Estrogen Description

Generic Name : ESTROGEN

Pronunciation : (ess' troe jen)

Trade Name(s) : Ovocyclin, Progynon depot, Mestranol, Lynoral, Dinestrol, Stibestrol, Clinestrol.

Why it is prescribed:
1. Estrogen is a hormone, a substance produced by the body. It is needed for normal growth and development of female sex organs and for natural functions such as bearing children.
2. Estrogen is used to relieve feelings of warmth in the face, neck, and chest; hot flashes; and sweating that occur during menopause.
3. It is also used for conditions caused by insufficient estrogen, including dry, itchy external genitals and vaginal irritation.
4. It also is prescribed for young women who do not mature physically at the usual rate and for breast and prostate cancer.
5. Estrogen also is used with diet, calcium supplements, and exercise to slow the progression of osteoporosis, a disease resulting in bones that break easily.

When it is to be taken:
1. Estrogen usually is taken on a cyclical basis; once a day for 21 days and then none for seven days; then the cycle is repeated.
2. However, for cancer it usually is taken three times a day continuously for at least three months.
3. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully.

How it should be taken: Estrogem comes in the form of tablets, skin patches, and vaginal cream. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. Skin patches usually are applied twice weekly for three weeks (on the same two days each week), followed by one week without the drug; then the cycle is repeated. The packages are specially designed to help you remember when to apply fresh skin patches. To apply a skin patch, follow the instructions provided and these steps:
1. Remove the skin patch from its protective pouch and peel off the protective strip, exposing the adhesive surface.
2. Place the adhesive side against a clean, dry, and not excessively hairy areas of skin on the trunk of your body, preferably your abdomen. Do not apply the patch to oily, broken, or irritated skin.
3. Press the patch firmly with the palm of your hand for about 10 seconds, making sure that the edges adhere to your skin.
If the patch accidentally comes off, you can either reapply it or apply a fresh patch, but follow your regular dosing schedule. Remove and discard the patch and apply a fresh patch according to the schedule prescribed by your doctor. To prevent skin irritation, use a different site for each application and wait at least one week before using a particular site again. Follow the instructions that come with the vaginal cream. Ask your doctor any questions you have about using it. You may wish to wear a sanitary napkin after inserting the cream to keep your clothes clean. If you use the vaginal cream once a day, it is best to use it at bedtime.

Special Instruction :
1. Keep all appointments for checkups so that your doctor can evaluate your response to the drug. You should have a complete physical examination annually.
2. If you forget to apply a skin patch, apply it as soon as you remember; note the date on the package, and adjust your schedule. If you miss a dose of tablets or vaginal cream, take it a s soon as you remember. However, if you remember a missed dose near the time you are scheduled to take the next dose, take only the regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.

Side Effects :
1. Nausea, vomiting, cramps, bloating, diarrhea, appetite and weight changes. Eat a light snack if your experience nausea. If these effects persist or become severe, contact your doctor.
2. Brown or black skin patches; swelling of hands, feet, or lower legs; bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods; changes in menstrual flow; painful or missed menstrual spotting between menstrual periods; changes in menstrual flow; painful or missed menstrual periods; breast tenderness, enlargement, or secretion; intolerance to contact lenses. Contact your doctor if these effects are bothersome.
3. Skin redness and irritation from skin patches. Use a different site for each application.
4. Severe headache or vomiting; vision or speech problems; sudden partial or complete loss of vision; dizziness pain, yellowing of skin or eyes, itching, and loss of appetite; severe mental depression; unusual bleeding. Contact your doctor immediately.

Other Precautions :
1. Before you take estrogen, tell your doctor your entire medical history, including family medical history, specially breast lumps or cancer; high blood pressure; diabetes; asthma; epileptic seizures; migraine headaches; liver, heart, or kidney disease; mental depression; high blood pressure during pregnancy; jaundice; excessive weight gain and fluid retention during the menstrual cycle.
2. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to aspirin or tartrazine
3. Estrogen may affect the way your body responds to certain other drugs.
4. Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking.
5. Before having surgery, tell the doctor that you take estrogen.
6. Before you take estrogen, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Estrogen can harm an unborn baby.
7. If you become pregnant while taking estrogen, stop taking it and contact your doctor promptly.
8. Do not smoke while taking estrogen. Smoking can decrease its effectiveness. 9. Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, an out of the reach of children.
2. Store it at room temperature.
3. Do not remove skin patches from their protective pouches until just before applying them.