Femara 2.5mg Tablet (Letrozole)

Recommended Dosage of Femara 2.5mg Tablet

The recommended daily dose for Femara is 2.5 mg. No dose adjustment is necessary for elderly patients.

Warnings and Precautions

Menopausal Status:

If your menopausal status is unclear, your healthcare provider should measure your luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and/or estradiol levels before you start taking Femara. It is important to note that only women who are confirmed to be postmenopausal should use Femara.

Renal Impairment:

If you have significant renal impairment (creatinine clearance lower than 10 ml/min), Femara hasn’t been thoroughly investigated in such cases. You and your healthcare provider should carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits before starting Femara.

Hepatic Impairment:

For patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C), the systemic exposure and half-life of Femara are approximately doubled compared to healthy individuals. If you fall into this category, you should be closely monitored while taking Femara.

Bone Effects:

Femara significantly lowers estrogen levels, which can affect bone health. If you have a history of osteoporosis, fractures, or are at increased risk of osteoporosis, your bone mineral density should be assessed before starting, and monitored during, Femara treatment. You may need to start treatment or prophylaxis for osteoporosis, which should be closely followed. In some cases, a sequential treatment schedule (2 years of letrozole followed by 3 years of tamoxifen) might be considered, depending on your safety profile.

Tendonitis and Tendon Rupture:

Though rare, tendonitis and tendon ruptures can occur. If you experience these issues, your healthcare provider should closely monitor your condition and take appropriate measures, such as immobilisation, for the affected tendon.

Possible Side Effects of Femara Tablets

When you take Femara tablets, you might experience a range of side effects. These can include:

Musculoskeletal pain (pain in your muscles and bones).
Headaches.
Fatigue or feeling very tired.
Gastrointestinal upset (like stomach pain, nausea, or diarrhea).
Dyspnea (shortness of breath).
Viral infections.
Hot flushes.
Abdominal pain.
Joint and muscle pain.
Depression or feeling down.
Dizziness.
Palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing or skipping beats).
High blood pressure.
Vaginal bleeding.
Changes in weight.
Sweating.
Osteoporosis (weakening of bones).
Increased cholesterol levels.
Peripheral edema (swelling of your extremities like hands and feet).
Dry skin.
Skin rash.
Alopecia (bald spots or hair loss).

Can We Use Other Medicines with Femara Tablet?

Currently, there is no clinical experience regarding the use of Femara in combination with estrogens or other anticancer agents, apart from tamoxifen. It’s important to know that tamoxifen, other anti-estrogens, or therapies containing estrogen may reduce the effectiveness of letrozole.

Furthermore, when tamoxifen is taken together with letrozole, it has been shown to significantly lower the plasma concentrations of letrozole. Therefore, you should avoid co-administering letrozole with tamoxifen, other anti-estrogens, or estrogens. If you’re considering combining Femara with other medications, it’s crucial to discuss this with your healthcare provider to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Can Alcohol Drinker Take Femara Tablet?

While there are no known direct interactions between Femara and alcohol, it’s important to note that consuming large amounts of alcohol while taking Femara can increase your risk of osteoporosis. This risk is already heightened by the drug itself. Therefore, it’s wise to be cautious about alcohol consumption during your treatment with Femara.

Can You Take Femara Injection If You’re Pregnant?

Femara is contraindicated, meaning it should not be used, during pregnancy. It is currently unknown whether letrozole, the active ingredient in Femara, and its metabolites are excreted in human breast milk. Therefore, there is a potential risk to newborns or infants, and as such, Femara is also contraindicated during breastfeeding.