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Femara is a prescription medicine that is available as a Tablet. Primarily, it is used for the treatment of Breast Cancer.
The optimal dosage of Femara is largely dependent on the individual's body weight, medical history, gender and age. Besides the medical condition it is advised for, the route of administration also plays an important role in determining the correct drug dosage. Detailed information has been provided in the dosage section.
Femara also has some side effects, the most common being Hot Flashes, Musculoskeletal Pain (Bone, Muscle or Joint). While these are the most often observed Femara side effects, there are can be others also. These have been listed below. Normally, these side effects of Femara are not long lasting and go away when the treatment is finished. However, if these continue for a longer time, consult your doctor right away.
Furthermore, you should know that effect of Femara is Severe for pregnant women and Severe for women who are breastfeeding. It is important to know if Femara has any effect on the kidney, liver and heart. Information on such adverse effects, if any, has been given in the Femara related warnings section.
Femara is contraindicated in people with pre-existing medical conditions like Liver Disease as it can result in adverse effects. Other conditions have been mentioned below in the Femara contraindications section.
Besides this, Femara may also have severe interaction with some medicines. See below for a complete list.
You should also be aware that Femara is not safe while driving, and is not addiction.
Femara is used to treat the following -
Main Benefits
This is the usual dosage recommended in most common treatment cases. Please remember that every patient and their case is different, so the dosage can be different based on the disease, route of administration, patient's age and medical history.
Find the right dosage based on disease and age
Age Group | Dosage |
Adult(Female) |
|
Geriatric |
|
Is the use of Femara safe for pregnant women?
Femara should not be taken during pregnancy, or should only be taken on the advice of a doctor as it may have severe side effects.
Is the use of Femara safe during breastfeeding?
Femara may cause serious side effects in breastfeeding women, so do not take this drug without doctor's advice.
What is the effect of Femara on the Kidneys?
Femara rarely affects the kidneys.
What is the effect of Femara on the Liver?
The liver can be affected by Femara. If you experience any unwanted effects of this drug, stop taking it and consult your doctor. You should restart Femara only after medical advice.
What is the effect of Femara on the Heart?
Femara may cause harmful effects on the heart. if you feel it's having any such effect, then stop taking this drug, and restart only on your doctor's advice.
Femara should not be taken with following medicines due to severe side effects it may cause to patients -
Severe
Moderate
If you are suffering from any of the following diseases, you should not take Femara unless your doctor advises you to do so -
Is this Femara habit forming or addictive?
No, you will not get addicted to Femara.
Is it safe to drive or operate heavy machinery when consuming?
No, you should do not do anything that requires concentration and attention as the Femara can make you feel drowsy.
Is it safe?
Femara is safe but it is important to consult a doctor before taking it.
Is it able to treat mental disorders?
There is no benefit of taking Femara for mental disorders.
Interaction between Food and Femara
Information is not available on the interaction of any foods with Femara, due to a lack of research on this.
Interaction between Alcohol and Femara
It is difficult to say anything about the effect of Femara and alcohol. No research has been done on this yet.
Yes Femara can be taken along with tamoxifen at the same time because tamoxifen decreases levels of letrozole by unknown mechanism. Hence taking Femara with tamoxifen at the same time should be avoided.
Rarely, Femara causes weight fluctuation (weight gain or weight loss). However, the exact cause behind weight fluctuation is unknown but it is presumed that this occurs due to fluctuation in hormone levels in the body caused by this drug. If you experience any unusual sudden weight gain or loss after taking this drug, then consult it with your doctor without further delay.
Femara contains letrozole that works in breast cancer by blocking an enzyme (aromatase) which prevents the conversion of androgens (androstenedione and testosterone) to estrogens (estrone and estradiol) due to this levels of estrogen hormones drop in the body. The decrease in hormone levels leads to a reduction in tumor mass or delays the progression of tumor growth in some women. For an ovulation (infertility), it is presumed that Femara works by increasing the sensitivity of ovary to follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and also low level of estrogen hormones in the blood is detected by the brain which in turn increases the production of a follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) which causes induction of ovulation.
No, Femara does not cause ovarian cysts. It has not been reported by the patients who are taking this drug. However, the possibility of ovarian cysts formation by this drug because of long-term use in high doses cannot be denied.
Yes, Femara may cause spotting or vaginal bleeding which is harmless. It is a very rare side effect of this drug. It might occur due to fluctuation in hormone levels in the body.
This medicine data has been created by -
B.Pharma, Pharmacy
5 Years of Experience
References
April Hazard Vallerand, Cynthia A. Sanoski. [link]. Sixteenth Edition. Philadelphia, China: F. A. Davis Company; 2019: Page No 758
KD Tripathi. [link]. Seventh Edition. New Delhi, India: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2013: Page No 314-315
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [Internet]. Maryland. USA; Package leaflet information for the user; Femara (letrozole)