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| Pronunciation |
|
 (LET
roe
zole) |
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| Brand Names |
|
| Femara® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Antineoplastic Agent, Miscellaneous; Aromatase Inhibitor |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you are allergic to letrozole or any other part of the medicine.
- If you are pregnant or
breast-feeding.
|
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|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
It may be used as the initial treatment. If the breast cancer has grown while on
another medicine (that works against estrogen) then letrozole may be
substituted.
|
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|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Letrozole prevents your body from making estrogen. Estrogen may be the
hormone that causes the breast cancer to grow. By removing the estrogen from
your body the cancer may stop
growing.
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|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Take at a similar time
everyday.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
|
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|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Use caution if you have high blood pressure. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- This medicine is for postmenopausal women. It is not for pregnant or
breast-feeding women.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Pain in the muscles, bones, and back.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Hot flashes.
- Shortness of breath.
- Cough.
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| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Watch for side effects. Report them to your healthcare provider.
- Check weight weekly.
- Check blood pressure regularly.
- Check lipid (cholesterol) panel. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Severe headaches, weakness, numbness or loss of strength in any part
of the body, difficulty speaking.
- Chest pain or pressure, fast heartbeats.
- Swollen, painful leg or arm, suddenly short of breath.
- Vaginal bleeding.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
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- Store in tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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