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This medication is a female estrogen hormone and is usually given to women who no longer produce the amount of estrogen they produced before menopause. It is a very effective treatment for reducing a common menopause symptom (intense feelings of warmth and sweating known as hot flashes). If you need treatment only for vaginal menopause symptoms (e.g., vaginal dryness), products applied directly inside the vagina should be considered before medications that are taken by mouth, absorbed through the skin, or injected.
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| Overview |
Photos |
How To Use |
Side Effects |
Precautions |
Missed Dose |
Drug Interactions |
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Estro-Cyp IM
Uses
This medication is a female estrogen hormone and is usually given to women who no longer produce the amount of estrogen they produced before menopause. It is a very effective treatment for reducing a common menopause symptom (intense feelings of warmth and sweating known as hot flashes). If you need treatment only for vaginal menopause symptoms (e.g., vaginal dryness), products applied directly inside the vagina should be considered before medications that are taken by mouth, absorbed through the skin, or injected.
Notes
- Do not share this medication with others.
- Keep all medical and laboratory appointments.
- You should have a complete physical examination that includes blood pressure measurements and breast/pelvic examinations at regular intervals (e.g., once a year) or as directed by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on how to examine your own breasts and report any lumps immediately.
- You should also be regularly screened for cervical cancer (e.g., Pap test) and have periodic mammograms as determined by your doctor.
- Consult your doctor for more details.Lifestyle changes (e.g., reducing stress, eating a low fat/low salt diet, losing weight if you are overweight) to control or prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes help to prevent heart disease and strokes.
- Keep your mind active with mental exercises to help prevent dementia.
- Discuss with your doctor lifestyle changes that might benefit you.You can also manage hot flashes by keeping a cool body temperature (e.g., using a fan, drinking cool beverages, dressing lightly/in layers, avoiding hot/spicy foods).
- Limiting caffeine and alcohol, exercising regularly, and learning relaxation techniques may help reduce hot flashes.
- Vaginal lubricants can help lessen discomfort during intercourse.
Storage
- Store at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
- Do not freeze.
- Do not store in the bathroom.
- Learn how to store and discard needles and medical supplies safely as directed by your health care professional.
- Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Overdose
- Symptoms of overdose may include: severe nausea/vomiting, unusual/heavy vaginal bleeding in females.
How To Use
- Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using estradiol cypionate and each time you get a refill.
- If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.Before injecting each dose, clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol.
- Inject this medication into a muscle, usually every 3 to 4 weeks or as directed by your doctor.Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
- Grapefruit can increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream.
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it.
- Follow your doctor's instructions exactly.
- It may help to mark your calendar with a reminder.Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens after 5 days.
Side Effects
- See also Warning section.Dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, stomach upset, bloating, nausea, weight changes, increased/decreased interest in sex, or breast tenderness may occur.
- If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
- Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, memory loss), calf pain/swelling, breast lumps, swelling of hands/feet, unusual vaginal bleeding (e.g., spotting, breakthrough bleeding, prolonged/recurrent bleeding), unusual vaginal discharge/itching/odor, yellowing eyes/skin, stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting, dark urine, worsening of seizures, signs of worsening diabetes control (e.g., increased thirst and urination), fast/pounding heartbeat, unusual tiredness, constipation.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest/jaw/left arm pain, sudden severe headache, weakness on one side of the body, confusion, slurred speech, sudden vision changes (e.g., double vision, loss of vision, change in contact lens fit), pain/redness/swelling of legs, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, sudden dizziness/fainting.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
- However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
- Before using estradiol cypionate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other estrogens; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
- Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: abnormal vaginal bleeding of unknown cause, certain cancers (e.g., breast/uterus/ovary cancer), blood clots, recent stroke or heart attack (within 1 year), liver disease.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: family medical history (especially breast lumps and cancer), asthma, diabetes, seizures, migraine headaches, heart disease (e.g., high blood pressure, congestive heart failure), past strokes, kidney disease, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), mineral imbalance (low/high level of calcium in the blood), mental/mood disorders (e.g., dementia, depression), high blood pressure during pregnancy (toxemia), yellowing eyes/skin (cholestatic jaundice) during pregnancy or with past estrogen use, uterus problems (e.g., uterine fibroids, endometriosis), high blood cholesterol/fat (triglyceride) levels, gallbladder disease, obesity, a certain blood disorder (porphyria), lupus.This drug may make you dizzy.
- Use caution while driving, using machinery, or taking part in any other activity that requires alertness.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.If you are nearsighted or wear contact lenses, you may develop vision problems or trouble wearing your contact lenses.
- Contact your eye doctor if these problems occur.This drug may cause a patchy darkening of the skin on the face (melasma).
- Sunlight may worsen this darkening.
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps.
- Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.Do not smoke cigarettes or use tobacco.
- Estrogens combined with smoking further increase your risk for stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart attacks, especially in women older than 35.If you will be having surgery or will be confined to a chair or bed for a long time (e.g., a long plane flight), tell your doctor beforehand.
- Special precautions may need to be taken in these circumstances while you are using this drug because of the increased risk for blood clots.Caution is advised if this medicine is used in children.
- It may affect their physical development and might stunt their growth.
- Discuss the possible effects of this medication with your child's doctor, and monitor your child's growth pattern periodically.Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially mental/mood changes (dementia).This medication must not be used during pregnancy.
- It may result in birth defects or cancer later in the child's life.
- If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately.This medication is not effective for preventing a miscarriage and should not be used for this purpose.Small amounts of this medication pass into breast milk.
- This drug may reduce the quality and amount of breast milk produced.
- Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Missed Dose
- It is very important to receive each dose as scheduled.
- If you miss a dose, contact your doctor to establish a new dosing schedule.
- Do not double the dose to catch up.
Drug Interactions
- Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.
- Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: anastrozole, exemestane.If you are currently using either of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting estradiol cypionate.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove estrogens from your body (such as St.
- John's wort, phenytoin, azole antifungals including itraconazole, macrolide antibiotics including erythromycin, rifamycins including rifabutin, certain anti-seizure medications including carbamazepine, barbiturates including phenobarbital), raloxifene, thyroid medication.See also How to Use section.This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including blood coagulation studies), possibly causing false test results.
- Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
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