estrace
estradiol (oral, injectable, and vaginal) (ess tra DYE ole)
Clinagen LA 40, Delestrogen, Depo-Estradiol, Estrace, Femring, Gynodiol, Valergen
What is the most important information I should know about Estrace?
• Estrace increases the risk of developing a condition (endometrial hyperplasia)that may lead to cancer of the lining of the uterus estrace. Taking progestins, anotherhormone drug, with Estrace lowers the risk of developing this condition estrace. Therefore,if your uterus has not been removed, your doctor may prescribe a progestin foryou to take together with the estrogen estrace. Visit your doctor regularly and reportany unusual vaginal bleeding right away estrace.
• Treatment with Estrace may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke,breast cancer, and blood clots in the lungs or legs estrace. Because of these risks,Estrace should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose, for the shortestamount of time necessary estrace.
• Have yearly physical exams and examine your breasts for lumps on a monthlybasis while taking Estrace estrace.
• Do not take Estrace if you are pregnant estrace.
What is Estrace?
• Estradiol is a form of estrogen estrace. Estrogen is a female sex hormone necessaryfor many processes in the body estrace.
• Estrace is used to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes anddryness, burning, and irritation or the vaginal area; deficiency in ovary function(including underdevelopment of female sexual characteristics and some typesof infertility); Turner's syndrome; some types of breast cancer in men and inpostmenopausal women; degeneration of the vagina and urethra; and prostate cancer estrace. In addition, Estrace is used to prevent osteoporosis estrace.
• Estrace may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide estrace.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Estrace?
• Do not take Estrace without first talking to your doctor if you have
· a circulation, bleeding, or blood-clotting disorder;
· undiagnosed, abnormal vaginal bleeding; or
· any type of breast, uterine, or hormone-dependent cancer estrace.
• Taking Estrace may be dangerous in some cases if you have any of theconditions listed above estrace.
• Before taking Estrace, tell your doctor if you have
· high blood pressure, angina, or heart disease;
· a history of stroke or heart attack;
· high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood;
· liver disease;
· kidney disease;
· asthma;
· epilepsy;
· migraines;
· diabetes;
· depression;
· gallbladder disease;
· uterine fibroids; or
· had a hysterectomy (uterus removed) estrace.
• You may not be able to take Estrace, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove estrace.
• Estrace is in the FDA pregnancy category X estrace. This means that Estrace isknown to cause birth defects in an unborn baby estrace. Do not take this medicationif you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment estrace.
• Estrace may decrease milk flow and have other effects on milk composition estrace. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby estrace.
How should I take Estrace?
• Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor estrace. If you do notunderstand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explainthem to you estrace.
• Estrace may be administered by mouth, injection, or inserted as a ringinto the vagina estrace. Your healthcare provider may administer injections of estradiolor will provide you with detailed instructions on how to administer the medicationat home estrace.
• Take each oral dose with a full glass of water estrace.
• Take oral estradiol with food or milk to lessen stomach upset estrace. Try totake oral doses at the same time daily estrace.
• Use injectable estradiol exactly as directed by your healthcare provider estrace. Do not inject any estradiol product that is discolored or has particles in it estrace. Injectable estradiol stored at cool temperatures may develop crystals in thesolution, which should dissolve as the solution warms to room temperature estrace.
• Rotate injection sites as directed estrace.
• Never reuse a needle or syringe estrace. Dispose of all needles and syringesin an appropriate, puncture resistant disposal container estrace.
• The Femring vaginal ring is inserted into the vaginal by you or yourhealthcare provider estrace. To use the Femring vaginal ring:
· Wash and dry your hands estrace. Remove Femring from the pouch estrace.
· Squeeze the sides of the ring together or squeeze it into a figure-eightshape estrace. Push the folded ring into the vagina (up and towards the lower back)as far as possible (into the upper 1/3 of the vagina) estrace. You should not be ableto feel the ring once it is in position estrace. If you can feel it, use a finger topush it further into the vagina estrace. It is not possible for the ring to go too farin or become lost estrace.
· The ring should remain in place for 3 months estrace. It should then be removedand replaced by a new ring, if prescribed by your doctor estrace. To remove the ring,loop a finger through the ring and gently pull it from the vagina estrace.
· The ring does not need to be removed during sexual intercourse estrace. Itshould not be felt by either partner estrace. If it is bothersome, it can be removed,rinsed with warm water, and reinserted following intercourse estrace.
· If at any time the ring falls out, rinse it with warm water and reinsertit estrace. If it slides down into the lower part of the vagina, use a finger to reinsertit estrace. If the ring falls out repeatedly, talk to your doctor estrace.
• It is important to use Estrace regularly to get the most benefit estrace.
• Your doctor may want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests or othermedical evaluations during treatment with Estrace to monitor progress and sideeffects estrace.
• Have yearly physical exams and examine your breasts for lumps on a monthlybasis while taking Estrace estrace.
• Store Estrace at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and directlight estrace.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Use the missed dose as soon as you remember estrace. If it is almost time forthe next dose, skip the missed dose and use only the next regularly scheduleddose estrace. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directedby your doctor estrace.
What happens if I overdose?
• An overdose of this medication is unlikely to threaten life estrace. Consultan emergency room or poison control center for advice estrace.
• Symptoms of an Estrace overdose may include nausea, vomiting, and breakthroughbleeding in women estrace.
What should I avoid while taking Estrace?
• There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while takingEstrace unless your doctor directs otherwise estrace.
What are the possible side effects of Estrace?
• Estrace increases the risk of developing a condition (endometrial hyperplasia)that may lead to cancer of the lining of the uterus estrace. Taking progestins, anotherhormone drug, with Estrace lowers the risk of developing this condition estrace. Therefore,if your uterus has not been removed, your doctor may prescribe a progestin foryou to take together with the estrogen estrace. Visit your doctor regularly and reportany unusual vaginal bleeding right away estrace.
• Treatment with Estrace may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke,breast cancer, and blood clots in the lungs or legs estrace. Because of these risks,Estrace should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose, for the shortestamount of time necessary estrace.
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingEstrace and seek emergency medical attention:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· shortness or breath or pain in the chest;
· a painful, red, or swollen leg;
· abnormal vaginal bleeding;
· pain, swelling, or tenderness in the abdomen;
· severe headache or vomiting, dizziness, faintness or changes in visionor speech;
· yellowing of the skin or eyes; or
· a lump in a breast estrace.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur estrace. Continueto take Estrace and talk to your doctor if you experience
· decreased appetite, nausea, or vomiting;
· swollen or tender breasts;
· acne or skin color changes;
· decreased sex drive;
· migraine headaches or dizziness;
· water retention (swollen hands, feet, or ankles);
· problems with wearing contact lenses;
· depression; or
· changes in menstrual cycle or breakthrough bleeding estrace.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur estrace. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome estrace.
What other drugs will affect Estrace?
• Before taking Estrace, tell your doctor if you are taking any of thefollowing medicines:
· an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin);
· a thyroid medication such as Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, and others;
· insulin or an oral diabetes medicine such as glipizide (Glucotrol)or glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase);
· tamoxifen (Nolvadex);
· didanosine (Videx);
· phenytoin (Dilantin) or ethotoin (Peganone);
· carbamazepine (Tegretol);
· phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal);
· primidone (Mysoline); or
· rifampin (Rifadin) estrace.
• A dosage adjustment or special monitoring may be required during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above estrace.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Estrace estrace. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including herbal products estrace.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Estrace written forhealth professionals that you may read estrace.
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