What is Estropipate?
Estropipate, also known as estrogen or female hormones produced by the ovaries, is one form of this substance. Estrogen plays a role in many bodily processes.Estropipate can be used to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal changes and prevent osteoporosis in women who are menopausal. Estropipate can also be used as a replacement for estrogen when women have ovarian dysfunction or another condition that causes a deficiency of estrogen.This medication guide does not list all possible uses of Estropipate.
Side effects of Estropipate
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergy reaction, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling in your lips, face, throat, or tongue.
Estropipate may cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Heart attack symptoms: chest pain, pressure or pain in your shoulder or jaw, nausea, and sweating.
- Signs of a stroke: sudden numbness (especially on one side), severe headache; slurred or shaky speech.
- Signs of blood clots: sudden vision loss, chest pain that stabs, shortness of breath, blood in the cough, or pain or heat in both legs.
- You may experience swelling in the stomach or tenderness.
- Jaundice
- Memory problems, confusion, and unusual behaviors;
- Unusual vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain
- A lump on your breast, or
- High levels of calcium are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Other symptoms include muscle weakness, pain in the bones, fatigue, or increased thirst.
Estropipate can cause the following side effects:
- Headache;
- Bleeding, vaginal itching, or changes in menstrual cycles.
- Bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting;
- Breast pain
- Hair loss on the scalp
- Fluid retention (swelling, rapid weight gain).
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor.Call the FDA's 1-800 FDA-1088 number if experiencing side effects.
Warnings
Estropipate should not be used if: you are suffering from undiagnosed bleeding in the vaginal area; you suffer from liver disease; you plan to undergo major surgical procedures; you've ever suffered a heart attack, stroke, blood clot; or you have cancer of your breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina.Avoid using it if pregnant.Estropipate can increase the risk that you develop a condition that may result in uterine carcinoma. Do not ignore any abnormal vaginal bleeding.Estropipate may increase the risk of stroke, blood clots, or breast cancer.
Before you take this drug
Estropipate should not be used if:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding not checked by your doctor
- Liver disease
- A history of heart attacks, strokes, or blood clots;
- A history of cancers of the breast, cervix, or uterus
Avoid estropipate during pregnancy. Inform your doctor immediately if you are pregnant while on treatment.Estropipate increases your risk of blood clots and strokes. If you suffer from hypertension or diabetes, you may be at greater risk.Estropipate is not recommended for the prevention of heart disease, stroke, or dementia. This medicine can actually increase your chances of getting these diseases.
If you've ever:
- A hysterectomy
- Heart disease
- If you have liver disease or jaundice due to pregnancy, taking hormones, or being pregnant,
- A thyroid condition;
- Gallbladder Disease
- Kidney disease
- Asthma;
- Epilepsy
- Migraine headaches
- Lupus;
- Endometriosis or uterine fibroid tumors;
- High levels of calcium in the blood
- Porphyria
Estropipate can increase the risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer, or ovarian cancer. Speak to your doctor regarding this possibility.Estropipate may slow down the production of breast milk. Inform your doctor that you are breastfeeding.
How to take Estropipate?
Read all the instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow the directions. Sometimes, your doctor will change the dose. You must take the medication exactly as prescribed.Estropipate can increase the risk that you will develop a condition that could lead to uterine carcinoma. A progestin may be prescribed by your doctor to lower the risk. Any unusual bleeding in the vaginal area should be reported immediately.You should have your doctor check on you regularly to see if this is a treatment that should be continued. You should self-examine your breasts monthly for lumps and get regular mammograms when using estropipate.You may have to temporarily stop taking estropipate if you are going through major surgery or if you will be bed-ridden for an extended period of time. You should let any doctor who treats you know that estropipate is being used.Keep this medication at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are almost due for the next dose, skip the missed one.Do not take more than one dose at once.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Smoking is harmful. Estropipate can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.Estropipate can interact with grapefruit and cause unwanted side effects. Use grapefruit-free products.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain drugs at the same time. Certain drugs may affect the blood level of drugs that you are taking, which can increase side effects and make them less effective.Estropipate can be affected by other drugs, such as prescription medicines, over-the-counter medications, herbal products, and vitamin products. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are currently taking and those that you have started or stopped using.
