ESTRACE
(estradiol)
This medicine contains estradiol, which is a form of estrogen. This medicine is also available as cream in the market.
Packet of medicine Estradiol tablets 1 mg
Brand Names
Alora, Climara, Deladiol, Delestrogen, depGynogen, Depogen, Dioval, Divigel, Dura-Estrin, Duragen, E-Cypionate, Elestrin, Esclim, Estra-D, Estra-L, Estraderm, Estrasorb, Estring, Estro-Cyp, Estrogel, Estroject, Evamist, FemPatch, Femring, Femtrace, Gynodiol, Gynogen, Menaval, Menostar, Vagifem, Valergen, Vivelle.
Composition of Estrace:
This medicine is used for oral administration and contains 0.5, 1 or 2 mg of micronized estradiol per tablet. It is a white crystalline solid. The molecular weight is 272.37.The inactive ingredients of this medicine are corn starch, magnesium stearate, dibasic calcium phosphate, colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose monohydrate, and sodium starch glycolate. Apart from this it also contains a FD&C blue aluminum lake and D&C red aluminum lake. The 2 mg tablet of the medicine containsa FD&C blue aluminum lake and FD&C yellow aluminum lake.
Uses of Estrace:
This medicine is used to treat symptoms of menopause. Some of the conditions which arise from it are vaginal dryness, burning, irritation and hot flashes. It also prevents osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It is used at times to overcome the lack of natural estrogen in the body. The medicine is also used at times as a part of cancer treatment in both women and men.
Side- Effects of Estrace:
Estrace has certain side effects. Some of the symptoms can be life threatening for the patients, hence if you have any of the below side effects, contact the doctor immediately and get emergency medical help.
- Heart attack
- Chest pain
- Slurred speech
- Pain in the jaw or shoulder
- Sweating
- Problems with vision or balance
- Rapid breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Sudden numbness
- Weakness
- Sudden severe headache
- Blood clot in the leg
- Swelling or tenderness in your stomach
- Jaundice
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Sudden cough
- Wheezing
- A lump in the breast
- Vaginal itching
- Changes in the menstrual periods
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Stomach cramps
- Headache
- Light vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Increased thirst or urination
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Fluid retention
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Feeling tired
- Breast pain
- Thinning scalp hair
- Nausea
Contraindications of Estrace:
Using this medicine can increase the threat of rising a condition that may cause uterine cancer. In case if you are facing any vaginal bleeding while using this drug, it is advised to stop using this medicine and contact the doctor immediately. The risk of breast cancer and blood increases with the long term use of this medicine. It is important to visit the doctor regularly to check on the progress and also to determine if the treatment should continue. Owing to the risks involved in using this medicine the doctor will first go through the medical history and make sure that the patient is not allergic to this medicine or to any other inactive ingredient of this medicine. Also, if they have liver disease, blood clotting disorder, had a heart attack or stroke recently, thyroid disorder, asthma, epilepsy, kidney disease, migraine, gallbladder disease, endometriosis or a hysterectomy, the doctor may not prescribe this medicine.
Pregnancy and Estrace:
This medicine should not be used during pregnancy. Notify the doctor immediately if you are pregnant. The medicine can pass into the breast milk hence it is advised not to breastfeed while using this medicine. It can also slow down the breast milk production in nursing mother.
Product Information
How Taken
Only take Estrace according to your doctor’s prescription. You should have to take the drug with food to avoid stomach upset. Avoid Grapefruit as it only increases the risk side effects.
Missed Dose
For best results, the dosage should not be missed. But if a dose is missed, better take it if you remember it. But if time for the next dosage, skip the missed one and continue with the regular one. Do not go for double dosage.
More Information
Estrace is know to cause dizziness and there fore it is not good to drive unless you feel comfortable. Do not take the drug with alcohol and other medicines as it only worsens the complications.
Warnings/Precautions
If the doctor is prescribing you Estrace, better tell him all about your past and preset health condition. If you are allergic to some food, medicines or some other substance, you have to tell the doctor.
You should not hide from the doctor if you have a family history of breast cancer, abnormal mammogram, breast lumps, yellowing of the eyes and the skin during pregnancy. Better tell the doctor if you vaginal infection, uterine fibroids and abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Cholesterol or lipid problems, abnormal levels of calcium in blood, diabetes, cancer, asthma, gallbladder disease, porphyria, depression, epilepsy, weight gain, heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney and liver disease, seizures and pancreas disease should be intimated to the physician.
It is advised not to take Estrace if pregnant. You should also not breast feed when taking the drug as it can be risky to the babe. Well, when taking some medicines along with Estrace, you have some to consult the doctor as some of them interact with it. If a person is taking azole antifungal, ritonavir, carbamazepine and cimetidine, additional precaution is needed when taking Estrace.
If one is having vein inflammation, blood clots, or if had a recent heart attack or stroke, Estrace should be avoided. As the drug can cause dark patches on the face, you have to apply sunscreen lotions or creams when going out.
Alcohol and smoking should also be avoided as it increases the risk of side effects. If you undergo vaginal bleeding or have infections in the vagina, you have to see the doctor immediately.
Moreover, if you going to have any kind of surgery or going for a long journey, it is better to tell this to the doctor three weeks in advance as some special precaution may be needed.