Letrozole: Uses, Side Effects & Brands in Pakistan

Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor. It is a prescription medicine used for hormone-sensitive breast cancer after the menopause and ovulation induction. In Pakistan it is available as tablets, made by 12 different manufacturers. On this page you can read how it works, its common side effects and precautions, and compare the brands and prices available at Medimart.

How Letrozole works

Letrozole blocks aromatase, the enzyme that makes oestrogen in fat and other tissues after the menopause. With much less oestrogen available, hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells lose a signal they need to grow. In fertility treatment, the brief drop in oestrogen prompts the body to release more follicle-stimulating hormone.

What is Letrozole used for?

• Hormone-sensitive breast cancer after the menopause and ovulation induction

Letrozole is used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in women who have been through the menopause. It may be given after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer coming back, sometimes following tamoxifen, or to treat cancer that has spread. Fertility specialists also use it to help the ovaries release an egg in women who do not ovulate regularly.

Side effects of Letrozole

Many side effects of Letrozole come from lower oestrogen levels. The common ones include:

• Hot flushes and sweating
• Joint and muscle pain
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Thinning of the bones
• Raised cholesterol

See a doctor promptly for unusual vaginal bleeding, chest pain, sudden breathlessness or swelling in one leg. Get urgent help for weakness on one side of the body or difficulty speaking.

Precautions and warnings

• Your doctor may check your bone density and cholesterol, and may advise calcium, vitamin D or other bone-protecting treatment.
• It must not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding; women who could still become pregnant should discuss contraception.
• Avoid products containing oestrogen, such as HRT, unless your specialist advises otherwise.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems.
• It can cause tiredness or dizziness, so take care with driving until you know how it affects you.

Frequently asked questions about Letrozole

What is the price of Letrozole in Pakistan?

At Medimart, Letrozole products currently in stock range from Rs 1,300 to Rs 23,106 per pack, depending on the brand, strength and pack size. The lowest-priced option right now is Neuletroz 2.5mg Tablet at Rs 1,300. Prices are updated regularly, so the product list on this page always shows the latest price.

Which brands of Letrozole are available in Pakistan?

Letrozole is sold in Pakistan under brand names such as Aromek (Glaxo Smithkline Ltd), Lezra (Atco Laboratories Ltd), Selet (Seraph Pharma), Retzole (Pharmevo LIMITED.), Hitase (Highnoon Laboratories Ltd), Cellzol (Cell Laboratories Ltd), Neuletroz (Neutro Pharma) and Letara (A.J Mirza), along with 4 more brands listed below.

Do I need a prescription for Letrozole?

Yes. Letrozole is a prescription medicine in Pakistan. Use it only when a doctor has prescribed it, at the dose and for the time they advise.

Can Letrozole be used during pregnancy?

It must not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding; women who could still become pregnant should discuss contraception.

Are all Letrozole brands the same?

Brands that contain the same amount of Letrozole in the same form are expected to work in the same way, although inactive ingredients, pack sizes and prices differ. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before switching from one brand to another.

Letrozole brands and prices in Pakistan

Medimart lists 12 products containing Letrozole from different manufacturers. Compare strengths, pack sizes and prices below and order online with cash on delivery.

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