What is Letrozole?

Letrozole is a drug that belongs to the group of aromatase inhibitors. It is a drug that is used in medicine for the treatment of breast cancer or any target where it is desired to inhibit aromatase, since breast cancer is stimulated by estrogens or female sex hormones.

Letrozole reduces the amount of estrogen by blocking the aromatase enzyme that is involved in the production of estrogen, inhibiting the growth of breast cancer that feeds on estrogen to grow. Its function is to make tumor cells grow more slowly, delaying metastasis.

However, what concerns us is the use that is given in bodybuilding as a therapy to reduce or eliminate excess estrogen that has been produced by the use of steroids in a cycle, especially in times of cutting, in which to control fluid retention is important. It is usually used as a second option after an estrogen receptor antagonist such as tamoxifen when the expected result has not been obtained, but also to inhibit the estrogenic side effect associated with the use of anabolic steroids such as gynecomastia, aromatization, accumulation of fat and of course fluid retention.

Letrozole as post-cycle therapy in bodybuilding

Letrozole has the ability to reduce the level of estrogen in the organs up to 96/98%. It is efficient enough to attract the attention of bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids, however letrozole has also been shown to be efficient in increasing the amounts of follicle-stimulating hormone luteinizing hormone, which helps the bodybuilder to protect against gynecomastia and retention of liquids. It takes weeks to get a constant letrozole blood plasma, so for best effect it is included at the beginning of the cycle or even a few weeks before.

Letrozole has a half-life between 2 and 4 days, and can be taken with or without food. The average dose is usually between 1.25 mg. on alternate days, up to 2.5 mg. daily, and the duration of therapy can be up to 30 days. This dose is more than enough to eliminate virtually all estrogen in the body.
However, its efficiency is such that sometimes it excessively inhibits estrogen levels, so if you stop your intake abruptly, you could get a rebound effect.

For an average bodybuilder who has decided to do a moderate cycle of steroids, letrozole is too aggressive a drug, and it is advisable to resort to other estrogen-blocking drugs such as tamoxifen or Proviron. Letrozole should only be used for very intense cycles, typically used by bodybuilders competing in contests.

Letrozole Side Effects

• Allergy to letrozole
• Incompatible with pregnancy.
• Incompatible with breastfeeding.
• Incompatible with kidney diseases.
• Incompatible with liver diseases.
• Incompatible with osteoporosis.
•Hot flushes.
• Hypercholesterolemia.
•Fatigue.
• Sweating.
•Joint pain.
• Not compatible with age over 65 years.
Usual applications of letrozole in sports
• Reduce fluid retention in the body.
• Normalize blood pressure.
• Increase tissue density.
• Inhibit or extinguish gynecomastia.
• Quick recovery after exhausting workouts.
• Stimulate spermatogenesis.

Letrozole is not recommended for female athletes, since its hormonal side effects can be catastrophic.

Letrozole abuse can cause osteoporosis, atrophy, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and pain during sexual intercourse. In men some estrogen is needed to control cholesterol.

Frequently asked questions about letrozole

What is more recommended for a post-cycle therapy letrozole or tamoxifen?

In the case of moderate or medium cycles, tamoxifen is undoubtedly more indicated. Letrozole is only used with very intense cycles, usually by competitive bodybuilders.

Is letrozole efficient for gynecomastia?

Yes. It is one of the known and most frequently used drugs for gynecomastia.

Reference

• Aromatase inhibitor letrozole downregulates steroid receptor coactivator-1 in specific brain regions that primarily related to memory, neuroendocrine and integration. U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institute of Health (2014).
• Goss P.E., Ingle J.N., Martino S., et al. A randomized trial of letrozole in post-menopausal women after five years of tamoxifen therapy for early-stage breast cancer 349 pp. 1793-1798 New England Journal of Medicine (2003).
• Dowsett M. The biology of steroid hormones and endocrine therapies 14 pp. S5 Breast (2005).
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