letsi (LETROZOLE)

What is Letsi?

Letsi is a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor that reduces estrogen synthesis by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme. It is primarily used to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women​

What is the usual dose of Letsi?

For grown-ups, the usual dose of Letsi is one small pill (2.5 mg) once a day. It doesn't matter if you take it with or without food.
 

How do I take Letsi?

Take one 2.5mg Letsi pill each day. It doesn't matter if you take it with or without food.

 

For how long do I take Letsi?

The duration of Letsi therapy varies depending on the indication:

• Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer: Median treatment duration is 5 years.
• Extended Adjuvant Treatment: Median duration is also around 5 years.
• Advanced Breast Cancer: Continue treatment until tumor progression is observed​

What disease or symptom is Letsi used for?

Letsi is a medicine for women who have gone through menopause and have breast cancer. It's used when the cancer's growth is fueled by hormones or when it's unclear if hormones play a role. It can treat advanced breast cancer that has spread, and it can also be used after surgery for early-stage breast cancer to help prevent the cancer from returning. Sometimes, it's used for a longer time after another medicine called tamoxifen.

 

How long does it take for Letsi to start working?

Letsi significantly reduces estrogen levels within 2 to 3 days of starting treatment.

Is Letsi effective?

Letsi is a medication used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It works best in cancers that are fueled by hormones. It can be used after other treatments like tamoxifen, even for a long time (up to 5 years after tamoxifen), to help prevent the cancer from returning. It's also used to treat advanced or spread breast cancer in these women. Studies show it's effective for many years.

 

How do I know if Letsi is working?

The effectiveness is monitored through regular medical evaluations, imaging studies, and assessments of disease-free survival​

How does Letsi work?

Letsi is a medicine that's quickly absorbed into the body. It breaks down slowly into harmless substances and is mostly removed through the kidneys in urine. Most of the drug is found in the urine. It takes about 2 days for half of the drug to leave your body, and it takes several weeks to reach a stable level in your blood. Two liver enzymes, CYP3A4 and CYP2A6, help break it down.

Who should avoid taking Letsi?

Letsi is a medicine that shouldn't be taken by pregnant women because it can harm the baby. Women who can get pregnant need to use birth control during and for three weeks after taking it. It can sometimes weaken bones, so doctors will need to check on that. It can also cause tiredness and dizziness, so be careful driving or using machines. Your cholesterol might go up, so that needs checking too. If you have serious liver problems, you might need a lower dose.

 

Can I take Letsi with other prescription drugs?

Taking Letsi with tamoxifen lowers the amount of Letsi in the bloodstream, but it doesn't seem to affect how well Letsi works if you take it after tamoxifen. Other drugs like cimetidine and warfarin don't appear to interact significantly with Letsi. There's not much information about how Letsi interacts with other cancer drugs.

 

Can Letsi be taken safely while pregnant?

Letsi is contraindicated in pregnancy due to its potential to cause fetal harm. It has been associated with spontaneous abortions and congenital defects​

Can Letsi be taken safely while breastfeeding?

Women who are breastfeeding shouldn't take the medication Letsi because it could seriously harm their babies. There's no information on how it affects babies who are breastfed, so it's best to avoid any risk. Breastfeeding should also be stopped for at least three weeks after finishing the medication.

 

Is Letsi safe for the elderly?

Older people with metastatic breast cancer taking common treatments didn't show more problems or less benefit than younger people in studies. While bone density might decrease, doctors should watch for that. Even in long-term treatment, older patients (many over 65, some over 75) did just as well as younger patients.

How should I store Letsi?

Store Letsi at room temperature, between 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F

Does Letsi make people tired or drowsy?

Yes, fatigue is a common side effect (16.8%). Avoid driving or operating machinery if affected​.

Does Letsi cause stomach upset?

Yes, nausea occurs in 11.6% of patients. Persistent symptoms should be reported to a healthcare provider.

Does Letsi affect sleep?

Insomnia is reported in 5.8% of cases.  This might make it hard to sleep well, even if it doesn't directly cause sleep problems like insomnia. Because of this, be careful driving or using machinery until you know how Letsi affects you. If your sleep is disrupted, talk to your doctor.

 

Does Letsi make it hard to think or concentrate?

Dizziness and light-headedness are reported in 3.4% of cases. Caution is advised with tasks requiring focus​.

Does Letsi affect mood?

Depression is reported in 4.9% of patients. If mood changes are severe, seek medical advice.

Does Letsi interfere with sexual function?

Letsi can cause vaginal dryness and reduced libido, but specific data on frequency are limited​.

Does Letsi affect appetite?

No significant effects on appetite are reported.

Does Letsi cause weight gain?

Weight increase occurs in 12.9% of cases​. The amount of weight gain can vary greatly depending on the medicine and the dose. For example, in some studies, a small percentage of people gained weight on a low dose of one medicine, while a much larger percentage gained weight on a high dose of a different medicine. If you notice you're gaining weight while taking medicine, talk to your doctor.

