What is Estramustine?
Estramustine can be used for metastatic or progressing prostate carcinoma.Estramustine can also be used in other ways not mentioned in the medication guide.
Side effects of Estramustine
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergy: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling in your lips, face, throat, or tongue
Estramustine may cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Heart problems: shortness of breath even with light exertion; swelling; rapid weight increase; chest pressure or pain; spreading pain to the jaw or shoulder; nausea; and sweating.
- Signs of a Stroke: sudden numbness and weakness, especially on one side; severe Headache-slurred words, problems with balance;
- Signs of a blood clot in the lungs: chest pain, sudden hacking or wheezing; rapid breathing and coughing blood.
- Signs of a deep blood clot: swelling, warmth, or redness on an arm or limb
Estramustine can cause a number of side effects.
- Breast swelling or tenderness
- Impotence;
- Nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach;
- Swelling and difficulty breathing
- Leg cramps;
- Abnormal liver function tests
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor.Report side effects by calling the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Warnings
Estramustine should be avoided if you suffer from a blood clot or swelling in a vein due to a blood clot or have had an allergic reaction to estradiol, nitrogen mustard, etc.
Before you take this drug
Estramustine should be avoided if there is an allergy to either estradiol or nitrogen mustard.This medicine may not work if there is a blood clot in your vein or a swelling caused by one.
If you've ever:
- A blood clot or stroke.
- Diabetes;
- Hypertension
- Congestive heart failure;
- Migraine headaches
- Epilepsy
- Low or high calcium levels in the blood
- Liver Disease
- Kidney disease
- A bone disease such as osteoporosis and Paget’s disease.
The baby could have birth defects if a man has a child while taking estramustine. Prevent pregnancy with condoms during treatment. Consult your doctor about how long to continue using condoms once you have stopped taking estramustine.
How to take Estramustine?
Read all the instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow all the directions. Follow the directions on your prescription label.Estramustine should be taken on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after eating.Do not take estramustine in conjunction with dairy products or milk.Weight is taken into account when calculating the dose of estramustine (especially for children and adolescents). Your dose needs may change if you gain or lose weight.Estramustine may not provide its full benefits for up to 90 days. The length of treatment will be determined by your doctor.Your blood pressure may also need to be checked frequently. You will need your blood pressure checked frequently.Tell your doctor that you are using estramustine. Inform any physician who treats you about your estramustine use.Do not store in the freezer.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for prostate cancer:
Orally, take 14 mg/kg/day in three or four divided doses.
Duration of Therapy: Keep the therapy going as long as you see a positive response from your patient. Some patients have been on treatment for over 3 years.
Comments:
Patients should be treated with this medication for between 30 and 90 days before a treating physician can determine the benefits that may result from continued treatment.
Most patients were treated with 10–16 mg/kg/day.
Patients with metastatic or progressive cancer in the prostate can be treated palliatively.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are almost due for the next dose, skip the missed one.Take only one dose at a time. Do not double dose at any one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Estramustine should not be taken with calcium products or foods rich in calcium, such as milk, yogurt, broccoli, and ice cream.Use calcium-free antacids and vitamin and mineral products. Estramustine can be harder to absorb if you take calcium supplements.
Interaction with other drug
Estramustine can be affected by other drugs, such as vitamins and herbs. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking and those that you stop or start using.
