Spot the signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer, 1. 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. If fatigue happens while youre using letrozole, try taking your dose at night. Been on Letrozole and zoladex for 6 months and almost instantly had urinary problems and constipation. This causes pain, tingling and numbness in your arm, hand or fingers. This treatment approach isnt right for everyone. Bone fractures: Sudden pain, swelling, or trouble moving a limb may be signs of a bone fracture. Burstein, H. J. So, its recommended that you dont take the drugs at the same time. Letrozole is a hormone therapy drug. Ditropan (oxybutynin)." European Journal of Cancer. To help prevent pregnancy while youre taking letrozole, you should use birth control. But it can treat other forms of infertility, as well. Its important to keep up with regular screenings for bone loss and cholesterol changes while taking letrozole. Your specialist may suggest changing to a differentaromatase inhibitorsuch asanastrozoleorexemestane, or anotherhormone treatment, as some women get on better with a different drug. Letrozole and tamoxifen are both used to treat breast cancer. If you have difficulty sleeping (insomnia), some simple things like limiting caffeine in the afternoon and evening, keeping your room dark and quiet, and going to bed and getting up at a set time each day may help. They can also answer other questions related to using this drug for infertility. Oncologist wasn't bothered about it and did suggest me taking cranberry juice but not one I have tried. If you have concerns about eating certain foods with letrozole, talk with your doctor. These symptoms can include: An itchy or burning sensation in your vagina and vulva. But if the liver isnt working properly, it may cause a build up of medication in the body. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how letrozole will affect you. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk. So, blocking the actions of aromatase lowers estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. Added to Saved items. It is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 39,784 people who have side effects when taking Letrozole from the FDA, and is updated regularly. Find out more aboutlooking after your bones and osteoporosis . Take calcium and vitamin D as you were told by your doctor. It can also help to increase egg production in women who ovulate normally but have unexplained infertility. To understand diagnoses, you should understand breast cancer staging and what each means for overall outlook. Can Breast Cancer Be Detected in a Complete Blood Count (CBC)? Whether youve been prescribed letrozole for breast cancer or infertility, you may be wondering about what side effects to expect. Continue reading. They may be able to put letrozole tablets in an easy-open container. Its also important to keep active and eat a high-fibre diet to avoid constipation. But before starting any new medications, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Letrozole can cause bone pain and joint pain. Without it, bone loss often happens (more about this next). People with breast cancer have a higher risk of blood clots such as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Coping with the side effects of letrozole Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with use of letrozole oral tablets. Registered Office: Fifth Floor, Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY. Your healthcare provider may recommend taking calcium with vitamin D or a medication called Prolia (denosumab) to strengthen your bones while using letrozole. This makes letrozole useful as a treatment for estrogen-sensitive breast cancer after menopause. For breast cancer, the recommended letrozole dosage is one 2.5-mg tablet once daily. Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on May 4, 2022. Before taking this medicine Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. You may take letrozole with or without food. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. O 0. Letrozole is used to treat the following types of breast cancer: Letrozole decreases the amount of estrogen in your body. Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. skin hypersensitivity. With approval from my oncologist and urogyn, I use a small amount of . If you are having difficulty accessing this website, please call or email us at (855) 268-2822 or ada@goodrx.com so that we can provide you with the services you require through alternative means. Dosage form: oral tablet (2.5 mg) Nausea and vomiting Letrozole may also make you feel sick (nausea) or be sick (vomiting). When used for infertility, about 22% of people reported feeling tired. Muscle and joint pain is the most common reason that people decide to stop using letrozole. This bone loss may cause joint pain. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of letrozole on the serum lipid profile in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. Like hot flashes, night sweats can happen when estrogen levels are low. Letrozole is made by a number of different manufacturers. Bone pain, joint pain or muscle ache. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. How many cycles of letrozole are needed to get pregnant? Heres a short list of some of the mild side effects that letrozole oral tablets can cause. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Mild side effects of letrozole oral tablets that have been reported include: hot flashes feeling weak or having increased tiredness dizziness belly pain or cramping hair loss swelling, usually in. GoodRx provides no warranty for any information. In studies of letrozole for PCOS-related infertility, about 20% reported this side effect. If you're worried about any long term side effects after stopping letrozole, speak to your treatment team or GP. This rapid growth of cells can cause a tumor to form in your breast. blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin, holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there. (PCOS can affect ovulation, and its one of the more common causes of infertility in females. Letrozole causes a reduction in estrogen, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or who have had an abnormal response to clomiphene citrate, and in men with advanced prostate cancer. They can suggest ways to help you manage a body weight thats healthy for you. Bryant Ranch Prepack. Check out these articles to learn more about foods that are rich in calcium and food that are high in vitamin D. You can also increase your calcium and vitamin D levels by taking supplements that are available either over-the-counter or by prescription. Let your doctor know about your missed period and your test results. