• Estrogens, when used in females after menopause, may increase the risk of uterine cancer. Progestins may decrease this risk. A warning sign for cancer of the uterus is unusual vaginal bleeding. Report any unusual vaginal bleeding to healthcare provider.
• Do not take estrogens if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, call healthcare provider right away.
• Do not take estrogens to prevent heart disease or dementia. Using estrogens may increase your chances of having a heart attack, a stroke, breast cancer, or a blood clot.
• This medicine does not mix well with some medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• If you have an allergy to estrogens, esterified or any other part of this medicine.
• 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, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have any of the following conditions: Blood clots, breast cancer (except in certain cases where the cancer has spread), liver disease, recent heart attack, recent stroke, tumor where estrogen makes it grow, or unexplained vaginal bleeding.
• If you have major surgery and need bedrest.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• Take this medicine at a similar time of day.
• There may be days when you will not take this medicine.
• Take this medicine with food.
Osteoporosis:
• This medicine works best when used with calcium/vitamin D supplements and weight-bearing exercises like walking or physical therapy.
• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
Created: 2006-10-13 12:24:48.0
Modified: 2010-05-07 09:51:06.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• If you are taking a blood thinner, check blood work (prothrombin time/INR). Talk with healthcare provider.
• Check blood pressure and heart rate regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
• If you are diabetic, you will need to monitor blood sugars closely.
• Check blood work (cholesterol panel). Talk with healthcare provider.
• Have a yearly eye exam.
• Bone density test.
• Periodic breast (monthly self-exam) and yearly gynecologic exams are important.
• Follow up with healthcare provider yearly.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• 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.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• Read the package insert for more details.
• This medicine is used as an estrogen replacement in ovarian removal, malfunction, or failure.
• This medicine is used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal females.
• This medicine is used to stop or reduce the symptoms of menopause.
• Rarely, this medicine is used to treat a variety of breast or prostate cancers.
• There may be a higher risk of endometrial or breast cancer.
• If you have asthma, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have any circulation problems, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have gallbladder disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have high calcium levels, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have had high triglyceride levels, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have migraines, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Do not take St John's wort, dong quai, black cohosh, saw palmetto, red clover, or ginseng with this medicine.
• Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
• Avoid cigarette smoking. Persons older than 35 years of age and/or smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day are at an increased risk for heart disease.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
• Headache.
• Belly pain.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Change in sexual ability or desire. This is usually reversible.
• Breast enlargement.
• Gallbladder disease, blood clots, heart attacks, and other vascular problems can rarely occur.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Swelling or pain of leg or arm.
• Severe headache.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Not able to eat.
• Unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
• Change in contact lens tolerance.
• Any rash.
• A lump in the breast or breast tenderness.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
