Drug guide

Letrozole

Letrozole (LET-roe-zole) is used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women. Female hormones that occur naturally in the body can increase the growth of some breast cancers. Letrozole works by decreasing the amounts of these hormones in the body. Letrozole is meant to be used only by women who have already stopped menstruating. Letrozole is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form: Oral Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Your doctor has ordered the drug Letrozole to help treat your illness. The drug can be taken by mouth in tablet form. Letrozole is used to treat: advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression after antiestrogen therapy Letrozole is in a class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors; it prevents formation of estrogen. Although estrogen is a hormone naturally produced by the body, it can stimulate and maintain the growth of certain types of cancer. Letrozole slows or stops the growth of cancer cells by decreasing the amount of estrogen produced.

Brand names:
- Femara
- Letrozole