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Medications and Drugs

GENERIC NAME: letrozole

BRAND NAME: Femara

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Letrozole is an oral, anti-estrogen drug that is used for treating postmenopausal women with breast cancer. The growth of some breast cancers in postmenopausal women is promoted by estrogens that circulate in the blood, and the adrenal glands are the main source of these circulating estrogens. Letrozole inhibits the enzyme in the adrenal glands (aromatase) that produces the estrogens, estradiol and estrone. Letrozole was approved by the FDA in 1997.

GENERIC AVAILABLE: no

PRESCRIPTION: yes

PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 2.5mg.

STORAGE: Tablets should be stored at room temperature, 15-30 °C (59-86 °F).

PRESCRIBED FOR: Letrozole is used to treat postmenopausal women with breast cancer that is resistant to the more commonly-used anti-estrogen medications such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex). It also is approved for treating postmenopausal women after surgery who have hormone-sensitive early breast cancer.

DOSING: Letrozole generally is taken once daily, with or without food.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: There are no known drug interactions with letrozole.

PREGNANCY: Letrozole damages the fetus. It should not be taken by pregnant women.

NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known if letrozole is secreted into breast milk.

SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects with letrozole are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, diarrhea, constipation, and chest pain. The likelihood of side effects is lower than with other drugs used more commonly in patients with breast cancer that is resistant to treatment with anti-estrogens, for example, megestrol (Megace).

Reference: FDA Prescribing Information


Last Editorial Review: 2/7/2006




Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


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letrozole, Femara

Introduction to breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. While the majority of new breast cancers are diagnosed as a result of an abnormality seen on a mammogram, a lump or change in consistency of the breast tissue can also be a warning sign of the disease. Heightened awareness of breast cancer risk in the past decades has led to an increase in the number of women undergoing mammography for screening, leading to detection of cancers in earlier stages and a resultant improvement in survival rates. Still, breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 45 and 55. Although breast cancer in women is a common form of cancer, male breast cancer does occur and accounts for about 1% of all cancer deaths in men.

Research has yielded much information about the causes of breast cancers, and it is now believed that genetic and/or hormonal fac...

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