LETROZOLE

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Letrozole Adverse Events: High Serious Reaction Rate, Primarily in Older Females

148,871 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About LETROZOLE

LETROZOLE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Based on analysis of 148,871 FDA adverse event reports, LETROZOLE has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for LETROZOLE include FATIGUE, NAUSEA, NEUTROPENIA, DIARRHOEA, MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for LETROZOLE.

AI Safety Analysis

Letrozole has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 148,871 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Fatigue, Nausea, Neutropenia. Of classified reports, 80.4% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Letrozole reports show a high rate of serious adverse events, particularly fatigue, nausea, and neutropenia.

The majority of reports are from older female patients, with a significant number of serious outcomes. Pain and disease progression are also commonly reported, indicating potential long-term health impacts.

Patients taking Letrozole should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Letrozole can cause serious adverse events such as neutropenia and anemia, and patients should be monitored closely, especially for signs of infection or bone marrow suppression. Drug interactions, particularly with other cytotoxic agents, should be This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Letrozole received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 80.4% serious event ratio across 59,008 classified reports. The score accounts for 148,871 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

FATIGUE7,159 reports
NAUSEA5,258 reports
NEUTROPENIA4,896 reports
DIARRHOEA4,460 reports
MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION4,255 reports
ARTHRALGIA3,802 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED3,678 reports
ALOPECIA3,583 reports
PAIN2,959 reports
ASTHENIA2,852 reports
DYSPNOEA2,838 reports
NEOPLASM PROGRESSION2,802 reports
VOMITING2,679 reports
DEATH2,585 reports
HEADACHE2,388 reports
DECREASED APPETITE2,319 reports
METASTASES TO BONE2,268 reports
DIZZINESS2,170 reports
ANAEMIA2,160 reports
MALAISE2,133 reports
OFF LABEL USE2,087 reports
PYREXIA1,950 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION1,948 reports
COUGH1,921 reports
BREAST CANCER METASTATIC1,905 reports
BREAST CANCER1,809 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY1,747 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE1,715 reports
BACK PAIN1,713 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED1,626 reports
CONSTIPATION1,623 reports
METASTASES TO LIVER1,605 reports
PRURITUS1,598 reports
HOT FLUSH1,547 reports
RASH1,546 reports
BONE PAIN1,457 reports
FALL1,446 reports
INSOMNIA1,420 reports
LEUKOPENIA1,407 reports
MYALGIA1,299 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,250 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA1,226 reports
PNEUMONIA1,223 reports
ANXIETY1,205 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED1,166 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED1,161 reports
NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED1,156 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION1,138 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL1,098 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER1,068 reports
PLEURAL EFFUSION1,063 reports
DEPRESSION1,050 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION984 reports
STOMATITIS959 reports
HYPERTENSION941 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE928 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL909 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED897 reports
METASTASES TO LUNG886 reports
OSTEONECROSIS OF JAW859 reports
DRY SKIN858 reports
COVID 19820 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS798 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL781 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT767 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED761 reports
RED BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED753 reports
PARAESTHESIA747 reports
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED745 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED742 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED741 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA738 reports
SOMNOLENCE731 reports
CHILLS727 reports
ASCITES723 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS721 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING718 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY714 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM711 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED701 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE701 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION691 reports
CHEST PAIN690 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT681 reports
VISION BLURRED642 reports
DYSPEPSIA629 reports
EPISTAXIS619 reports
ERYTHEMA618 reports
DEHYDRATION613 reports
SEPSIS595 reports
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM QT PROLONGED592 reports
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT578 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE574 reports
TUMOUR MARKER INCREASED560 reports
SYNCOPE558 reports
TACHYCARDIA558 reports
DYSPHAGIA554 reports
INFECTION554 reports
METASTASES TO LYMPH NODES551 reports
DECREASED IMMUNE RESPONSIVENESS536 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High rate of serious adverse events (80.4%)
  • Common reactions include fatigue, nausea, and neutropenia
  • Significant number of reports related to disease progression and metastases

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 54,310, Male: 837, Unknown: 71. The most frequently reported age groups are age 70 (1,281 reports), age 63 (1,242 reports), age 65 (1,202 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 59,008 classified reports for LETROZOLE:

  • Serious: 47,448 reports (80.4%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 11,560 reports (19.6%)
Serious 80.4%Non-Serious 19.6%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female54,310 (98.4%)
Male837 (1.5%)
Unknown71 (0.1%)

Reports by Age

Age 701,281 reports
Age 631,242 reports
Age 651,202 reports
Age 621,191 reports
Age 611,185 reports
Age 731,185 reports
Age 601,180 reports
Age 691,169 reports
Age 681,161 reports
Age 641,156 reports
Age 661,152 reports
Age 671,137 reports
Age 711,104 reports
Age 721,083 reports
Age 581,045 reports
Age 751,042 reports
Age 57998 reports
Age 59997 reports
Age 74916 reports
Age 54889 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Letrozole can cause serious adverse events such as neutropenia and anemia, and patients should be monitored closely, especially for signs of infection or bone marrow suppression. Drug interactions, particularly with other cytotoxic agents, should be

What You Should Know

If you are taking Letrozole, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include fatigue, nausea, neutropenia, diarrhoea, malignant neoplasm progression. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should inform their healthcare provider of any new or worsening symptoms, especially signs of infection or changes in blood counts. Regular blood tests are recommended to monitor for potential adverse effects. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor letrozole safety, and updates are regularly provided. Healthcare providers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Letrozole?

The FDA has received approximately 148,871 adverse event reports associated with Letrozole. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Letrozole?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Letrozole include Fatigue, Nausea, Neutropenia, Diarrhoea, Malignant Neoplasm Progression. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Fatigue (7,159 reports), Nausea (5,258 reports), Neutropenia (4,896 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Letrozole.

What percentage of Letrozole adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 59,008 classified reports, 47,448 (80.4%) were classified as serious and 11,560 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Letrozole (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Letrozole break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 54,310, Male: 837, Unknown: 71. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Letrozole?

The most frequently reported age groups for Letrozole adverse events are: age 70: 1,281 reports, age 63: 1,242 reports, age 65: 1,202 reports, age 62: 1,191 reports, age 61: 1,185 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Letrozole?

The primary manufacturer associated with Letrozole adverse event reports is Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Letrozole?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Letrozole include: Arthralgia, White Blood Cell Count Decreased, Alopecia, Pain, Asthenia. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Letrozole?

You can report adverse events from Letrozole to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Letrozole's safety score and what does it mean?

Letrozole has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Letrozole reports show a high rate of serious adverse events, particularly fatigue, nausea, and neutropenia.

What are the key safety signals for Letrozole?

Key safety signals identified in Letrozole's adverse event data include: High rate of serious adverse events (80.4%). Common reactions include fatigue, nausea, and neutropenia. Significant number of reports related to disease progression and metastases. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Letrozole interact with other drugs?

Letrozole can cause serious adverse events such as neutropenia and anemia, and patients should be monitored closely, especially for signs of infection or bone marrow suppression. Drug interactions, particularly with other cytotoxic agents, should be Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Letrozole.

What should patients know before taking Letrozole?

Patients should inform their healthcare provider of any new or worsening symptoms, especially signs of infection or changes in blood counts. Regular blood tests are recommended to monitor for potential adverse effects.

Are Letrozole side effects well-documented?

Letrozole has 148,871 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The majority of reports are from older female patients, with a significant number of serious outcomes. The volume of reports for Letrozole reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Letrozole?

The FDA continues to monitor letrozole safety, and updates are regularly provided. Healthcare providers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to LETROZOLE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDEDOXORUBICINVINCristine
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.