Side Effects of letrozole: A Synthesis of Findings from 20 Studies

  1. Home
  2. Side Effects of letrozole
This information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician.Data sources and disclaimers (data limitations, copyright, etc.)The analysis on "Side Effects of letrozole: A Synthesis of Findings from 20 Studies" on this page is based on PubMed data provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). However, NLM does not endorse or verify these analyses.

This analysis is based on research papers included in PubMed, but medical research is constantly evolving and may not fully reflect the latest findings. There may also be biases towards certain research areas.

This information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician. If you have concerns about "Side Effects of letrozole: A Synthesis of Findings from 20 Studies", please consult your doctor.

For NLM copyright information, please see Link to NLM Copyright Page
PubMed data is obtained via Hugging Face Datasets: Link to DatasetPlease check the disclaimer.
This page's analysis is based on PubMed data provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).
Original Abstract of the Article

Main Research Findings

Letrozole is a medication used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Letrozole works by inhibiting the production of estrogen. Side effects of letrozole may include osteoporosis, joint pain, hot flashes, and mood changes. Letrozole may also increase the risk of visual problems and cardiovascular complications. Letrozole may increase the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation may be recommended to prevent osteoporosis in patients taking letrozole. Letrozole may increase the risk of cardiovascular complications in adolescent boys. Letrozole may cause an increase in calprotectin levels. Letrozole may cause cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, and hot flashes in breast cancer patients. Letrozole may suppress ovarian function. Letrozole may decrease blood estrogen levels. Letrozole may affect thyroid function. Letrozole is often used as a treatment option with fewer side effects and high efficacy. Letrozole plays a crucial role in the treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancer. More research is needed to investigate the safety and efficacy of letrozole. Managing the side effects of letrozole helps in providing treatment options to patients. Letrozole plays an important role in the treatment of breast cancer, but it is important to be aware of the possibility of side effects. Further research is needed to investigate the safety and efficacy of letrozole. Letrozole is a safe and effective drug used to treat breast cancer. The side effects of letrozole are often manageable. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation, as well as other measures, should be considered to prevent side effects of letrozole.

Reasons for Side Effects

Side effects of letrozole are caused by inhibiting estrogen synthesis. Estrogen plays a vital role in bone health, heart health, brain function, and mood. By inhibiting estrogen synthesis, letrozole may affect these functions and cause side effects.

Common Side Effects

Osteoporosis

Letrozole may increase the risk of osteoporosis by inhibiting estrogen synthesis. This is because estrogen plays a vital role in bone health. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation may be recommended to reduce the risk of osteoporosis with letrozole. 3

Joint Pain

Letrozole may cause joint pain. This is because estrogen plays an important role in joint health. Pain relievers and physical therapy may be recommended to reduce joint pain caused by letrozole.

Hot Flashes

Letrozole may cause hot flashes. This is because estrogen plays a crucial role in temperature regulation. The use of air conditioning, light clothing, and cold showers may be recommended to reduce hot flashes caused by letrozole.

Mood Changes

Letrozole may cause mood changes. This is because estrogen plays an important role in mood. Counseling and antidepressants may be recommended to reduce mood changes caused by letrozole.

Visual Problems

Letrozole may cause visual problems. This is because letrozole may affect the retina. Regular eye exams are recommended to reduce visual problems caused by letrozole. 8

Cardiovascular Complications

Letrozole may increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. This is because letrozole may affect blood vessel health. A healthy lifestyle is recommended to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications caused by letrozole. 9

Side Effect Management

Osteoporosis

Preventing osteoporosis requires adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium. 3 Regular exercise also helps in maintaining bone health. Consult your doctor for appropriate treatment if you are at high risk of osteoporosis.

Joint Pain

Pain relievers and physical therapy are effective for joint pain. Physical therapy helps strengthen muscles and maintain joint flexibility. Consult your doctor for appropriate treatment if you have severe joint pain.

