Femara, talk with your doctor. And they want you to get the best care possible. Cancer cells multiply quickly, but some healthy cells in your body also multiply quickly. Use of the term female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. This includes the breast cancer medication tamoxifen. Should I use other breast cancer treatments while taking Femara? why should I stop; would I benefit from stopping; would I benefit from continuing, who would monitor me, etc. As a type of hormone therapy, Femara works by lowering estrogen levels in your body. However, clomiphene is FDA-approved for treating infertility in women. Do I have a higher risk for side effects than other people taking Femara. But sometimes the drug is used off-label to treat infertility in females* with PCOS. How do Femaras side effects compare with those of other cancer drugs? This helps stop breast cancer from growing. If you find the side effects ease within the two weeks they may try you on Anastrozole or even Exemstane. vaginal spotting. And dont stop taking Femara unless your doctor recommends it. And you should continue to avoid breastfeeding for at least 3 weeks after your last dose of the drug. If youd like to know about using Femara for this purpose, talk with your doctor. If you think youve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. Its important to discuss all of your concerns with your doctor. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. Femara isnt FDA-approved to treat infertility, but sometimes its used off-label for this purpose in females. Like most drugs, Femara can cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you and your doctor determine that Femara is safe and effective for you, youll likely take it long term. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use its online resource. After menopause, your body produces less estrogen, which can weaken your bones. Mild side effects of Femara can usually go away within a few days or a couple weeks. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Femara. Before taking Femara, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. 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