Often asked: What happens when you stop taking letrozole?

How long does letrozole stay in your system after you stop taking it?

About 90% of radiolabeled letrozole is recovered in urine. Letrozole’s terminal elimination half-life is about 2 days and steady-state plasma concentration after daily 2.5 mg dosing is reached in 2-6 weeks.

Can breast cancer return while on letrozole?

After a median of 8 years of follow-up from a large randomized trial, women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer who received 5 years of treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole were less likely to have their cancer recur or to die during follow-up than women who had 5 years of treatment with tamoxifen

Can you take a break from letrozole?

Earlier tests on animals have shown that letrozole, following a break in the medication, can have a new and greater effect on the actual development of the cancer. The pause can possibly contribute towards a suppression of the resistance development that takes place during long-term treatment.

Will my hair grow back after stopping letrozole?

Your hair will grow back once you stop treatment with letrozole.

Is there an alternative to letrozole?

Alternatives for advanced breast cancer

anastrozole (Arimidex) letrozole (Femara) tamoxifen (Soltamox)

What are the long term side effects of letrozole?

Long-term use of letrozole may lead to hypoestrogenism, which is associated with side effects such as sweating, hot flashes, arthralgia, and fatigue. Adverse effects in bone, joint, and muscle are common.

Can you take vitamin D with letrozole?

No interactions were found between letrozole and Vitamin D3.

How do you know if breast cancer has returned?

Signs and symptoms of local recurrence within the same breast may include: A new lump in your breast or irregular area of firmness. Changes to the skin of your breast. Skin inflammation or area of redness.

Does letrozole make you gain weight?

Weight gain is one of the occasional side effects that can occur when taking letrozole but if you are finding it difficult to control then it may be worth getting in touch with your doctor to let them know.

Is it OK to take letrozole every other day?

The dose of Femara in patients with cirrhosis and severe hepatic dysfunction should be reduced by 50% [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. The recommended dose of Femara for such patients is 2.5 mg administered every other day.

Is letrozole considered a chemo drug?

Oral chemotherapy is chemotherapy that a person can take by mouth. Some examples of oral chemotherapy medications include: Femara (letrozole)

What does letrozole do to your body?

Letrozole is in a class of medications called nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of estrogen produced by the body. This can slow or stop the growth of some types of breast cancer cells that need estrogen to grow.

Does letrozole cause facial hair growth?

You may have some hair loss or thinning while taking letrozole. However, your hair should return to the way it was before treatment when you stop taking letrozole. A small number of women notice an increase in downy facial hair.

Can I drink wine while taking letrozole?

There is no evidence that drinking alcohol causes any problems when taking letrozole. Some people taking letrozole may get hot flushes or redness when they drink alcohol. In this case, avoiding alcohol may help.

Is letrozole hair loss permanent?

Some women may see hair thinning in the first year of treatment that may improve after over time. However, some women may see continued hair thinning but usually not full hair loss. Your hair will typically grow back once you stop treatment with an AI.