Letrozole 2.5mg Film-Coated Tablets
Package leaflet: Information for the patient
Letrozole 2.5 mg Film-coated Tablets
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, because it contains important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only.
Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Letrozole is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Letrozole
3. How to take Letrozole
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Letrozole
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Letrozole is and what it is used for
What Letrozole is and how it works
Letrozole Tablets contain an active substance called letrozole. It belongs to a group of medicines called aromatase inhibitors. It is a hormonal (or "endocrine") breast cancer treatment. Growth of breast cancer is frequently stimulated by oestrogens which are female sex hormones. Letrozole reduces the amount of oestrogen by blocking an enzyme ("aromatase") involved in the production of oestrogens and therefore may block the growth of breast cancer that needs oestrogens to grow. As a consequence tumour cells slow or stop growing and/or spreading to other parts of the body.
What Letrozole is used for
Letrozole is used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause i.e cessation of periods.
It is used to help prevent the cancer from happening again. It can be used as first treatment before breast cancer surgery in case immediate surgery is not suitable or it can be used as first treatment after breast cancer surgery or following five years treatment with tamoxifen. Letrozole is also used to prevent breast tumour spreading to other parts of the body in patients with advanced breast cancer.
If you have any questions about how Letrozole works or why this medicine has been prescribed for you, ask your doctor.
2. What you need to know before you take Letrozole
Follow all the doctor's instructions carefully. They may differ from the general information in this leaflet.
Do not take Letrozole
• if you are allergic to letrozole or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you still have periods, i.e. if you have not yet gone through the menopause
• if you are pregnant
• if you are breast-feeding.
If any of these conditions apply to you, do not take this medicine and talk to your doctor.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Letrozole
• if you have a severe kidney disease
• if you have a severe liver disease
• if you have a history of osteoporosis or bone fractures (see also "Follow up during your treatment with Letrozole in section 3).
If any of these conditions apply to you, tell your doctor. Your doctor will take this into account during your treatment with Letrozole.
Children and adolescents (below 18 years)
Children and adolescents should not use this medicine.
Older people age (65 years and over)
People aged 65 years and over can use this medicine at the same dose as for other adults.
Other medicines and Letrozole
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
• You should only take Letrozole when you have gone through the menopause. However, your doctor should discuss with you about using effective contraception, as you may still have the potential to become pregnant during treatment with Letrozole.
• You must not take Letrozole if you are pregnant or breast feeding as it may harm your baby.
Driving and using machines
If you feel dizzy, tired, drowsy or generally unwell, do not drive or operate any tools or machines until you feel normal again.
Letrozole contains lactose
Letrozole contains lactose (milk sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to take Letrozole
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose is one tablet of Letrozole to be taken once a day. Taking Letrozole at the same time each day will help you remember when to take your tablet.
The tablet can be taken with or without food and should be swallowed whole with a glass of water or another liquid.
How long to take Letrozole
Continue taking Letrozole every day for as long as your doctor tells you. You may need to take it for months or even years. If you have any questions about how long to keep taking Letrozole, talk to your doctor.
Follow-up during your treatment with Letrozole
You should only take this medicine under strict medical supervision. Your doctor will regularly monitor your condition to check whether the treatment is having the right effect.
Letrozole may cause thinning or wasting of your bones (osteoporosis) due to the reduction of oestrogens in your body. Your doctor may decide to measure your bone density (a way of monitoring for osteoporosis) before, during and after treatment.
If you take more Letrozole than you should
If you have taken too much Letrozole, or if someone else accidentally takes your tablets, contact a doctor or hospital for advice immediately. Show them the pack of tablets. Medical treatment may be necessary.
If you forget to take Letrozole
• If it is almost time for your next dose (e.g. within 2 or 3 hours), skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
• Otherwise, take the dose as soon as you remember, and then take the next tablet as you would normally.
• Do not take a double dose to make up for the one that you missed.
If you stop taking Letrozole
Do not stop taking Letrozole unless your doctor tells you. See also the section above "How long to take Letrozole".
