Before you take FemaraWhen you must not use it

Do not take Femara if you have an allergy to:

letrozole, the active ingredient in Femaraany other ingredients of Femara listed at the end of this leaflet

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, itching or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing.

Do not take Femara if you are still having periods. This medicine is only used in women who are no longer having periods.

If you recently became postmenopausal or if you are perimenopausal, you should discuss with your doctor about the necessity of contraception as you might have the potential to become pregnant.

Do not take Femara if you are pregnant. It may harm your unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. Your doctor will discuss with you the potential risks of taking Femara during pregnancy. There are reports of abnormalities in babies born to mothers who took Femara during pregnancy.

Do not take Femara if you are breast feeding.

Do not take Femara after the use by (expiry) date printed on the pack. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work or it may make you unwell.

Do not take Femara if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.In that case, return it to your pharmacist.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you have severe kidney or liver disease. Your doctor may want to take special precautions while you are taking this medicine.

Tell your doctor if you have a history of osteoporosis or bone fractures.

Your level of hormones may be checked by your doctor before you take Femara to ensure you have gone through the menopause (cessation of periods).

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives. Your doctor will want to know if you are prone to allergies.

If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you take Femara.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.Other medicines may be affected by Femara or they may affect how well it works.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do when taking Femara with other medicines. This includes in particular:

tamoxifen.other anti-estrogens or estrogen-containing therapies.

These substances may diminish the action of Femara.

Females of child-bearing potential and male patients

If you still until recently had menstrual periods, you should discuss with your doctor about the necessity of effective contraception as you might have the potential to become pregnant. Ask your doctor about options of effective birth control.

Femara may reduce fertility in male patients.

How to take Femara

Follow the directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

The usual dose is one Femara tablet daily.

How to take it

Swallow the tablet with a glass of water or other liquid.

If your stomach is upset after taking the tablet, take it with a meal or after a snac