The drug is "Letrozole": instructions for use, reviews and analogues

What purpose the patient may be assigned to the drug "Letrozol"? Instructions for use of this drug is described in detail in this article. It also has information about how much is the said medication, whether there are at it analogs, side effects and contraindications what is said of him patients, etc.

Form, description, composition, packaging

That is part of the drug "Letrozol"? The drug before us, contains the active ingredient of the same name. It also includes auxiliary components in the form of cellulose, lactose monohydrate, starch, sodium carboximetilkrahmal, colloidal anhydrous silica and magnesium stearate.

This medication comes in the form of a dark yellow tablets with a film cover. They have a round and biconvex shape.

The Drug "Letrozol" of the price which is listed below, sold in packs of contour, which are placed in the cartons.

It should Also be noted that depending on the manufacturer considered the medication may have a different shape, packaging, and packing.

Pharmacodynamic drug

What features has the drug "Letrozol"? Instruction manual States that it is an antitumor agent that inhibits the synthesis of estrogen.

The drug selectively inhibits the aromatase enzyme, which represents a very important biological enzyme for the synthesis of estrogens. This happens due to the high-affinity binding with the enzyme mentioned elements.

According to research, "Letrozol" capable of inhibiting the biosynthesis of estrogen in tumour and normal peripheral tissues.

At women in postmenopause estrogen is formed with the direct involvement of aromatase. She transformerait androgens into estrone and estradiol that originate in the adrenal glands.

Proper medication (0,1-5 mg per day) reduces blood concentration of sulfate, estrone, estradiol, and estrone in 95 % of the initial amount. The synthesis of estrogen must be suppressed throughout the treatment.

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Inhibition of synthesis of estrogen increases the concentration of androgens, which, in fact, are the chemical precursors of the estrogens.

What other features has the drug "Letrozol"? The manufacturer claims that the treatment by this means to a small extent increases the frequency of osteoporosis.

Adjuvant treatment of early-stage malignant breast tumors significantly reduces the risk of recurrence, and increases 5-year survival rate without any visible signs of progress. Also, this drug reduces the likelihood of metastases and secondary tumors.

Long-lasting adjunct therapy that reduces the risk of recurrence by approximately 42 %.

The Pharmacokinetics of a drug

Where the absorption of the drug "Letrozol"? Instruction manual informs us that after oral administration the drug is quite rapidly and completely absorbed from the intestine. Its average bioavailability is 99.9 %. The use of food reduces the absorption rate.

Time of occurrence of the highest blood concentration is 60 minutes while the medication on an empty stomach and 120 minutes when taken together with food.

The Connection with plasma proteins is about 60 %. The accumulation of the active substance with prolonged use of medication is not observed.

The Metabolism of the drug occurs with the formation of active metabolite. Its excretion is through urine and through bowel. The half-life of drug is 2 days.

Indications

For treating diseases using such medication, as “Letrozole”? Specialists state that indications for the use of this tool are the following diseases:

• Malignant neoplasms of the breast at early stages in postmenopause after completion of standard therapy "Tamoxifen" (used as for more prolonged treatment).
• Malignant neoplasms of the breast at early stages (tumor growth stimulated by estrogen) in women in postmenopause (used as an additional treatment).
• Common malignant neoplasms breast cancer in postmenopause in people who have already received treatment with antiestrogens.
• Common hormone-dependent forms of malignant breast tumors in postmenopause (first line therapy).

Contraindications

Under what conditions you can not take “Letrozole”? Analogues of this medicine and the drug is not recommended for patients with:

• Hormonal status, characteristic of the fertile period;
• Breastfeeding;
• Sensitization to the primary and secondary substances of the medication;
• Pregnancy;
• In children.

It should Also be noted that with caution this medication is used for lactase deficiency, lactose intolerance, andalso glucose-galactose malabsorption.

Drug "Letrozol": usage instructions

At what dose is prescribed the medication in question? To receive such a drug should only as directed by your doctor. Dr., based on the data analyses and medical examinations in General, we need to determine the dosage of tablets and the frequency of their use.

Treatment ‘Letrozole” takes place in a long time. The drug is taken orally regardless of the meal. According to the instructions, recommended dosage of this medicine is 2.5 mg once a day.

The Medication must be taken every day for 5 years or until recurrence.

If the drug is used for adjuvant therapy, the medication should last for 4 years. With the progression of cancer medication is canceled.

Of the female persons with malignant tumors in the last stage or symptoms of metastasis therapy must continue until, until the cancer is pronounced.

Overdoses

Now you know how to take “Letrozole”. However, this should be done only after consultation with your doctor. When taking high doses of medication, the patient can develop unwanted effects. Currently there are a number of reports of overdoses of the drug in question.

