Femara isnt currently approved to treat infertility in females. Femara contains the active drug letrozole, while Clomid contains the active drug clomiphene. 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 youre concerned about weight gain while taking Femara, talk with your doctor. If youre already ovulating before taking Femara, the drug may cause more eggs than usual to mature and be released from your ovaries. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Femara. Infertility is often caused by problems with ovulation (when eggs are released from your ovaries). All rights reserved. The half-life of Femara is about 2 days. Femara comes as tablets that you take by mouth. Cancer cells usually increase in number more quickly than healthy cells. The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. Nausea. * In this article, we use the term female to refer to someones sex assigned at birth. You should take Letrozole at about the same time each day. The greater the density, the stronger your bones are. Its used to treat the following types of cancer: Femara comes as a tablet you take by mouth once per day. This can make your bones weaker and easier to break. However, its possible that certain plant-based estrogens (called phytoestrogens) could make Femara less effective. Breast Cancer Treatment: Why Some Older Patients May Not Need Radiation, TV Host Samantha Harris Says her Breast Cancer Was Misdiagnosed for Months. Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs they have approved. Can breast cancer return while on letrozole? Letrozole may be used: Prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove breast tissue. Serious side effects, which are explained in more detail below in Side effect details, include: You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use its online resource. headache*. Women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer face years of adjuvant . Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Your doctor may ask you to start taking the drug either on day 3 or day 5 of your menstrual cycle. * In this article, we use the term female to refer to someones sex assigned at birth. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. A study has found that taking Femara for 10 years instead of 5: reduces the risk of recurrence. For hot flashes, you should first try to relieve symptoms through lifestyle changes. Instead, Femara is a hormone therapy. Femara may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. (With osteoporosis, you have weak, thin bones.). Headaches were a common side effect in studies of Femara. This condition is called controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, or superovulation. Here are some common questions about taking Femara tablets. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. Also, keep in mind that Femara isnt approved to treat breast cancer in females who havent gone through menopause yet. Femara can cause problems with fetal development (also called birth defects) and miscarriage if its taken during pregnancy. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Femara. The usual dosage of Femara for inducing ovulation is 2.5 mg taken by mouth once daily for 5 days. Some people may experience mild or serious side effects during their Femara treatment. Ophthalmology 54 years experience Few: Femara ( letrozole) blocks the formation of estrogen. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. 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. Heres some detail on several of the side effects this drug cause. Femara can stay in your system for several weeks after your last dose. For more information about using Femara to treat infertility, see the section Off-label use of Femara for infertility above. It should be safe to drink alcohol during your Femara treatment. (Letrozole is the active drug in Femara.) Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Femara is classified as an aromatase inhibitor. Generic forms of Femara are available. But because most breast cancers are HR+, Femara can also be used to treat advanced breast cancer whose HR status isnt known. Severe liver problems can cause the level of Femara to build up in your body, which can raise your risk for side effects. You may have questions about Femara and your treatment plan. In all of these cases, Femara is used to treat infertility by inducing (causing) ovulation. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include: A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. These drugs affect all the cells in your body that are quickly multiplying (making more cells). Your side effect notes can include things such as: Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how the drug affects you. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. The Femara dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. This drug may cause weak bones. No, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasnt approved Femara for use in bodybuilding. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as in bathrooms. If youre interested in using Femara for this purpose, talk with your doctor. Limiting alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. However, if you think youre having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number. More specifically, Femara is a type of hormone therapy called an aromatase inhibitor. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. A medication timer may be useful, too. Female infertility refers to not being able to become or stay pregnant. If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. What can I do to help relieve this side effect? If youd like to know more about how Femara and Arimidex compare with each other, see this detailed breakdown. your doctor may . The standard Femara dosage is the same for all types of breast cancer the drug is used to treat. There are also some steps you can take to help strengthen your bones naturally. When talking with your doctor, you may want to ask the following questions: To learn more about breast cancer and its treatment options, sign up for Healthlines breast cancer newsletter. If you have questions about taking Femara with other drugs, talk with your doctor. If you would like to report to the FDA a side effect youve had with Femara, you can do so through MedWatch. Should I use other breast cancer treatments while taking Femara? Like most drugs, Femara can cause an allergic reaction in some people. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Femara to treat certain conditions. If youre taking Femara, your doctor may want to measure your bone mineral density. (Day 1 of your menstrual cycle is the first day of your period.) However, its important to note that alcohol and Femara can have similar side effects. Talk with your doctor if youre pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed. Femara is a hormone therapy thats approved to treat certain forms of breast cancer in females* whove gone through menopause. Bone fracture; breast pain; chest pain This was common in clinical studies of the drug. You may take Letrozole with or without food. Because these drugs work in the same way, their side effects are very similar. Its available in one strength: 2.5 mg. For information on the effectiveness of Femara, see the Femara uses section below. You should talk with your doctor to discuss which hot flash treatments are best for you. Not taking letrozole for the recommended time may increase the risk of your breast cancer coming back. They may want to prescribe medication to help protect your bones during your Femara treatment. However, the drug may be used off-label for this purpose. Femara may be used off-label to treat infertility due to PCOS and other causes. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking letrozole: Less common. Breast cancer develops when cells in your breast tissue start to grow and multiply more quickly than usual. Trying mental and stress-relief activities such as. If letrozole stops working and your breast cancer comes back, your specialist may prescribe another hormone drug. Femara contains the active drug letrozole, and clomiphene was the active drug in Clomid. The recommended length of time that letrozole is taken for will depend on your individual situation. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Breast cancer occurs when breast cells grow rapidly and out of control. In fact, aromatase inhibitors such as Femara are recommended in current guidelines for people with HR+ breast cancer. 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. Femara is used in the following ways to treat advanced breast cancer: Femara has been found to be effective in treating advanced breast cancer. See Femaras prescribing information for details. Femara can stay in your system after you stop taking the drug. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. However, if you find that Femara gives you a headache, or makes you feel dizzy, nauseous, or tired, drinking alcohol may worsen these side effects. Common side effects can be like menopause symptomsand include hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, tiredness and low mood. Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion: Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. These can include: If these changes dont ease your symptoms of hot flashes, you may need to take medication. Talk with your doctor about how long you should take Femara for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Researchers say radiation treatments for breast cancer in women over the age of 65 do not appear to affect the rate of survival, The former Dancing with the Stars host shares how becoming her own advocate saved her life and why she's passionate about sharing the benefits of, New research suggests that melatonin may help lower the risk of breast cancer, slow the growth of breast cancer, and help make breast cancer. (Off-label use is when a drug thats approved for one condition is used to treat another.) Whether Femara or clomiphene is more effective for you may depend on the cause of your infertility. Femara is prescribed to treat certain types of breast cancer in adult females* who have gone through menopause. Its typically used in combination with a progestin hormone for this use. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. They may suggest an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), or a topical product, such as hydrocortisone cream, to manage your symptoms. 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. Before you take Femara, tell your doctor if you have any liver problems, including cirrhosis. Femara isnt approved to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Mineral density side effects during their Femara treatment Femara to build up in your body that quickly... Should not be used: Prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove breast tissue start to grow and more! 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