Letrozole comes as a tablet to take by mouth once a day with or without food. Take letrozole at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take letrozole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
You may need to take letrozole for several years or longer. Continue to take letrozole even if you feel well. Do not stop taking letrozole without talking to your doctor. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Letrozole may cause or worsen osteoporosis. It can decrease the density of your bones and increase the chance of broken bones and fractures. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication. Letrozole may cause other side effects.
Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.
Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
When letrozole is given 6. How long will I have to take it? Taking letrozole with other drugs. Letrozole is a drug used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through the menopause. You may also hear it called Femara, which is its best-known brand name. There are a number of other brands of letrozole, all of which contain the same dose of the drug. Men with breast cancer may be given letrozole, although another drug called tamoxifen is more commonly used.
Some breast cancers are stimulated to grow by the hormone oestrogen. Letrozole belongs to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. Letrozole is suitable for women who have been through the menopause and whose breast cancer is oestrogen receptor positive. Find out more about the side effects of letrozole. Letrozole is usually given after surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back or spreading. Letrozole can also be used to treat breast cancer that has come back recurrence.
Letrozole can be taken by adults only aged 18 years and over. Tell your doctor before starting on this medicine if you: have had an allergic reaction to letrozole or any other medicines in the past still have periods are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding have serious kidney or liver disease have been told you have fragile or brittle bones osteoporosis.
Letrozole comes as 2. The usual dose is 1 tablet, taken once a day. What if I forget to take it? Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Like all medicines, letrozole can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
Common side effects These common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or a pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: hot flushes and sweating dry or itchy vagina, bleeding from your vagina difficulty sleeping feeling very tired feeling or being sick, loss of appetite mild aches in your muscles and bones numb or tingling hands changes to your skin, including a mild rash hair loss low mood or depression Letrozole may also affect your blood pressure, cholesterol and bone density.
Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in people. Urgent advice: Contact now for advice if you have:. Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to letrozole. Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. Information: Find out more about treating symptoms of the menopause.
What to do about: hot flushes and sweating — try cutting down on spicy food, caffeine, smoking and alcohol. It may help to keep the room cool and use a fan.
Try spraying your face with cool water, or sipping a cold drink. Vaginal bleeding usually happens in the first few weeks after starting letrozole. Talk to your doctor if it lasts longer than a few days. Also talk to your doctor if these symptoms first appear more than a few weeks after you start taking letrozole.
Keep your bedroom dark and quiet, and try going to bed and getting up at a set time each day. Stop watching TV and using electronic devices like mobiles or tablets at least 1 hour before bedtime.
Try going to bed and getting up at a set time each day. Do not drive, ride a bike or operate machinery if you feel very tired while taking letrozole. Speak to your doctor if this problem does not gradually improve as your body gets used to the medicine. Choose foods you normally enjoy but avoid rich or spicy food. Try eating smaller meals but more often.
If you're being sick, have small frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or get worse.
If the pain lasts more than a week ask your doctor for advice. If you have a sudden attack of pain in a joint ask a doctor for advice urgently. You can buy these at a pharmacy without a prescription. Check with a pharmacist to see what is suitable for you. This is usually mild.
Ask your breast cancer nurse for advice if this is bothering you. Speak to your doctor or specialist nurse. They may recommend therapies, like cognitive therapy or mindfulness, or antidepressant medicines. Talk to your doctor urgently if there is any chance that you could be pregnant. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. There are very few medicines that interfere with the way letrozole works in the body. Mixing letrozole with herbal remedies and supplements Do not take any herbal remedies or supplements for menopausal symptoms while taking letrozole.
Important Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. How does letrozole work? Letrozole belongs to a group of medicines called aromatase inhibitors. What are the benefits of taking letrozole? Your specialist will be able to explain the benefits and risks of taking letrozole. How long does it take to work? Letrozole will immediately start to reduce the amount of oestrogen in your body.
However, it takes several weeks or months for the medicine to work fully. How long will I take it for Most people who take letrozole will have had surgery, radiotherapy or sometimes chemotherapy to treat their breast cancer first. Is it safe to take for a long time?
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