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Most of the side effects are mild to moderate and will generally disappear after a few days to a few weeks of treatment.
Some of these side effects, such as hot flushes, hair loss or vaginal bleeding, may be due to the lack of oestrogens in your body.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Some side effects could be serious: Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
• Weakness, paralysis or loss of feeling in any part of the body (particularly arm or leg), loss of coordination, nausea, or difficulty in speaking or breathing (sign of a brain disorder, e.g. stroke)
• Sudden oppressive chest pain (sign of a heart disorder)
• Swelling and redness along a vein which is extremely tender and possibly painful when touched
• Severe fever, chills or mouth ulcers due to infections (lack of white blood cells)
• Severe persistent blurred vision
Rare (they may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• Difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting, rapid heart rate, bluish skin discoloration, or sudden arm or leg or foot pain (signs that a blood clot may have formed)
If any of the above occurs, tell your doctor straight away.
You should also inform the doctor straight away if you experience any of the following symptoms during treatment with Letrozole:
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• Swelling mainly of the face and throat (signs of allergic reaction)
• Yellow skin and eyes, nausea, loss of appetite, dark-coloured urine (signs of hepatitis)
• Rash, red skin, blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth, skin peeling, fever (signs of skin disorder)
Other possible side effects
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
• Hot flushes
• Increased level of cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia)
• Fatigue
• Increased sweating
• Pain in bones and joints (arthralgia)
If any of these affects you severely, tell your doctor.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• Skin rash
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Malaise (generally feeling unwell)
• Gastrointestinal disorders such as nausea, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea
• Increase in or loss of appetite
• Pain in muscles
• Thinning or wasting of your bones (osteoporosis), leading to bone fractures in some cases (see also "Follow-up during your treatment with Letrozole" in section 3)
• Swelling of arms, hands, feet, ankles (oedema)
• Depression
• Weight increase
• Hair loss
• Raised blood pressure (hypertension)
• Abdominal pain
• Dry skin
• Vaginal bleeding
If any of these affects you severely, tell your doctor.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• Nervous disorders such as anxiety, nervousness, irritability, drowsiness, memory problems, somnolence, insomnia
• Pain or burning sensation in the hands or wrists (carpal tunnel syndrome)
• Impairment of sensation, especially that of touch
• Eye disorders such as blurred vision, eye irritation
• Palpitations, rapid heart rate
• Skin disorders such as itching (urticaria)
• Vaginal discharge or dryness
• Joint stiffness (arthritis)
• Breast pain
• Fever
• Thirst, taste disorder, dry mouth
• Dryness of mucous membranes
• Weight decrease
• Urinary tract infection, increased frequency of urination
• Cough
• Increased level of enzymes
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• Trigger finger, a condition in which your finger or thumb catches in a bent position
If any of these affects you severely, tell your doctor.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Letrozole
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use Letrozole after the expiry date, which is shown on the label or carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away any medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Letrozole contains
The active substance is letrozole. Each film-coated tablet contains 2.5 mg letrozole.
The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate (see section 2, 'Letrozole contains lactose"), microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, colloidal anhydrous silica, sodium starch glycolate and magnesium stearate. The tablet coating contains iron oxides (E172), hypromellose, polydextrose, macrogol, triacetin, the colourants Quinoline yellow (E104) and titanium dioxide (E171).
What Letrozole looks like and contents of the pack
Your medicine comes as a dark yellow, capsuleshaped, film-coated tablet marked 'LZ 2.5' on one side and 'G' on the other.
Letrozole is available in blister packs of 14, 28, 30, 90 and 100 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Jenson Pharmaceutical Services Limited
Carradine House
237 Regents Park Road
London
N3 3LF
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
McDermott Laboratories Limited (t/a Gerard Laboratories)
35/36 Baldoyle Industrial Estate Grange Road Dublin 13 Ireland
Delpharm Lille S.A.S.
Parc d'activites Roubaix-Est,
22 rue de Toufflers - CS 50070 59452 Lys-Lez-Lannoy France
This leaflet was last revised in 04/2016 826376
4/4