Letrozole, also known as Femara, is an oral non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor for treating hormonally responsive breast cancer after surgery. In the world of professional sports, especially bodybuilding, Letrozole is used to control or prevent the formation of estrogens that are common with harsh and aromatizable steroids.
Femara tablets contain letrozole, a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor and the list of its inactive ingredients includes colloidal silicon dioxide, ferric oxide, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, sodium starch glycolate, talc, and titanium dioxide. Its chemical name is 4,4′-(1H-1,2,4-Triazol-1ylmethylene)dibenzonitrile and it has the molecular weight of 285.31 g/mol at the base. The molecular formula of Femara is C17H11N5.
Benefits of Letrozole
The antiestrogen, Letrozole, is admired by sportsmen as it helps them stay away from bloating because of excess water retention besides preventing estrogenic side effects such as gynecomastia and oily skin. Letrozole is also used for promoting spermatogenesis in male patients suffering from nonobstructive azoospermia and treating endometriosis. This legal antiestrogen helps sportsmen on steroids reap and optimize benefits of steroids such as enhancements in terms of growth hormone, cortisol, SHBG, hepatic production of binding proteins, HDL, and promotion of the growth and development of sexual characteristics. It is also useful in stimulating metabolism of the body and burning fat besides reducing LDL cholesterol and keeping a close check on the levels of salt and water retention.
One of the best things about Letrozole is that it prevents only ‘harmful estrogen‘ and does not bring a negative effect to the ‘good estrogen.’ This means that benefits of estrogens such as healthy immune function, healthy cholesterol levels, joint health, cognitive function, and muscle growth can still be attained by a Letrozole user besides controlling estrogenic side effects such as oily skin, gynecomastia, and fluid retention.
Letrozole is also effective in restoring the natural production of testosterone, the male sex hormone, after a steroid cycle involving aromatizable steroids. This third-generation selective oral aromatase inhibitor demonstrates efficacy to suppress estrogen formation by as much as 80 percent with a daily dose of one tablet (2.5 mg).
Recommended Dose
The recommended dose of Letrozole (Femara) for treating breast cancer is 2.5 mg once in a day. The recommended dose for sportsmen is 0.25-1.0 mg per day. Letrozole can be taken with or without food and the doses must be in complete accordance with medical advice. The doses should not be increased or decreased without medical approval.
Precautions
Use of Letrozole is not recommended to women having a pre-menopausal hormonal status, during pregnancy and lactation. It is also not recommended to people suffering from breast or prostate cancer or those having a hypersensitivity to the drug or any of its ingredients. Letrozole can interact with drugs such as Prasterone, Tamoxifen, DHEA, and Androstenedione and such an interaction must be avoided.
Letrozole use may lead to drowsiness or dizziness and you should avoid driving or using machinery or anything that requires mental alertness.