Minivelle skin patch

Generic name: Estradiol Transdermal (skin Patch)
Drug class: Estrogens

Usage of Minivelle skin patch

Estradiol is a form of estrogen, a female sex hormone produced by the ovaries. Estrogen is necessary for many processes in the body.

Minivellees are used to treat certain symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, and vaginal dryness, burning, and irritation. Minivelle is also used to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis, or to treat ovarian disorders.

Minivelle may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Minivelle skin patch side effects

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

Remove the skin patch and call your doctor at once if you have:

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

increased blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed;

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);

unusual vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain;

a breast lump;

memory problems, confusion, unusual behavior; 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 Minivelle may include:

headache, back pain;

stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat;

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

bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting;

breast pain;

redness or irritation where the patch was worn;

thinning scalp hair; or

fluid retention (swelling, rapid weight gain).

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 Minivelle skin patch

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;

coronary artery disease;

a bleeding disorder;

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

a thyroid disorder;

gallbladder disease;

kidney disease;

asthma;

epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

migraine headaches;

lupus;

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

endometriosis or uterine fibroid tumors;

high levels of calcium in your blood; or

hereditary angioedema (an immune system disorder).

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.

Relate drugs

How to use Minivelle skin patch

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

Apply the skin patch to clean, dry skin on your stomach or buttocks. Press the patch firmly into place for at least 10 seconds. Choose a different spot within these skin areas each time you apply a new patch. Do not use the same skin area twice within 7 days. Avoid skin that is irritated or damaged.

Do not apply a skin patch to your breasts. Do not apply a patch where it might be rubbed off by tight clothing, such as under an elastic waistband. Never cut a skin patch.

If a patch falls off, try sticking it back into place. If it does not stick well, put on a new patch on a different skin area and leave it on only for the rest of your wearing time. Do not change your patch removal schedule.

Remove the patch and apply a new one on the same day(s) each week to stay on your once-weekly or twice-weekly schedule.

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. Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away.

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

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 regular mammograms while using Minivelle.

Store patches at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep each patch in its pouch until you are ready to use it.

After removing a skin patch, fold it in half so it sticks together. Discard the folded patch in a place children and pets cannot get to.

Warnings

You should not use estradiol if you have: undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease, coronary artery disease, 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 Minivelle 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 Minivelle skin patch

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.

Other drugs may affect estradiol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. 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.