ESTRACE

Drug Uses
Estrace is used for treatment of conditions due to menopause (eg, hotashes, vaginal itching, burning, or dryness), treating vulval or vaginal atrophy, and preventing osteoporosis (brittle bones). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How Taken
Use Estrace as directed by your doctor. To avoid stomach upset take Estrace with a meal. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the risk of Estrace`s side effects. Talk to your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet while you are taking Estrace.

Warnings/Precautions
Before taking Estrace, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances, if you are allergic to any ingredient in Estrace, if you have a family history of breast cancer, or you have breast lumps or disease, or an abnormal mammogram, if you have yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin during pregnancy or with past estrogen use, if you have a vaginal infection or womb problems (eg, uterine fibroids/endometriosis, abnormal vaginal bleeding, other uterine problems), if you have abnormal calcium levels in the blood, asthma, cancer, certain blood disorder (porphyria), cholesterol or lipid problems, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, excessive weight gain, gallbladder disease, heart disease or other heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, low thyroid hormone levels, lupus, migraine headaches, pancreas disease, seizures, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, if you are a smoker, if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast–feeding. Do not use Estrace if you are pregnant. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. Estrace may be found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast–feeding while you use Estrace, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby. Some medicines may interact with Estrace. Therefore tell your doctor of all prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement that you are taking. Do not take Estrace if you have blood clots, vein inflammation, or you have had a recent stroke or heart attack. Limit alcoholic beverages while you are taking Estrace. Estrace may cause dark skin patches on your face (melasma). Exposure to the sun may make these patches darker and you may need to avoid prolonged sun exposure and sunlamps. Consult your doctor regarding the use of sunscreens and protective clothing. Estrace may increase the risk of blood clots. The risk may be greater if you smoke. Contact your doctor if vaginal bleeding of unknown cause occurs. This could be a sign of a serious condition requiring immediate medical attention. Contact your doctor if vaginal discomfort occurs or if you suspect you have developed an infection while taking Estrace. Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be necessary if you are currently taking an azole antifungal (eg, itraconazole), carbamazepine, a macrolide antibiotic, ritonavir, cimetidine, or St. John's wort. If you wear contact lenses and you develop problems with them, contact your doctor. If you will be having surgery or will be confined to a chair or bed for a long period of time (eg, a long planeight), notify your doctor beforehand. Special precautions may need to be taken in these circumstances while you are taking Estrace. Nonprescription therapy to help prevent bone loss includes a weight–bearing exercise plan, as well as adequate daily calcium and vitamin D intake. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Estrace may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking Estrace. Estrace may affect your blood sugar. If you are a diabetic, check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.

Missed Dose
If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. However if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the Missed Dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Possible Side Effects
Some of the Possible Side Effects are- Breast pain or tenderness, headache, hair loss, mild nausea or vomiting, spotting or breakthrough bleeding, stomach cramps or bloating. Contact your doctor if any of these or other side effects occur. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately- allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue), back pain, breast discharge or lump in the breast, calf or leg pain or swelling, chest pain, coughing up blood, dark urine, depression, dizziness, fainting, fever, memory problems, mental or mood changes, muscle pain, one–sided weakness, painful or difficult urination, persistent or severe breast pain or tenderness, persistent or severe headache, nausea, or vomiting, severe stomach pain or swelling, slurred speech, sudden shortness of breath, sunburn–like rash, swelling of hands, legs, or feet, unusual vaginal bleeding, discharge, itching, or odor, vision changes, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Storage
Store Estrace at 59 – 86 °F (15 – 30 °C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Estrace out of the reach of children.

Overdose
If overdose is suspected seek medical attention immediately. Some of the symptoms of Estrace overdose are- excessive vaginal bleeding, severe nausea, vomiting.

More Information
Estrace may cause dizziness. These effects may worsen if Estrace is taken with alcohol or certain other medications. Use Estrace with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to this drug. If your symptoms do not improve or if they worsen, contact your doctor. Estrace should be used only by the patient for whom it has been prescribed. Do not take less or more or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Disclaimer
This is only general information, it does not cover all directions, drug integrations or precautions. You should not rely on it for any purpose, it does not contain any specific instructions for a particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information. We`re not responsible for any damage.