Estrace Vaginal local

Generic name: Estradiol Vaginal (local)

Usage of Estrace Vaginal local

Estradiol is a form of estrogen, a female sex hormone that regulates many processes in the body.

Some estradiol products placed directly into the vagina are used for "local" treatment of vaginal menopause symptoms (such as dryness, burning, and irritation). Other vaginal estradiol products are used for treating vaginal menopause symptoms and symptoms that affect other parts of the body (such as hot flashes). This type of vaginal estradiol has "systemic" effects, meaning that it can affect parts of the body other than where the medicine is directly applied.

This medication guide provides information about Estrace Vaginal for local treatment of vaginal symptoms of menopause (such as dryness, itching, irritation, and pain during sexual intercourse).

Estrace Vaginal (local) may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Estrace Vaginal local side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Remove the vaginal ring and seek emergency medical attention if you have: fever with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, dizziness, fainting, and/or sunburn-like skin rash. These may be signs of a life-threatening disease called toxic shock syndrome.

Estrace Vaginal may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;

signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

signs of a blood clot--sudden vision loss, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood, pain or warmth in one or both legs;

swelling or tenderness in your stomach;

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

memory problems, confusion, unusual behavior;

unusual vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain;

a lump in your breast; or

high levels of calcium in your blood--nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst or urination, muscle weakness, bone pain, lack of energy.

Common side effects of Estrace Vaginal may include:

nausea, vomiting, bloating, stomach cramps;

headache;

swelling in your hands or feet, weight gain;

breast pain; or

vaginal itching or discharge, changes in your menstrual periods, breakthrough bleeding.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Estrace Vaginal local

You should not use estradiol if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor;

liver disease;

a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;

an increased risk of having blood clots due to a heart problem or a hereditary blood disorder; or

a history of hormone-related cancer, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina.

Do not use estradiol if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.

Using this medicine can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. You are even more at risk if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, if you are overweight, or if you smoke.

Estradiol should not be used to prevent heart disease, stroke, or dementia. This medicine may actually increase your risk of developing these conditions.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart disease;

liver problems, or jaundice caused by pregnancy or taking hormones;

kidney disease;

gallbladder disease;

asthma;

epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

migraines;

lupus;

endometriosis or uterine fibroid tumors;

hereditary angioedema;

porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system);

a thyroid disorder; or

high or low levels of calcium in your blood.

Using estradiol may increase your risk of cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovaries. Talk with your doctor about this risk.

Estradiol can slow breast milk production. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

How to use Estrace Vaginal local

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Estradiol may increase your risk of developing a condition that may lead to uterine cancer. Your doctor may prescribe a progestin to help lower this risk. Call your doctor at once if you have any unusual vaginal bleeding.

Wash your hands before and after inserting Estrace Vaginal.

Use the applicator provided to measure the prescribed dose of estradiol vaginal cream. Take apart the cream applicator and wash it with mild soap and warm water after each use.

Each Estrace Vaginal tablet is supplied in a single-use disposable applicator. Throw the tablet applicator away after one use.

You should not be able to feel the vaginal ring once it is in place. Leave the vaginal ring in place for 90 days, then remove it. Your doctor may want you to replace it with a new ring. The ring does not need to be removed during sexual intercourse. If the ring is bothersome, you may remove it, rinse it with warm water, and reinsert it after intercourse.

To remove the ring, loop a finger through the ring and gently pull it from the vagina. Call your doctor if you have trouble removing a vaginal ring.

Your doctor should check your progress on a regular basis to determine whether you should continue this treatment. Self-examine your breasts for lumps on a monthly basis and have a mammogram every year while using estradiol.

If you need major surgery or will be on long-term bed rest, you may need to stop using Estrace Vaginal for a short time. Any doctor or surgeon who treats you should know that you are using estradiol.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the vaginal ring in its protective pouch until you are ready to use it.

Warnings

You should not use estradiol if you have: undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease, a bleeding disorder, if you will have major surgery, or if you have ever had a heart attack, a stroke, a blood clot, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina.

Do not use if you are pregnant.

Estradiol may increase your risk of developing a condition that may lead to uterine cancer. Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away.

Using Estrace Vaginal can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, heart attack, or cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovaries. Estradiol should not be used to prevent heart disease, stroke, or dementia.

What other drugs will affect Estrace Vaginal local

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect estradiol. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.