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use its online resource. This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. GoodRx helps find the best price for you. , 7 , ? Bone loss can be prevented with calcium and vitamin D. The most common way to increase levels of calcium and vitamin D is by consuming them. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about taking supplements or other ways to prevent or manage weakened bones. . [Ref], Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection, urinary hesitation, urinary retention, dysuria, increased post void retention, Frequency not reported: Impotence, suppression of lactation, cystitis, aggravation of prostatic hypertrophy[Ref], Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fungal infection[Ref], Very common (10% or more): Application site pruritus (16.8%), Common (1% to 10%): Application site erythema, application site vesicles, application site rash, application site macules[Ref], Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anorexia, fluid retention[Ref], Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 17%), somnolence (up to 14%), headache, drowsiness, confusion, Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysphagia, convulsions, Frequency not reported: Cognitive disorders in elderly, convulsions, agitation, nightmares, anxiety, paranoia, symptoms of depression, hallucinations, asthenia, insomnia, restlessness, dependence to this drug (in patients with history of drug or substance abuse)[Ref], Common (1% to 10%): Blurred vision, dry eye, abnormal vision, Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Angle closure glaucoma, Frequency not reported: Onset of narrow-angle glaucoma, mydriasis, intraocular hypertension, amblyopia, cycloplegia, decreased lacrimation[Ref], Frequency not reported: Falls, accidental injury[Ref], Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia, nervousness, Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hallucinations, confusional state, agitation, memory impairment, Frequency not reported: Psychotic disorder, anxiety, nightmares, paranoia, abnormal behavior[Ref], Common (1% to 10%): Cough, oropharyngeal pain, dry throat, nasal dryness, Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Upper respiratory tract infection, rhinitis, chest discomfort, hoarseness, Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Nasal congestion, throat irritation[Ref]. Data are scarce concerning the influence of these drugs on serum lipid levels. If you have questions about taking letrozole with other drugs, talk with your doctor. The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits athletes in competitive sports from using letrozole for non-approved uses. Letrozole and other drugs in the same group of medications commonly cause joint pain and stiffness. These drugs include: This list doesnt contain all types of drugs that may interact with letrozole oral tablets. Lets review. (2021). Blood clots can be harmful but are treatable so its important to report symptoms as soon as possible. Letrozole is an oral medication known as an aromatase inhibitor. The risk of myocardial infarction with aromatase inhibitors relative to tamoxifen in post-menopausal women with early stage breast cancer. Femara is available in generic form. Their risk is higher because of the cancer itself and some treatments for breast cancer. Letrozole has some serious side effects. The cells may even spread to other parts of your body. http://www.appco.com.au/appguide/default.asp" (2006): Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. (With dependence, your body needs the drug for you to feel as you usually would.) If your joint pain doesnt get better, talk with your doctor. You can use the study as a second opinion to make health care decisions. Hoechst Marion Roussel (2001): 2. Sometimes your immune system can attack normal, noncancerous parts of your body, such as your colon (colitis). Taking medications, vaccines, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works. Some other side effects of letrozole take a few months to develop and tend to persist long term until you stop taking letrozole. But sometimes, metformin is given together with clomiphene to help treat infertility in females with PCOS. In some cases, letrozole is prescribed for early breast cancer thats already been treated with surgery plus 5 years of tamoxifen therapy. Heres a list of common questions related to taking letrozole. Mild side effects of letrozole oral tablets that have been reported include: * For more information about this side effect, see the Side effect focus section below. (2021). Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. If you have a history of high cholesterol you may want to discuss this with your specialist or GP. q. Letrozole belongs to the class of medicines known as aromatase inhibitors. You should also continue to use birth control for at least 3 weeks after you stop treatment. You can unsubscribe at any time. 2.5 mg orally once a dayDuration of therapy:-Adjuvant and extended adjuvant settings: Optimal duration is unknown; discontinue therapy at relapse.-Advanced disease: Until tumor progression is evident.Uses: -Adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive early breast cancer-Extended adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have received 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy-First-line treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive or unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer; second-line treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following antiestrogen therapy. Chemotherapy drugs are also a type of cancer treatment. Your doctor will recommend the dosage of letrozole oral tablets thats right for you. Tiredness and lack of energy may occur. It can usually be relieved with mild pain relief like paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen.