Product Information

A potent aromatase inhibitor.

Femara ® is the best known brand of a drug called Letrozole.

This is a potent and selective non-steroidal inhibitor of the Aromatase (estrogen synthetase) system, which converts testosterone and adrenal androgens to estrogens in peripheral tissue.

Femara is used in the treatment of advanced or locally advanced breast cancer, and as adjuvant treatment in early breast cancer. In postmenopausal women the dose is often 2.5mg daily by mouth.

However, Femara is also used by "aging" men, who want to reduce their conversion of testosterone and adrenal hormones to estrogens. This is because it is quite common for a 59-year old man to have more estrogen circulating (primarily as estradiol), than a 54-year old woman!

It is thus believed that "skewed" estrogen ratios, possibly caused by toxins, environmental factors and aging, play a major role in the formation of cancers in both men and women, (particularly prostate, cervical and breast), and also lead to other disturbances such as increased fat deposits etc.

Your estradiol, estrone and testosterone levels can be monitored using the saliva test kit.

Although it's an unofficial use, an average of 1.25mg Femara, once or twice per week is used by men who wish to see their estrogen levels decline, and their free testosterone levels increase.

Manufacturer's Insert

FEMARA ® 2.5mg Tablets

What's in your medicine?

Femara contains 2.5mg letrozole in each tablet. The film-coated tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients:
Silica aerogel, Cellulose, lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, sodium Carboxymethyl starch, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, talc, titanium dioxide (E171) and iron oxide yellow (E172).

What is the medicine used for?

Femara blocks the production of Estrogen's. It is used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer women who are post-menopausal.
It can be used to treat localised breast cancer in postmenopausal women before breast surgery. Your doctor will arrange regular check-ups during this treatment period before surgery. As there is a risk that your disease could progress even whilst taking this medicine.

Before taking your medicine ask yourself the following questions

• Have you ever had an allergic reaction to letrozole or any of the inactive ingredients (see "Whats In your Medicine")
• Is there any possibility that you might be pregnant?
• Do you suffer from any serious liver disease?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, do not take the tablets without talking to your doctor again.

• If you suffer from any serious kidney disease, tell your doctor.

Is there anything else you need to know before taking your medicine?

• If you feel dizzy or drowsy when you start to take Femara, do not drive or work with machinery until this effect has worn off.

How to take your medicine

It is important to take your tablets as instructed by your doctor. The usual dose of Femara is 1 tablet once a day.

What if you miss a dose?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then go on as before.

What if you take too many?

If you accidentally take too many Femara tablets, tell your doctor at once or contact you're nearest hospital casualty department. Take your medicine with you.

After taking your medicine

These tablets sometimes cause unwanted effects in some people. These effects are often mild and may wear off after a few days' treatment. However, if they are severe or last for more than a few days, tell your doctor.

Some of these unwanted effects may also be due to your illness.

• Pain in your muscles, bones or joints; shortness of breath; headache; nausea or sickness; fatigue; stomach upsets or pain; constipation or diarrhoea; change in weight; coughing; hot flushes or increased sweating; skin rash; increase or loss of appetite; chest pain; oedema (water retention); viral infections.

Also, if your medicine upsets you in any other way, tell your doctor.

How to store your medicine

• The expiry date for these tablets is given on the carton. Do not take the tablets after this date.
• Store your tablets in a cool (below 30 degrees C), dry place, out of the reach of children. Keep in the original package. Return any unused medicines to your pharmacist.

Remember this medicine is for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Never give it to somebody else. It may harm them even if they have the same symptoms as you.