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Letrozole

(let' roe zole)

Brand name(s): Femara

About your treatment

Your doctor has ordered the drug letrozole to help treat your illness. The drug can be taken by mouth in tablet form.

This medication is used to treat:

• advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression after antiestrogen therapy

Letrozole is in a class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors; it prevents formation of estrogen. Although estrogen is a hormone naturally produced by the body, it can stimulate and maintain the growth of certain types of cancer. Letrozole slows or stops the growth of cancer cells by decreasing the amount of estrogen produced.

Precautions

Before taking letrozole,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to letrozole or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor or pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, including vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.

Side effects

Although side effects from letrozole are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• vomiting
• muscle or bone pain
• fatigue
• headache
• dizziness
• muscle weakness
• swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs
• loss of appetite
• constipation
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• hot flashes
• cough

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• rash

Storage conditions

Keep letrozole in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Last Revised - 01/01/2003

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer

The MedMaster™ Patient Drug Information database provides information copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland Copyright© 2004. All Rights Reserved.

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