Estrogens, Vaginal

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: conjugated estrogens, vaginal; dienestrol, vaginal; estradiol, vaginal; estrogens, vaginal; estropipate, vaginal; Estrace Vaginal Cream; Ogen Vaginal Cream; Ortho Dienestrol; Premarin Vaginal Cream

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used in the vagina to treat conditions caused by the lack of estrogen (a female hormone).

How do I use it?

Use this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Do not use more of it or use it longer than prescribed. If you do not understand how to use this medicine, ask your health care provider or pharmacist to explain.

Wearing sanitary pads while you are using this medicine will help protect your clothing.

What should I watch out for?

Your health care provider will want to see you regularly while you are using this medicine.

Exposure to the sun and sunlamps while you are using this medicine may cause dark spots to appear on your skin. These usually go away in time. Avoid exposure to the sun, and do not use sunlamps.

Contact lenses may feel uncomfortable while you are using this medicine.

Smoking while you are using this medicine increases the risk of side effects.

Females of childbearing age: Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant because it may harm the baby. Contact your health care provider right away if you become pregnant while you are using this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Swollen ankles or feet, changes in menstrual periods, breast discharge, vaginal irritation.

Other: Nausea, swollen breasts, cramps, bloating.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• cortisonelike drugs such as cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol), hydrocortisone (Hydrocortone, Cortef), prednisone (Meticorten, Deltasone)
• dantrolene (Dantrium)
• phenobarbital
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• primidone (Mysoline)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.