Letrozole
Letrozole is a once-daily tablet that lowers oestrogen to treat hormone-sensitive breast cancer after menopause, sold here as generic Femara 2.5mg tablets.
Letrozole is a tablet that lowers the amount of oestrogen the body makes. It is a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor: aromatase is the enzyme that turns androgens into oestrogen, and blocking it cuts off the body's main supply. Breast cancers that need oestrogen to grow can be slowed or stopped when that supply disappears.
Who takes letrozole
Women who have been through menopause are the ones it is used in. It is given as early treatment for breast cancer after surgery or radiotherapy, or after a five-year course of tamoxifen — a different drug that blocks oestrogen at the receptor instead of reducing how much is made. It is also used on its own as first treatment when breast cancer has spread within the breast or to other parts of the body, and when a cancer has got worse during tamoxifen treatment.
Taking the tablets
One 2.5mg tablet a day is the standard dose. Food is not a factor — with breakfast or on an empty stomach, both are fine — but keeping to the same time each day holds the level steady. A long course is normal here, running for years rather than weeks, and it carries on through spells when you feel perfectly well.
Side effects to expect
Hot flushes and night sweats are the familiar ones, and they follow directly from lower oestrogen. Tiredness, drowsiness, headaches, dizziness and poor sleep are reported too, along with nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn and stomach pain. Joint, muscle and bone aches, swollen hands, feet or ankles, vaginal bleeding or irritation, breast pain, hair loss, blurry vision and weight changes all appear on the list. Bone density can fall over a long course, which raises the chance of a broken bone. Less often, something serious turns up: chest pain, a rash with hives or itching, difficulty breathing, unusual bleeding or bruising, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, yellowing of the skin or eyes, flu-like symptoms, a warm or painful calf, a severe headache, sudden trouble speaking, or sudden weakness or numbness in an arm or leg. Signs in that last group need urgent treatment.
Femara 2.5mg: the letrozole listing
The shop's letrozole listing is Femara, a generic version of the brand, in 2.5mg tablets. It appears under oncology and women's health. Keep the tablets in their blister strips inside the box, somewhere out of heat and damp.
Sources
- Letrozole: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Breast Cancer - NCI — National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Where can I order Letrozole for delivery in Hong Kong?
Letrozole can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The product here is generic Femara tablets in 2.5mg. Tracked courier delivery to Hong Kong takes 5 to 9 business days and comes with online tracking.
How much do Letrozole products cost in Hong Kong?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Femara page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Does PockDose sell generic Femara?
Yes, generic Femara is listed as 2.5mg tablets and contains letrozole. It is the only version shown for this ingredient, with no separate plain letrozole tablet on the page.
What are the brand names for letrozole?
Femara is a brand name of letrozole, which is also sold as Fempro and Letroz. Here, letrozole can be bought online as generic Femara. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long do you take letrozole for?
After surgery for early breast cancer, about five years is the usual stretch, and some women stay on it longer. When the cancer has spread there is no set end date; the tablets continue while they keep helping. Either way, one tablet goes down every day, including the days when you feel well.
Is letrozole the same as tamoxifen?
No. Tamoxifen blocks oestrogen at the cancer cell's receptor, while letrozole stops the hormone being produced at all. Both treat hormone-sensitive breast cancer, and they are often used one after the other: letrozole can follow a five-year run of tamoxifen, or replace it if the cancer worsened while on it.
Does letrozole affect bone strength?
Yes — oestrogen protects bone, and letrozole removes much of it, so bone density can drop over a long course and fractures become more likely. Osteoporosis (fragile, breakage-prone bones) can also get worse. This is a known effect shared by the aromatase inhibitors as a group.
Can younger women take letrozole?
It is used only after menopause. Before menopause the ovaries are the main source of oestrogen, and the tablet cannot shut that down. Pregnancy is another no: letrozole can harm a developing baby, so it is not taken by anyone who is pregnant.