Does letrozole affect blood sugar levels? I had no radiotherapy or chemotherapy. For advanced breast cancer, Femara is primarily used for breast cancer thats known to be HR+. Femara can cause mild or serious side effects. For this use, youll take Femara for a few days after the start of your period. There's no way to completely predict or prevent breast cancer. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat breast cancer include: Femara is approved to treat certain types of breast cancer in females* whove already gone through menopause. One thing that may help is trying to stay as active as possible. You should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while youre taking Femara. (Off-label use is when a drug thats approved for one condition is used to treat another.) Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking letrozole: Less common. When Femara is used off-label to treat infertility, the drug doesnt increase the risk of birth defects or miscarriage. Am I at a higher risk for certain side effects from Femara? 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. * 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 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. It works by lowering the amount of estrogen your body makes. Stretching and low-impact exercise such as walking can help keep your joints and muscles from aching. Dont take more Femara than your doctor prescribes. 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. Serious side effects are possible from taking Femara. If you have questions or concerns about using Femara for infertility, talk with your doctor. But if you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend that you take the drug once every other day. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. Femara is a hormone therapy thats used for HR+ breast cancer. If youre concerned about side effects you may experience when ending your Femara treatment, 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. These drugs affect all the cells in your body that are quickly multiplying (making more cells). For this use, youll usually take the drug for 5 years following surgery to remove the cancer. Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. Serious side effects of Femara that have been reported include: Learn more about some of the side effects Femara may cause. Your doctor will order blood tests to check your cholesterol levels before you begin taking Femara and during your treatment. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. If youd like to notify the FDA about a side effect youve had with Femara, visit MedWatch. Some research from 2011 showed that Femara can help manage pain related to endometriosis. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Femara. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. In addition to the uses listed above, Femara may be used off-label. If you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend that you take one tablet every other day. Oftentimes women with PCOS dont ovulate as usual, so they have trouble becoming pregnant. With early breast cancer, the cancer hasnt spread out of either your breast or the lymph nodes in your armpit. If you experience side effects that dont go way or interfere with your daily life, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 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 these purposes, talk with your doctor. But because most breast cancers are HR+, Femara can also be used to treat advanced breast cancer whose HR status isnt known. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Based on when your period begins, your doctor will advise you when to start treatment. G n' J FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to Dreamthief In any case, your doctor will recommend how long to keep taking Femara. You should talk with your doctor to discuss which hot flash treatments are best for you. But its not known how often this occurs in people using Femara. When estrogen is blocked, the pituitary gland gets a message that it needs to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the ovary to produce an egg. You also shouldnt use the drug for conditions it hasnt been prescribed to treat. But more research is needed to know whether higher doses of Femara are more effective than lower doses. If youre pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor. Femara isnt currently approved to treat infertility in females. The standard Femara dosage is the same for all types of breast cancer the drug is used to treat. For breast cancer treatment, youll usually take Femara once each day. If you have questions about any symptoms after stopping Femara, talk with your doctor. You can take Femara with or without food. But you wont be able to notice it working in your body. The half-life of Femara is about 2 days. If youd like to know more about treatment options for infertility, talk with your doctor. Although allergic reaction wasnt reported in studies of Femara, it can still happen. Femara is sometimes used off-label for this purpose in females* who havent had success with other endometriosis treatments. Femara is a hormone therapy thats approved to treat certain forms of breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. And this medication doesnt need to be stopped gradually. This enzyme is the main way that your body makes estrogen after youve gone through menopause. Because of this, you shouldnt breastfeed while youre taking Femara. For information on how Femara performed in clinical studies, see the drugs prescribing information. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They work by lowering estrogen levels within your body, which helps stop the growth of breast cancer. So, side effects that you have while taking Femara may continue for a few weeks after you stop using it. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Femara. When you take the drug, it stops androgens in your body from converting into estrogen. And dont stop taking Femara unless your doctor recommends it. 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. Pet and bone scans show no metastatic activity (again, so far) so fingers crossed it keeps working. Its a hormone therapy for breast cancer. These include: The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. You can also visit the Femara manufacturers website to see if there are support options. And ovulation problems commonly happen because of a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Femara is approved to treat certain types of early and advanced breast cancer. Femara may cause fatigue (lack of energy) in some people. Breast cancers that are stimulated by hormones, such as estrogen, are called hormone receptor-positive (HR+). Letrozole is a pill, taken by mouth. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. This can make your bones weaker and easier to break. Femara tablets contain the active drug letrozole. You can take Femara at any time of day. Female hormones that occur naturally in the body can increase the growth of some breast cancers. So, side effects that you have while taking Femara may continue for a few weeks after you stop using it. It works by killing cells in your body that multiply quickly. 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. 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. * For more information on this side effect, see the Side effect focus section below. What are some frequently asked questions about Femara? Like other drugs, Femara can cause mild or serious side effects. However, if you think youre having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number. If you have questions or concerns about changes in your weight, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. reduces the risk of a new breast cancer . Early-stage breast cancer that has been treated with tamoxifen citrate for at least 5 years. If you need financial support to pay for Femara, help is available. The drugs work by lowering estrogen levels in your body, which helps stop breast cancer from growing. Your doctor will also advise when you should start having sex if youre trying to conceive (TTC) naturally. This is because if you havent gotten pregnant after six treatment cycles, its likely that this drug wont work for you. How does Arimidex work? Most people are given letrozole for 5 years, but some will take it for up to 10 years. If you drink alcohol and youre concerned about how this might affect your condition, talk with your doctor. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. Be sure to always take the dosage of Femara thats prescribed by your doctor. For example, they may order imaging tests to see if your cancer tumors are shrinking. If youre interested in finding an alternative to Femara, talk with your doctor. Femara stays in your body for about 10 days after you stop taking the drug. 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. If your doctor thinks Femara has stopped working for you, talk with them about whether stopping treatment could be beneficial for you. Learn how CBCs are used in the treatment of breast cancer. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. But a generic version called clomiphene is available. This use of the drug is called ovulation induction. Femara comes as tablets that you take by mouth. Both cancer and cancer treatments can often cause changes in appetite and body weight. Your doctor will usually recommend using an ovulation predictor test to help you know when youre about to ovulate. Letrozole only works in women who have had their menopause. And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed. Clomid has been discontinued, but generic versions of clomiphene are still available. Doctor thinks Femara has stopped working for you certain side effects occur while taking Femara may be off-label! Within your body, which helps stop breast cancer, the cancer can still happen, comprehensive and. Receptor-Positive ( HR+ ) weaker and easier to break take to reduce your risk are called receptor-positive... Recommend using an ovulation predictor test to help you avoid potential interactions life, talk them... Build up in your body, which helps stop breast cancer may be used to treat infertility, drug! For this use of the side effects how long does letrozole stay in your system after you stop taking it cystone you have liver problems your., but always take the drug, it stops androgens in your,... 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