Letrozole History
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved letrozole for prescription sale in 1997, where it is sold by Novartis under the Femara trade name. Novartis also extensively markets the drug in other nations, and more than 70 nations now carry letrozole as an approved drug. The Femara brand is by far the dominant preparation worldwide, and is found in such nations as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Switzerland, and Russia. Novartis also markets the drug under the Femar trade name in some other nations including Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Additionally, letrozole products can also be found under such other brand names as Fempro (India), Oncolet (India), Trozet (India), Insegar (Spain), Aromek (Poland), Lametta (Poland), Cendalon (Argentina), Fecinole (Argentina), and Kebirzol (Argentina). Given its high level of efficacy and strong marketing support, Femara, and Femar, remain the most popular letrozole product currently available.
How is Letrozole Supplied
Letrozole is most commonly supplied in tablets of 2.5 mg.
Structural Characteristics of Letrozole
Letrozole is classified as a non-steroidal selective third generation aromatase inhibitor. It has the chemical designation 4,4’(1H-1,2,4-Triazol-1- ylmethylene)dibenzonitrile.
Letrozole Side Effects
Common side effects associated with the use of an aromatase inhibitor include hot flashes, joint pain, weakness, fatigue, mood changes, depression, high blood pressure, swelling of the arms/legs, and headache. Aromatase inhibitors may also decrease bone mineral density, which may lead to osteoporosis and an increase in fractures in susceptible patients. Some individuals may also respond to the medication with gastrointestinal side effects including nausea and vomiting. Aromatase inhibitors can harm the development of an unborn fetus, and should never be taken or handled during pregnancy. When taken by men (as an off-label use) to reduce estrogenicity during prolonged periods of steroid treatment, aromatase inhibitors may increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by retarding some beneficial properties of estrogen on cholesterol values. Studies have demonstrated that when an aromatizable steroid such as testosterone enanthate is taken in conjunction with an aromatase inhibitor, suppression of HDL (good) cholesterol levels become significantly more pronounced. Since the estrogen receptor agonist/antagonist Nolvadex generally does not display the same anti-estrogenic (negative) effect on cholesterol values, it is usually favored over aromatase inhibitors for estrogen maintenance by male bodybuilders and athletes concerned with cardiovascular health.
Letrozole Administration
Letrozole is FDA approved for 1) adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive early breast cancer; 2) the extended adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have received 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy; 3) first-line treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive or hormone receptor unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer; and 4) the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following anti-estrogen therapy. The recommended dose of letrozole is one 2.5 mg tablet administered once per day, without regard to meals.
When used (off-label) to mitigate the estrogenic side effects of anabolic/androgenic steroid use or increase muscle definition, male athletes and bodybuilders often take 1.25 mg to 2.5 mg per day. In some cases a dosage of a half of a tablet (1.25 mg) taken every other day is sufficient to prevent the onset of estrogenic side effects.
Letrozole Availability
Letrozole is most commonly sold under the brand name Femara by the international drugmanufacturing firm Novartis. It is widely available at the present time.
References
Wlliam Llewellyn (2011) - Anabolics