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| Pronunciation |
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 (es
tra DYE
ole) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Alora® Transdermal; Climara®
Transdermal; Delestrogen® Injection; depGynogen® Injection;
Depo®-Estradiol Injection; Depogen® Injection;
Esclim™ Transdermal; Estrace® Oral; Estrace® Vaginal
Cream; Estraderm® Transdermal; Estra-L® Injection;
Estring®; Estro-Cyp® Injection; Gynodiol™;
Gynogen®; Gynogen L.A.® Injection; VAGIFEM®;
Valergen®; Vivelle-Dot™ Transdermal; Vivelle®
Transdermal |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Ginedisc® (Mexico); Oestrogel (Mexico);
Systen (Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Estrogen Derivative |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- Estrogens, when used in women after menopause, may increase the
risk of cancer of the uterus. Unusual vaginal bleeding may be a warning sign for
this type of cancer. Report any unusual vaginal bleeding to your healthcare
provider. Do not take estrogens if you are pregnant. Estrogens may cause birth
defects to your unborn child. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you
may be pregnant.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to estradiol or any other part of the medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Porphyria, vaginal
bleeding of an unknown cause, known or suspected breast cancer except where the
cancer has spread, a history of blood clots caused by estrogen use, a tumor
where estrogen makes it grow.
- If you are pregnant or think you may be
pregnant.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used to stop/reduce the symptoms of menopause,
especially hot flashes, vaginal dryness, itching, or burning.
- It helps help prevent osteoporosis (brittle bones; can lead to breaks)
in women past menopause. This medicine works best when used with calcium/vitamin
D supplements, weight-bearing exercises like walking, or physical therapy. May
also be used to lower high cholesterol in women who have gone through menopause.
- It may be used vaginally as a cream to treat irritation and itching in
the vagina caused by menopause.
- It is used as an estrogen replacement.
- It rarely is used for the treatment of certain types of cancer
(breast/prostate).
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| How does it work? |
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- After menopause, when the body no longer produces estrogen, estradiol
is used as a simple replacement of
estrogen.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Tablet:
- Take with food at a similar time every day or as directed by your
healthcare provider. There may be days when you will not take the medicine.
- Cream:
- Use the cream vaginally only.
- Skin patch:
- Place skin patch (sticky side) on clean, dry area of the skin (butt,
stomach, upper inner thigh or upper arm). Follow direction on prescription for
how often to replace. There may be days when you will not apply the medicine.
Move new patch site
around.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
- Replace patch as soon as
possible.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor). May increase
risk.
- Use caution if you have a weakened heart or high blood pressure. Talk
with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you have ever had any circulation problems
or blood clots in your legs, arms, or lungs.
- There may be a higher risk of endometrial/breast cancer. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- Do not use if you have had breast or uterine cancer or if someone in
your family (sister, mother) has had breast cancer. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- This medicine does not treat depression or nervous problems.
- Do not use if you have unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been
examined by your healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust during use of medicine and for 1 month after stopping it.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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|
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Belly pain and cramps.
- Breast enlargement/tenderness.
- For women, vaginal bleeding (breakthrough bleeding, spotting) may
occur.
- Change in sexual ability or desire. This can return to normal after
medicine is stopped. Talk with healthcare provider about other medicines without
this side effect.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- For women, periodic breast (monthly self-exams) and gynecologic exams
are important.
- Follow diet plan (calcium supplementation) and exercise program as
recommended by healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare provider at least yearly. Talk about
duration of treatment.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe headache.
- For women, unusual vaginal bleeding. This includes lots of bleeding,
spotting, or bleeding between cycles.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Swelling/pain of a leg or arm, sudden shortness of breath, difficulty
breathing, chest pain.
- A lump in the breast.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a dry place at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Read the package insert for more details (given with the medicine).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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