Precautions and Warnings With Letrozole

Some precautions and warnings with letrozole to be aware of include potential drug interactions, the safety of taking letrozole while pregnant or nursing, and people who shouldn't take the medicine at all (such as women who have not gone through menopause). Among the conditions that you should tell your healthcare provider about before you take letrozole are liver disease and osteoporosis. To reduce the chances of drug interactions, you should also tell your healthcare provider about all other drugs you are taking.

 

Letrozole: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking letrozole (Femara®) if you have:
 
Also let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
  • A premenopausal woman.
     
You should also make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Specific Precautions and Warnings With Letrozole

Following are some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking letrozole:
 
  • The liver helps clear letrozole from the body. Therefore, if you have liver disease, talk with your healthcare provider before taking the drug. Depending on the severity of your condition, your healthcare provider may recommend adjusting your letrozole dosage or not taking the drug at all.
     
  • Letrozole (as well as most medications that decrease the effects of estrogens) can lead to osteoporosis in some people. If you already have osteoporosis (or are at risk for the condition), your healthcare provider may recommend certain lifestyle changes or medication to protect you from fractures (see Osteoporosis Prevention).
     
  • Letrozole can interact with certain other medications (see Drug Interactions With Letrozole).
     
  • Letrozole is considered a pregnancy Category D medication. This means that it is likely to cause harm to a fetus during pregnancy. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking the drug while pregnant (see Femara and Pregnancy).
     
  • It is not known if letrozole passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the medicine (see Femara and Breastfeeding).
     
(Precautions and Warnings With Letrozole Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;