 

Does Letsi cause headaches?

Yes, headaches are reported in 4.3% of patients.

Does Letsi limit driving?

Femara can sometimes make you feel tired or dizzy, and rarely, sleepy. It's important to be careful when driving or using machinery until you know how the medicine affects you. If you have trouble driving, stop and call your doctor.

Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking Letsi?

No specific interaction is noted, but alcohol may exacerbate side effects like dizziness or fatigue.

Is it safe to drink coffee or tea while taking Letsi?

No evidence suggests that caffeine interacts with Letsi​.

Is it safe to exercise while taking Letsi?

Exercise is generally safe but monitor for fatigue or bone-related side effects like fractures or pain​.

What are the most common side effects of Letsi?

Side effects are unwanted reactions that can happen when taking a medication. With empagliflozin, these effects vary from person to person. The most common side effect is urinary tract infections, which affect about 8-9% of people taking this medication. Women may experience genital yeast infections, which occur in about 2-5% of female patients. Men can also get genital yeast infections, but this happens less frequently. Some people notice they urinate more often when taking empagliflozin, which happens in about 1-3% of patients. Upper respiratory infections, which affect your nose, throat, and airways, occur in about 4% of people taking this medication. If you notice new symptoms after starting empagliflozin, they might be temporary or unrelated to the medication. Talk with your doctor before stopping any medication.

Does Letsi have adverse effects?

Yes, empagliflozin can have adverse effects, which are unwanted reactions to a medication. Most people tolerate it well, but some may experience urinary tract infections, which are infections in the system that removes urine from your body, affecting up to 9% of users. Genital yeast infections are common, especially in women, causing itching and unusual discharge. The medication can increase urination, leading to dehydration, which means your body doesn't have enough fluids, possibly causing dizziness. A rare but serious effect is ketoacidosis, which is a dangerous buildup of acid in your blood and requires immediate medical attention. Always inform your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms while taking empagliflozin.

Is Letsi addictive?

Empagliflozin is not addictive or habit-forming. This medication doesn't cause dependency or withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. Empagliflozin works by affecting your kidneys to help remove sugar through urine. This mechanism doesn't affect brain chemistry in ways that could lead to addiction. You won't experience cravings for this medication or feel compelled to take more than prescribed. Unlike some medications that can cause psychological or physical dependence, empagliflozin doesn't create these effects. If you have concerns about medication dependence, you can feel confident that empagliflozin doesn't carry this risk while managing your health condition.

Does Letsi have any safety warnings?

Yes, empagliflozin has important safety warnings. It can increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a dangerous buildup of acids in the blood. This can occur even with normal blood sugar, especially if insulin doses are missed or during illness. Seek emergency help if you experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or breathing problems. Empagliflozin can cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluids, potentially leading to low blood pressure or kidney issues. Drink plenty of water while taking it. Serious urinary tract infections, which affect the system removing urine, can occur. Watch for painful urination, fever, or back pain. Rarely, it can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a serious bacterial infection in the genital area. Genital yeast infections are common. Regular foot care is important as it may increase amputation risk. Stop taking it and seek help if allergic reactions occur.

Is it safe to stop Letsi?

No, it is not safe to stop empagliflozin suddenly. If you're using it for type 2 diabetes, stopping can cause your blood sugar levels to rise quickly. For heart failure, which is when your heart can't pump blood effectively, or kidney disease, which is damage to organs that filter waste from your blood, stopping could worsen these conditions. A dangerous complication called diabetic ketoacidosis might occur, causing harmful acids to build up in your blood, leading to nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and breathing problems. This risk continues for several days after stopping. Always consult your doctor before stopping empagliflozin. They may suggest gradually reducing your dose or switching medications to keep your condition under control.

How do I dispose of Letsi?

If you can, bring unused medicines to a drug take-back program or collection site at a pharmacy or hospital. They will dispose of this medicine properly so it doesn't harm people or the environment. If you can't find a take-back program, you can throw most medicines in the trash at home. But first, take them out of their original containers, mix them with something undesirable like used coffee grounds, seal the mixture in a plastic bag, and throw it away.

Will I need to take vitamins while taking Letsi?

Yes. Long-term use of empagliflozin with metformin can lower your vitamin B12 levels. Vitamin B12, which helps your nerves and makes red blood cells, is important for your health. If your levels drop, you might feel tired, weak, or numb, so your doctor may need to check and supplement your vitamin B12. Always tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Regular blood sugar and nutrient checks help keep your treatment safe and effective.

What are Letsi possible harms and risks?

The most common side effects were hot flashes, nausea, joint pain, and shortness of breath. Serious side effects, like blood clots in the legs or lungs, heart problems, and strokes, also happened, but were less common with Letsi than with another similar drug, megestrol acetate.