Hot Flashes

The use of air conditioning, light clothing, and cold showers are effective for hot flashes. Dietary and exercise therapy also helps in reducing hot flash symptoms. Consult your doctor for appropriate treatment if you have severe hot flashes.

Mood Changes

Counseling and antidepressants are effective for mood changes. Relaxation techniques and exercise to reduce stress are also effective. Consult your doctor for appropriate treatment if you have severe mood changes.

Visual Problems

Regular eye exams are essential for visual problems. Consult an ophthalmologist immediately if you experience any vision abnormalities. 8

Cardiovascular Complications

A healthy lifestyle is crucial to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications. Healthy eating, regular exercise, and smoking cessation are effective. Consult your doctor for appropriate treatment if you are at high risk of cardiovascular complications. 9

Comparison Across Studies

Commonalities Across Studies

Many studies have shown that letrozole can cause a variety of side effects, including osteoporosis, joint pain, hot flashes, and mood changes.

Differences Across Studies

There is some disagreement in studies regarding whether letrozole increases the risk of visual problems and cardiovascular complications. Some studies suggest that letrozole may increase the risk of these side effects, while other studies do not clearly show this association.

Application Notes in Real Life

Letrozole is an effective drug used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women, but there is a risk of side effects. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and undergo regular health checks to reduce side effects of letrozole. Consult your doctor if you are concerned about side effects of letrozole.

Limitations of Current Research

There is still not enough research on the side effects of letrozole. In particular, there is limited research on the side effects of letrozole when used for extended periods. Further research is needed to better understand the side effects of letrozole.

Future Research Directions

Future research is needed to better understand the side effects of letrozole, such as research on side effects when used for extended periods, and research on the effects of letrozole on different populations.

Conclusion

Letrozole is an effective drug used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women, but it can cause a variety of side effects, including osteoporosis, joint pain, hot flashes, and mood changes. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and undergoing regular health checks are crucial to reduce side effects of letrozole. Consult your doctor if you are concerned about side effects of letrozole. Further research is needed to investigate the safety and efficacy of letrozole.

Literature analysis of 20 papers
Positive Content
12
Neutral Content
2
Negative Content
5
Article Type
1
0
2
3
19
1.

Influence of the anti-oestrogens tamoxifen and letrozole on thyroid function in women with early and advanced breast cancer: A systematic review.

Author: MarinaDjordje, RasmussenÅse Krogh, Buch-LarsenKristian, GillbergLinn, AnderssonMichael, SchwarzPeter

BC recurrence
Thyroid function

Tamoxifen and letrozole are anti-oestrogens used to prevent breast cancer recurrence. While their side effects are well-documented, their impact on thyroid function is less clear. This review explores the potential effects of tamoxifen and letrozole on thyroid function and their contribution to weight gain observed in breast cancer patients.

Systematic ReviewA review that systematically collects, evaluates, and integrates relevant research to answer a specific research question.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
ReviewAn article that critically examines existing research on a particular topic and summarizes the current state of knowledge in the field.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

2.

Influence of side-effects on early therapy persistence with letrozole in post-menopausal patients with early breast cancer: Results of the prospective EvAluate-TM study.

Author: NabievaN, FehmT, HäberleL, de WaalJ, RezaiM, BaierB, BaakeG, KolbergH-C, GuggenbergerM, WarmM, HarbeckN, WuerstleinR, DeukerJ-U, DallP, RichterB, WachsmannG, BruckerC, SiebersJ W, PopovicM, KuhnT, WolfC, VollertH-W, BreitbachG-P, JanniW, LandthalerR, KohlsA, RezekD, NoesseltT, FischerG, HenschenS, PraetzT, HeylV, KühnT, KraussT, ThomssenC, HohnA, TeschH, MundhenkeC, HeinA, HackC C, SchmidtK, BellevilleE, BruckerS Y, KümmelS, BeckmannM W, WallwienerD, HadjiP, FaschingP A

Breast cancer treatment
Adverse events

Aromatase inhibitors are used to treat breast cancer. This study looked at why some women stop taking letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Multicenter StudyResearch conducted in collaboration with multiple research institutions. It aims to collect a wide range of data and obtain more generalizable results.
Observational StudyResearch that observes and collects data on participants' behavior and outcomes in their natural state, without intervention.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

3.

Effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on side effects profile in patients of breast cancer treated with letrozole.

Author: Arul Vijaya VaniS, AnanthanarayananP H, KadambariD, HarichandrakumarK T, NiranjjanR, NandeeshaH

Vitamin D supplementation
Letrozole side effects

Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency may contribute to musculoskeletal symptoms in breast cancer patients taking letrozole. Vitamin D3 and calcium supplementation may be beneficial for these patients.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.

Language : English

4.

Coadministrating luteolin minimizes the side effects of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole.

Author: LiFengjuan, WongTsz Yan, LinShu-mei, ChowSimon, CheungWing-hoi, ChanFranky L, ChenShiuan, LeungLai K

Blood lipid improvement
Breast cancer treatment

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are used as adjuvant therapeutic agents for breast cancer. This study compared the efficacy of the flavonoid luteolin to the clinically approved AI letrozole in a cell and a mouse model. Luteolin showed similar efficacy to letrozole in reducing plasma estrogen concentrations and suppressing xenograft proliferation, but it produced a more desirable blood lipid profile.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

6.

Effect of quercetin on steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis in ovary of mice with experimentally-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Author: ShahMohd Zahoor Ul Haq, ShrivastvaVinoy Kumar, MirManzoor Ahmad, SheikhWajid Mohammad, GanieMohd Ashraf, RatherGulzar Ahmed, ShafiMajid, BashirShowkeen Muzamil, AnsariMohammad Azam, Al-JafaryMeneerah A, Al-QhtaniMohammad H, HomeidaAbdalelgadir Musa, Al-SuhaimiEbtesam A

Improved reproductive function
Reversed PCOS abnormalities
Potential side effects

This study investigated the effects of quercetin on PCOS in mice induced by letrozole. Quercetin treatment reversed the molecular, functional, and morphological abnormalities associated with PCOS, including irregular estrous cycles, hormonal imbalances, and increased cholesterol, triglycerides, testosterone, and insulin levels.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.

Language : English

8.

A case report on letrozole-related maculopathy.

Author: AzeemSitara, Al HinaiAhmed, Al KharousiNadiya, Al BaimaniKhalid, Al AbriMohamed, Al FadhilNawal

Letrozole is a drug that is used to treat breast cancer. A case study reports a rare side effect of letrozole, bilateral cystoid macular edema (CME), in a postmenopausal woman.

Case ReportsIn the medical field, a report that describes in detail a unique case, an unusual medical condition, or the effect of a treatment. Provides new insights and possibilities for treatment through individual patient cases.

Language : English

10.

Effects of letrozole on serum estradiol and estrone in postmenopausal breast cancer patients and tolerability of treatment: a prospective trial using a highly sensitive LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) method for estrogen measurement.

Author: FaltinováMária, VehmanenLeena, LyytinenHeli, HaanpääMikko, HämäläinenEsa, TiitinenAila, BlomqvistCarl, MattsonJohanna

Estrogen suppression
Joint and muscle pain
Vaginal dryness
Vasomotor symptoms

Letrozole completely suppressed serum estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) levels below the lower limit of quantification in postmenopausal women. High pre-treatment E2 levels were associated with increased joint and muscle pain during letrozole therapy. Automated immunoassays are unsuitable for E2 monitoring during letrozole therapy due to poor sensitivity.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.

Language : English

11.

Ribociclib-induced visual hallucination in a patient with metastatic breast cancer.

