Femara

Femara (Generic: Letrozole) belongs to a group of drugs known as an aromatase inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of specific types of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Although it is approved by the FDA for breast cancer, it may also be used to stimulate ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and unexplained infertility. Many fertility specialists recommend Femara over Clomiphene citrate because it has fewer side effects than Clomid, and there is a lower chance of multiple pregnancies. The second reason is, it is used in people with Clomid resistance. Originally manufactured by Novartis, Femara was approved in 1997 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Femara Tablet Uses Letrozole has been used in Estrogen receptor-positive early breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is also used in early invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal ladies when five years of tamoxifen therapy have failed to work. It is used in advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is additionally employed in pre-operative treatment in postmenopausal women with localized hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Femara is most commonly used in unexplained infertility. (off-label use) It is used to stimulate ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Note: Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in this medication guide. Contraindications It is contraindicated by the following conditions: Premenopausal women Liver disease (especially cirrhosis) It is contraindicated in people allergic to the active ingredient present or any of the excipients. Osteoporosis, Osteopenia (low bone mineral density), High cholesterol; or If you also take tamoxifen. The use of Femara might cause decreases in the density of your bones and increase bone fractures and osteoporosis. Avoid if you are under 18 years of age. Precautions Before taking this drug, Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to Femara or any other ingredients in this medication. Tell your GP if you have high cholesterol, liver disease, and osteoporosis. Tell your doctor about your current as well as past medical history. Tell him your other prescriptions, and non-prescription drugs, nutritional supplements you are taking. Tell Your Doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant before starting Femara. Don’t take Femara if you still have periods. This drug is only used in women who are no longer having periods. Always check the expiry date and Don’t take it after the Expiry date printed on the packing. Mechanism Of Action Letrozole is a selective nonsteroidal inhibitor of the aromatase enzyme system; it inhibits the conversion of androgens to estrogens. In adult nontumor- and tumor-bearing females, Letrozole is as effective as ovariectomy in reducing uterine weight. It also causes elevating blood serum luteinizing hormone and inflicts the regression of estrogen-dependent tumors. In distinction to ovariectomy, treatment with Letrozole doesn’t cause a rise in serum follicle-stimulating hormone. Letrozole selectively inhibits gonadal steroidogenesis but has no important effect on adrenal mineralocorticoid or glucocorticoid synthesis. Letrozole inhibits the aromatase enzyme by competitively binding to the heme of the cytochrome P450 subunit of the enzyme. This inhibition leads to a reduction of estrogen synthesis in all tissues. Treatment of women with Letrozole significantly lowers blood serum estrone, estradiol, and estrone sulfate. However, it has not been shown to affect adrenal corticosteroid synthesis, aldosterone synthesis, or the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Pharmacokinetics Letrozole (Femara Tablet) is quickly absorbed with 100% bioavailability. However, it has a slow metabolism, a large volume of Distribution, and a Time half (t½) of approximately 40 hours. Drug Interactions If you take other medicines or over-the-counter medicines simultaneously, the effects of Femara Tablet may change. This may increase the risk of side effects or make your medications not work correctly. Tell your doctor about all the medicines, supplements, herbal remedies, and vitamins you use. Femara can interact with the following medications: Don’t Take Letrozole if you are already taking tamoxifen. While interaction with warfarin showed no clinical effect of Letrozole on warfarin pharmacokinetics. Cimetidine showed no clinically significant effect on letrozole pharmacokinetics. Femara may also interact with Estrogens (Conjugated estrogens and Ethinyl estradiol). Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking Letrozole because it slows down the breakdown of Letrozole. This could cause letrozole levels in the blood to rise dangerously high. Alcohol or marijuana can make you dizzier. Limit alcohol while taking Femara. It may also interact with Citalopram, Thalidomide, and Clopidogrel. It may also interact with Birth Control pills. According to a study published in the Journal, of Cell Chemical Biology suggests that exposure to the Estrogen mimicking compound could significantly reduce the effectiveness of anti-estrogen therapies like the Letrozole and palbociclib combination. Foods to avoid while taking Letrozole for fertility While taking letrozole for fertility, there are no specific foods to avoid, as food doesn’t interact with letrozole directly. However, it’s advisable to limit consumption of foods high in estrogen, as they may counteract the medication’s effects and potentially increase side effects. Additionally, it’s a good idea to reduce intake of alcohol, high-sugar foods, refined carbohydrates, excessive caffeine, saturated fats, and processed foods during this time. Femara Tablet Side Effects Like any other medicine, Femara can cause some side effects along with its beneficial effects. Therefore, it is essential to know the side effects before taking it. Most people do not feel all the side effects of Femara. Side effects are often predictable in terms of appearance and duration. In addition, the side effects of Femara are almost always reversible and disappear once treatment is complete. The following is a list of possible side effects that may occur from using this medicine; Most common Femara Side effects The most common side effects from this medication include: Nausea, Vomiting, Hot flushes, Dyspepsia, Dizziness, Headache, Diarrhea, Constipation, Anorexia, Depression, Hypercholesteremia, Raised sweating, Alopecia, Increased craving, Peripheral edema, Skin rashes, Bone fracture, Osteoporosis etc. Less Common Side Effects Less common side effects from Femara Tablet include Tachycardia, High blood pressure, Palpitation, Cough, Dyspnea, Anxiety, Insomnia, Memory impairment, Taste disturbance, Urticaria, Pruritis, Dry skin, Urinary frequency, Abdominal pain, Thrombophlebitis, Urinary tract infection, Viginal discharge,