As treatment of conditions such as use of supportive and symptomatic therapy. Specific methods for eliminating signs of overdose have not been developed. Withdrawal of the drug from blood with hemodialysis.

Drug "Letrozol": adverse reactions

What are the adverse reactions occur after taking the medication "Letrozol"? Antitumor pills often cause unwanted effects. Consider their list right now:

• Digestive System: abdominal pain, stomatitis, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, activation of liver enzymes, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, vomiting.
• Nervous system: somnolence, dizziness, paresthesia, depression, memory impairment, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, hypoesthesia, nervousness, passing disturbances in cerebral circulation, disesthesias.
• Respiratory system: cough, shortness of breath.
• Hematopoietic System: leukopenia.
• Reaction on the skin: alopecia, sweating, urticaria, anaphylactic reaction, rash, angioedema, dry skin, pruritus.
• The circulatory System (heart): ischemic heart disease, tachycardia, thrombosis, palpitations, thrombosis of arteries, pulmonary embolism, thrombophlebitis superficial and deep veins, stroke, increase in blood pressure.
• Musculoskeletal system: osteoporosis, arthralgia, arthritis, myalgia, fractures, bone pain.
• Genito-Urinary system: infections, frequent urination, vaginal discharge, bleeding, breast pain.
• Special senses: perversion of taste sensations, cataract, blurred vision.
• Other reactions: dryness of mucous membranes, generalized edema, paroxysmal sensations of heat, malaise, fatigue, pyrexia, asthenia, pain in tumor lesions and peripheral oedema.
• Metabolism: weight gain, weight loss, hypercholesterolemia, anorexia, increased appetite, constant thirst.

Drug interactions and special considerations

Clinical trials on the intake of the considered drug in combination with other antineoplastic drugs have not been conducted.

Use the ‘Letrozole" reviews, which are mixed, can adversely affect a person's ability to drive vehicles and work with complex mechanisms.

Drug in sports

The Drug "Letrozol" in bodybuilding is used quite often. Many athletes claim that taking such drugs leads to blocking the synthesis of estrogen, and also increases the production of androgens. However, experienced experts argue that the latter expected effect has not been proven scientifically. In this regard, doctors are extremely recommended to use the "Letrozol" in bodybuilding. First, he has a number of specific contraindications, and secondly, this medication has lots of side effects.

Thus, after receiving the considered drug is not on the prescribed readings of the health of the athlete may significantly deteriorate.

The conditions of storage and sale, the expiration date

Where can I buy medication "Letrozol"? Analogues and the drug is sold in almost all pharmacies. However, he is released strictly on prescription.

Store this medication preferably in a dry and dark place at a temperature of 25 degrees where there is no access to young children. The shelf life of this medication is 24 months. After this period, the drug use is prohibited.

Costs and taxes drugs

Do you Know about how much it costs a drug "Letrozol"? The price of this medication may differ slightly depending on region, manufacturer and mark-up the pharmacy network. On averagethe cost of such anticancer drugs is 1500 rubles (for 30 tablets). However, this price applies only to the drug of domestic production. Medicine Spanish “Kent farm” is much more expensive (about 2600 rubles).

Given that tablets “Letrozole" (side effects were described above) should be taken for several years treatment of malignant tumors cost the patient dearly.

Some patients who are unable to acquire the review drug, replace it by other means (only after consultation with your doctor). The analogues of this drug include the following medicines: “Arale”, “Trusil”, “Lerza”, “femara”, “Letrozole Teva”, “Lettera”, “Petromar”.

It Should be noted that the cost of these medications can be higher than the original, and below. For example, 30 tablets of the drug "femara" are about 7700 roubles. However, their effectiveness is not much higher than that of the "Letrozol".

Patient Testimonials on the medicinal product

Find reviews of patients on this drug is quite difficult. People with cancer are reluctant to share the results of therapy. Most of them failed to achieve remission. Although some patients claim that the drug "Letrozol" still gave them hope for a longer life.

As for professionals, their reviews are only positive. Based on proven and universally accepted evidence, they argue that among all anticancer drugs, the drug “Letrozole” is the most effective tool for the treatment of malignant breast tumors.

It should Also be noted that many patients frustrating price this medication. Most of them can't afford to buy this medication, worsening their already fragile emotional state. However, pharmacists argued that the unique technology of production of the tablets does not allow them to accept a lower price.

As for side effects, according to patients, they do not appear as pronounced as indicated in the instructions (especially on the background of already existing pain). Most often, this drug causes nausea, tachycardia, urticaria, irritability and diarrhea. However, the majority of people taking these pills, are willing to endure all the side effects, only long-term treatment contributed to the development of remission.