Description

Letrozole is contraindicated in known or suspected hypersensitivity to letrozole, other aromatase inhibitors, or to any of their ingredients. It is contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation and in pre-menopausal women. It is also contraindicated in severe hepatic dysfunction.

Adverse events associated with letrozole are generally mild to moderate and rarely severe enough to require discontinuation. Many can be attributed to either the underlying disease or the normal pharmacological consequence of oestrogen deprivation (hot flushes, hair thinning). The most frequently reported adverse events are musculoskeletal pain, arthralgia, headache, fatigue, nausea, dyspnoea, peripheral oedema, coughing, constipation, vomiting, chest pain, viral infection, diarrhoea, rash, abdominal pain, dyspepsia and anorexia. Dizziness, weight increase and pruritus are less commonly seen.

Oral administration of letrozole in pregnant rats resulted in teratogenicity and maternal toxicity at 0.03 mg/kg. Embryotoxicity and foetotoxicity were seen at doses >0.003 mg/kg and there was an increase in the incidence of foetal malformation among the animals treated. However, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies of letrozole in pregnant women and its use in these patients is not recommended. It is not known whether letrozole is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, letrozole should not be administered to a nursing woman.

In breast cancer patients with moderate hepatic dysfunction, no dosage adjustment is necessary, but caution is recommended since letrozole elimination depends mainly on intrinsic metabolic clearance. Renal impairment (calculated creatinine clearance: 20 to 50 ml/min) did not affect steady-state plasma letrozole concentration at a dose of 2.5 mg or 5 mg. Hence, no dose adjustment is necessary for such renal function impairment. It is anticipated that letrozole could be removed from blood by dialysis since it is weakly bound to plasma proteins. The potential risks and benefits to such patients should be considered carefully before prescribing letrozole. In some cases, fatigue and dizziness have been observed with the use of letrozole. Patients should therefore, be advised that their physical and/or mental abilities required for operating machinery or driving a car may be impaired.

There is no clinical experience of overdosage. There is no specific antidote to letrozole. Since letrozole is not highly protein-bound, dialysis may be helpful. Emesis may be induced if the patient is alert. In general, supportive care and frequent monitoring of vital signs is appropriate.

Hormonal Chemotherapy