Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I taking FEMOLET?
FEMOLET contains the active ingredient letrozole. FEMOLET is used to treat breast
cancer in post-menopausal women.
2. What should I know before I take FEMOLET?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to letrozole or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Your doctor will
want to check your hormone levels to ensure you are no longer having periods.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with FEMOLET and affect how it works.
4. How do I take FEMOLET?
The usual dose is one FEMOLET tablet every day.
Always swallow your tablet whole with a glass of water or other liquid.
5. What should I know while taking FEMOLET?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using FEMOLET.
If you become pregnant while taking FEMOLET, tell your doctor immediately.
Be sure to keep all your appointments with your doctor so your progress can be checked.
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop using this medicine suddenly.
Do not use FEMOLET to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give FEMOLET to anyone else.
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Driving or using machines
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FEMOLET may occasionally cause drowsiness, dizziness or other symptoms, which could
affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
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Drinking alcohol
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FEMOLET may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Alcohol may increase this effect.
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Looking after your medicine
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Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Store
in original container.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Common side effects include muscle/joints/back/breast pain, raised blood pressure/cholesterol,
feeling tired, sick, annoyed, anxious, nervous, dizzy; headache, vertigo, hot flush,
vomiting, cough, stomach pain, diarrhoea, frequent urination, constipation, sweating,
hair loss, weight change, vaginal bleeding/discharge. More serious side effects include
allergic reaction i.e. wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of lips, tongue/face,
blisters/spreading rash on eyes, lips, face; yellow eyes/skin, unable to urinate;
loss of vision, balance, co-ordination; difficulty speaking, confusion, constant flu-like
symptoms i.e. fever, chills, sore throat; bluish/pale skin, heart palpitations, irregular/fast
heartbeat, crushing chest pain, numb/tingling limbs, swelling and redness along a
vein, bone fracture, tendonitis, pain or swelling around joints, tendon tears.
Active ingredient(s):
letrozole
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using FEMOLET. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using FEMOLET.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I taking FEMOLET?
FEMOLET contains the active ingredient letrozole. FEMOLET is belongs to a family of medicines called aromatase inhibitors. They are
also called "antioestrogens" because they act by reducing the production of oestrogen
in your body.
Oestrogen stimulates the growth of certain types of breast cancer. These cancers are
called "oestrogen-dependent". Reducing the production of oestrogen may help to keep
the cancer from growing.
FEMOLET is used to treat breast cancer in women who are post-menopausal, or in other
words, women who no longer have periods, either naturally due to their age or after
surgery or chemotherapy.
2. What should I know before I take FEMOLET?
Warnings
Do not take FEMOLET if:
you are allergic to letrozole, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this
leaflet.
always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
you are still having periods. This medicine is only used in women who are no longer
having periods.
Women of child-bearing age who recently became postmenopausal or perimenopausal should
use a proven method of birth control to avoid pregnancy, until your postmenopausal
status is fully established.
Ask your doctor about options of effective birth control.
Your doctor may send you for a blood test to check your hormone levels and confirm
you are no longer having periods.
you are male.
Men are not normally treated with FEMOLET as it may reduce fertility in male patients.
the person you intend to give this medicine to is a child.
FEMOLET is not recommended for use in children.
Check with your doctor if you:
have a kidney or liver condition.
Your doctor may want to take special precautions while you are taking this medicine
if you have any of these conditions.
have a history of bone fractures or brittle bones from reduced bone mass (a condition
called osteoporosis).
Your doctor may want to check on your bones during treatment using a bone density
test or may send you for an X-Ray.
are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Your doctor will want to know if you are prone to allergies.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Your doctor will discuss with you the potential risks of taking FEMOLET during pregnancy.
There are reports of abnormalities in babies born to mothers who took FEMOLET during
pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
It may pass into your breast milk and harm your baby.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with FEMOLET and affect how it works.
Medicines that may
affect
FEMOLET include:
anti-fungal medicines such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole
medicines for HIV such as ritonavir
antibiotics such as clarithromycin, and telithromycin
methoxsalen which is used for some skin conditions
medicines for seizures (fits) such as phenytoin or phenobarbital
clopidogrel which you may be taking if you have had previously had a heart attack
or a stroke.
some antibiotics like rifampicin.
some other breast cancer medicines such as carbamazepine or tamoxifen.
St. John's wort (a herbal extract) used in a variety of conditions.
other medicines that contain oestrogen or affect the amount of oestrogen in your body.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect FEMOLET.
4. How do I take FEMOLET?
How much to take
The usual dose is one FEMOLET tablet every day.
Follow the instructions provided and use FEMOLET until your doctor tells you to stop.
