PREMPRO (conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone)
What is it: Contains a combination of conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone. Conjugated estrogens are a mixture of estrogen hormones.
Use: Treating menopausal symptoms (eg, hot flashes, vaginal dryness).
Side Effects: Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: More common; Itching of the vagina or genital area; menstrual periods beginning again, including changing menstrual bleeding pattern for up to 6 months (spotting, breakthrough bleeding, prolonged or heavier vaginal bleeding, or vaginal bleeding completely stopping by 10 months); pain during sexual intercourse; thick, white vaginal discharge. Less common: Blurred vision; breast lumps; chest pain; discharge from breast; dizziness; feeling faint, dizzy, or light-headed; feeling of warmth or heat; flushing or redness of skin, especially on face and neck; headache; heavy nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding; pounding in the ears; severe cramping of the uterus; slow or fast heartbeat; sweating.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: More common; Abdominal cramps; back pain; body aches or pain; breast pain or tenderness; congestion; chills; cough; crying; depersonalization; diarrhea; dryness or soreness of throat; dysphoria; enlarged breasts; euphoria; feeling faint, dizzy, or light-headedness; feeling of warmth or heat; fever; flushing or redness of skin, especially on face and neck; general feeling of discomfort or illness; headache, severe and throbbing; hoarseness; increase in amount of clear vaginal discharge; itching; joint pain; lack or loss of strength; mental depression; muscle aches and pains; nausea; pain; pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones; painful menstrual periods; painful or difficult urination; paranoia; passing of gas; quick to react or overreact emotionally; rapidly changing moods; runny nose; shivering; shortness of breath or troubled breathing; sneezing; sore throat; stuffy nose; stomach discomfort following meals; tender, swollen glands in neck; tightness of chest or wheezing; trouble sleeping; trouble in swallowing; unusual tiredness; voice changes; vomiting.
Less common; Acne; bloating or swelling of face, ankles, or feet; cervix disorder; crying; depersonalization; dysphoria; euphoria; increase in sexual desire; leg cramps; mental depression; paranoia; quick to react or overreact emotionally; rapidly changing moods; sleeplessness; tense muscles; trouble sleeping; unable to sleep; unusual weight gain or loss
Precautions: It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine does not cause unwanted effects. Plan on going to see your doctor every year, but some doctors require visits more often.
Although the risk for developing breast problems or breast cancer is low, it is still important that you regularly check your breasts for any unusual lumps or discharge, and report any problems to your doctor. You should also have a mammogram (x-ray pictures of the breasts) and breast examination done by your doctor whenever your doctor recommends it.
Directions: Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it and do not take it for a longer period of time than your doctor ordered. The length of time you take the medicine will depend on the medical problem for which you are taking conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone. The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
If You Miss a Dose: Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never try to “catch up” by doubling the dose.
Storage: Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Larry’s Comments: Please notice that the side effects are the same as or worse than the symptoms you are trying to alleviate. Does that make any sense?