Femara is a drug used to treat specific types of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This eMedTV page takes an in-depth look at the prescription medicine, noting in particular how it works, when and how to take it, and its potential side effects.
Some common Femara side effects include nausea, dizziness, and weight gain. This eMedTV article lists other common side effects of Femara, as well as some serious side effects to report to your doctor (like chest pain or difficulty breathing).
This eMedTV resource explains that while Femara is used mainly to treat certain types of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, there are also several off-label Femara uses (such as treating excess estrogen in men).
This eMedTV article lists factors that can affect Femara dosing (such as the severity of the breast cancer) and some general tips on taking the drug. For most postmenopausal women, the recommended Femara dosage is 2.5 mg, taken once daily.
This eMedTV segment explains that if you take estrogens (among other forms of hormone replacement therapy) or birth control pills along with Femara, drug interactions can potentially occur. Drug interactions with Femara may make Femara less effective.
Femara can cause osteoporosis in some people. This page on the eMedTV Web site provides other Femara warnings and precautions, such as potential drug interactions and the safety of taking Femara while nursing or pregnant.
Up to 11 percent of people who take Femara experience weight gain. This portion of the eMedTV archives lists some things you can try if you're on Femara and weight gain occurs (such as limiting your alcohol intake and eating heart-healthy foods).
In previous clinical studies, up to 7 percent of people taking Femara reported insomnia. This eMedTV Web page discusses some of the things that you can try if you're taking Femara and insomnia becomes a problem, such as napping no later than 3 p.m.
Some people may have side effects with Femara, and high cholesterol is one of these possible side effects. This eMedTV page explains that if you're on Femara and high cholesterol becomes a problem, it can be treated while you continue taking Femara.
Femara has shown clear evidence of risk to the fetus in previous animal studies. This eMedTV resource further discusses Femara and pregnancy, explaining what to do if you become pregnant (or would like to become pregnant) while taking the drug.
This eMedTV Web page explains that you should talk with your doctor (prior to taking Femara) if you are breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding. Because Femara affects hormones, it could potentially cause serious side effects to a nursing infant.
The exact effects of a Femara overdose are unknown. This eMedTV resource lists factors that could effect Femara overdose effects (such as how much of the drug is taken) and discusses how an overdose on Femara may be treated.
This eMedTV page presents a comparison of Clomid versus Femara. It explains the results of clinical studies examining the effectiveness of both drugs for the treatment of infertility and discusses reasons why one drug may be chosen over the other.
June 2011 is the earliest possible date that a generic Femara drug could become available. This eMedTV resource lists circumstances that could push this date past 2011 (such as lawsuits or other patents for specific uses of Femara).
Women who are having trouble conceiving may be prescribed Femara in an "off-label" fashion. This eMedTV article explains when doctors may use Femara for infertility and the advantages the drug may have over Clomid, a common infertility medication.
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