Your doctor will check your progress to make sure the medicine is working and will
decide how long your treatment should continue.
How to take FEMOLET
Always swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water or other liquid.
You can take the tablet with or without food.
If your stomach is upset after taking the tablet, take it with a meal or after a snack.
When to take FEMOLET
Take FEMOLET at about the same time each day.
Taking your tablet at about the same time each day will have the best effect. It will
also help you remember when to take it.
If you forget to take FEMOLET
If you miss your dose at the usual time and it is almost time for your next dose (e.g.
within 2 or 3 hours), skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are
meant to.
Otherwise, take the dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your
tablet as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you miss more than one dose, or are not sure what to do, check with your doctor
or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist or
doctor for some hints.
If you take too much FEMOLET
If you think that you have used too much FEMOLET, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(Australia telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while taking FEMOLET?
Things you should do
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking FEMOLET.
Your doctor needs to know immediately so that FEMOLET can be replaced by another medicine.
You should not take this medicine while you are pregnant. Use birth control to avoid
pregnancy, until your postmenopausal status is fully established.
Call your doctor straight away if you are experiencing an allergic reaction to the
medicine.
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 trouble breathing.
Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
If you do not follow your doctor's instructions, your treatment may not help or you
may have unwanted side effects.
Be sure to keep all your appointments with your doctor so your progress can be checked.
Your doctor may want you to have blood tests from time to time to check on your progress
and detect any unwanted side effects. Your doctor may also decide to monitor your
bone health as this medicine may cause thinning or wasting of your bones (osteoporosis).
Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you
are taking FEMOLET.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking
FEMOLET.
If you go into hospital, please let the medical staff know that you are taking FEMOLET.
Things you should not do
Do not take FEMOLET for a longer time than your doctor has prescribed.
Do not let yourself run out of FEMOLET over the weekend or on holidays.
Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly.
Do not use FEMOLET to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give FEMOLET to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem to be similar to yours.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive, use any machines or tools or do jobs that require you
to be alert until you know how FEMOLET affects you.
FEMOLET may occasionally cause drowsiness, dizziness or other symptoms, which could
affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Make sure you know how you are
affected by this medicine before you drive or use machinery.
Drinking alcohol
FEMOLET can make you drowsy or dizzy. Alcohol may increase the effect.
Looking after your medicine
Keep your tablets in the original pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the pack they will not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Store
in original container.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do
not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
When to discard your medicine
If your doctor tells you to stop taking FEMOLET, or your tablets have passed their
expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date or if the packaging is torn or shows
signs of tampering.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
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Less serious side effects
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What to do
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Stomach Problems:
Constipation or diarrhoea
Indigestion or discomfort/pain
Vaginal Problems:
Spotting or bleeding
Dryness
Thick, whitish discharge
General Well-Being:
Feeling sick (nausea or vomiting)
High cholesterol
Cough, headache
Trouble sleeping (insomnia) or feeling sleepy (drowsy)
Increased sweating or thirst
Changes to appetite or weight
Hair loss
Feeling anxious, nervous, annoyed or sad
Trouble remembering things
Skin/Soft Tissue Problems:
Dry, itchy, red, irritated skin or eyes
Hot flushes
Dry or sore mouth, ulcers (mouth sores), cold sores
Bladder Problems:
Urgent need to urinate (pass water)
Pain or burning sensation when urinating, which may be a sign of an urinary tract
infection
Muscle or Joint Problems:
Back/breast/muscle/joint pain
Pain in arms and legs, stiffness
Arthritis, carpal tunnel, or trigger finger (finger bend and stuck)
Balance Problems:
Feeling dizzy, vertigo, falls
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.
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Serious side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What FEMOLET contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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Letrozole 2.5 mg
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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Colloidal anhydrous silica
Microcrystalline cellulose
Lactose monohydrate
Magnesium stearate
Maize Starch
Sodium starch glycollate
OPADRY II complete film coating system 40L38238 YELLOW (ARTG PI No: 107043).
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Potential allergens
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Contains lactose, sulfites and trace amounts of phenylalanine.
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What FEMOLET looks like
FEMOLET is a 2.5 mg dark yellow, capsule-shaped, slightly biconvex film-coated tablet
debossed with "LZ 2.5" on one side and "G" on the other side. (AUST R 166010).
FEMOLET comes in blister packs containing 30 tablets.
Who distributes FEMOLET
Alphapharm Pty Ltd trading as Viatris
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
Phone: 1800 274 276
This leaflet was prepared in July 2024.
FEMOLET® is a Viatris company trade mark
FEMOLET_cmi\Jul24/00