Letrozole
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about letrozole. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist:
if there is anything you do not understand in this leaflet,
if you are worried about taking your medicine, or
to obtain the most up-to-date information.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine.
You may want to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
The name of your medicine is APO-Letrozole. It contains the active ingredient letrozole.
Letrozole used to treat breast cancer in women who are post-menopausal - that is, women who no longer have periods, either naturally due to their age or after surgery or chemotherapy.
How it works
Letrozole belongs to a family of medicines called aromatase inhibitors. They are also called "antioestrogens" because they act by reducing the production of oestrogen in your body.
Oestrogen stimulates the growth of certain types of breast cancer. These cancers are called "oestrogen-dependant." Reducing the production of oestrogen may help keep the cancer from growing.
This may be the first time you are taking an "antioestrogen", or you may have taken another "antioestrogen" such as Tamoxifen in the past.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
This medicine is not addictive.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of letrozole in children.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if you have an allergy to:
letrozole
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Letrozole may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss with you the potential risks of taking letrozole during pregnancy. There are reports of abnormalities in babies born to mothers who took letrozole during pregnancy.
Do not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Letrozole may pass into human breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.
Do not take letrozole if you are still having periods.
This medicine is only used in women who are no longer having periods.
Women of child-bearing age who recently became postmenopausal or perimenopausal should use a proven method of birth control to avoid pregnancy, until your postmenopausal status is fully established.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
kidney or liver disease
history of osteoporosis or bone fractures
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking this medicine.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and letrozole may interfere with each other. These include:
azole antifungals (e.g. itraconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole)
some antibiotics and antiviral medicines (e.g. clarithromycin, ritonavir, rifampicin)
some medicines used to treat epilepsy or seizures (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital)
St. John's wort
clopidogrel, a medicine used to prevent blood clots
tamoxifen
other anti-oestrogens or oestrogen-containing therapies
These medicines may be affected by this medicine or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
Other medicines not listed above may also interact with letrozole.
How to take this medicine
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
The recommended dose of letrozole is one tablet daily.
How to take it
Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water.
When to take it
Take this medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
It does not matter if you take it before or after food.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
Make sure you have enough to last over weekends and holidays.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time to take your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
This may increase the chance of you experiencing side effects.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints to help you remember.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking this medicine.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you taking this medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor may occasionally do tests to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent side effects.
Females of child-bearing potential
If you have only recently stopped having menstrual periods, you should discuss with your doctor about the necessity of effective contraception as you might still have the potential to become pregnant. Ask your doctor about options of effective birth control.
Male patients
Letrozole may reduce fertility in male patients.
Things you must not do
Do not take this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine, or change the dosage, without first checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
Letrozole may cause dizziness or tiredness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking letrozole.
Letrozole may cause unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
headache
fever
nausea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal pain
constipation
diarrhoea
fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo
fall
chest pain
cough
mood changes such as depression, anxiety, irritability, drowsiness
high blood cholesterol
hair loss or thinning
osteoporosis, bone fractures
increased sweating
hot flushes
vaginal discharge or bleeding
anorexia, appetite changes
weight increase or loss
needing to urinate more often, pain or burning when urinating (sign of urinary tract infection
breast pain
tumour pain (in metastatic setting only)
low white cell count
general swelling
unpleasant or abnormal sense of touch e.g. pins and needles, numbness, burning sensation
taste disturbance, thirst
insomnia or difficult sleeping
memory impairment, forgetfulness
eye irritation
fast or irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, palpitations
shortness of breath
increased liver enzymes
dry mouth, inflamed sore mouth, cold sores
mucosal dryness of nose, mouth and vagina
dry skin, itchiness, hives or rash
pain in the muscles, joints or bones, joint pain, arthritis, back pain
pain or burning sensation in the hands or wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome)
trigger finger, a condition in which your finger or thumb catches in a bent position
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
yellow skin and eyes, nausea, loss of appetite, dark coloured urine (signs of hepatitis)
blurred vision (may be a sign of a cataract)
swelling of the feet, ankles or other parts of the body due to fluid build-up
The above list includes serious side effects that may need medical attention.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital:
rash, red skin, blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth, skin peeling, fever (signs of skin disorder)
swelling and redness along a vein which is extremely tender, possibly painful to touch (signs of thrombophlebitis)
signs that a blood clot may have formed, such as sudden severe headache, sudden loss of coordination, blurred vision or sudden loss of vision, slurred speech, numbness or tingling in an arm or leg, painful swelling in the calves or thighs, chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing blood, rapid heartbeat, bluish skin discolouration, fainting.
constant "flu-like" symptoms (chills, fever, sore throat, sores in mouth, swollen glands, tiredness or lack of energy) that could be a sign of blood problems
weakness or paralysis of limbs or face, difficulty speaking (signs of stroke)
crushing chest pain or sudden arm or leg (foot) pain (signs of a heart attack)
symptoms of an allergic reaction including shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Storage and disposal
Storage
Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take it.
If you take the tablets out of the pack they may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What APO-Letrozole tablets look like
2.5mg Tablet:
Dark yellow, round, biconvex, film-coated tablets. Engraved "APO" on one side, "LET" over "2.5" on the other side.
They are available in blister packs of 10 or 30 tablets and bottles of 30, 100 or 500 tablets.
* Not all strengths, pack types and/or pack sizes may be available.
Ingredients
Each tablet contains 2.5mg of letrozole as the active ingredient.
It also contains the following:
lactose monohydrate
microcrystalline cellulose
sodium starch glycolate type A
magnesium stearate
hypromellose
hyprolose
macrogol 8000
titanium dioxide
iron oxide yellow
This medicine is gluten-free, sucrose-free, tartrazine-free and free of other azo dyes.