Author: KapaganTanju, BulutNilufer, DemirerSerhat, ErdemGokmen Umut

Hallucinations
Hematological toxicities
Infections

CDK 4/6 inhibitors are commonly used for HR+/HER2- breast cancer. This study reports frequent side effects associated with these inhibitors, including hematological toxicities, infections, and QT prolongation. However, no cases of hallucination related to CDK 4/6 inhibitor use have been reported in the English literature.

Case ReportsIn the medical field, a report that describes in detail a unique case, an unusual medical condition, or the effect of a treatment. Provides new insights and possibilities for treatment through individual patient cases.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.

Language : English

12.

Low-dose letrozole - an effective option for women with symptomatic adenomyosis awaiting IVF: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Author: SharmaSunita, RoyChoudhurySourav, BhattacharyaM Padmaja, HazraShubhendu, MajhiArup Kumar, OswalKamal C, ChattopadhyayRatna

Cost-effective
Improved sonographic features
Reduced dysmenorrhea
Reduced menorrhagia
No side effects

Low-dose letrozole treatment was as effective as GnRH agonist treatment in improving symptoms and sonographic features of adenomyosis in women awaiting IVF. Both treatments led to significant improvements in dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, and sonographic features. Letrozole was associated with regular menstrual cycles while the GnRH agonist group had amenorrhea. Letrozole was also found to be more cost-effective than GnRH agonist treatment.

Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.

Language : English

14.

Adherence to oral anticancer hormonal therapy in breast cancer patients and its relationship with treatment satisfaction: an important insight from a developing country.

Author: KoniAmer A, SuwanBushra A, NazzalMaisa A, SleemAlaa, DaifallahAiman, AllahMajd Hamed, OdehRazan Y, ZyoudSa'ed H

Adherence
Treatment satisfaction

This study evaluated the adherence of women with hormone-positive breast cancer to oral hormonal drugs and correlated it with treatment satisfaction, sociodemographic factors, and clinical factors.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Multicenter StudyResearch conducted in collaboration with multiple research institutions. It aims to collect a wide range of data and obtain more generalizable results.

Language : English

15.

Letrozole treatment alters hippocampal gene expression in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).

Author: EdwardsMélise, LamSam, RanjanRavi, PereiraMariana, BabbittCourtney, LacreuseAgnès

Cognitive deficits
Hormonal changes

This study used RNA sequencing to investigate the effects of letrozole on gene expression in common marmosets, revealing potential sex-specific mechanisms through which aromatase inhibitors affect cognitive function and steroid levels in the hippocampus.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch funding provided by the NIH to external research institutions and researchers.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

16.

Effect of Aromatase Inhibitors on Serum Calprotectin Levels in an Animal Experimental Model: Trial.

Author: BoutasIoannis, KontogeorgiAdamantia, KoufopoulosNektarios, DimitrakakisConstantine, DimasDionysios, KalantaridouSophia N, KorouLaskarina-Maria, PerreaDespoina

Breast Cancer Treatment
Side Effects

This study investigated the correlation between aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole and letrozole) and Calprotectin levels in an experimental animal model.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.

Language : English

18.

Influence of the anti-oestrogens tamoxifen and letrozole on thyroid function in women with early and advanced breast cancer: A systematic review.

Author: MarinaDjordje, RasmussenÅse Krogh, Buch-LarsenKristian, GillbergLinn, AnderssonMichael, SchwarzPeter

BC recurrence
Thyroid function

Tamoxifen and letrozole are anti-oestrogens used to prevent breast cancer recurrence. While their side effects are well-documented, their impact on thyroid function is less clear. This review explores the potential effects of tamoxifen and letrozole on thyroid function and their contribution to weight gain observed in breast cancer patients.

Systematic ReviewA review that systematically collects, evaluates, and integrates relevant research to answer a specific research question.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
ReviewAn article that critically examines existing research on a particular topic and summarizes the current state of knowledge in the field.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

This site uses cookies. Visit our privacy policy page or click the link in any footer for more information and to change your preferences.