Archive for the ‘Menopause Drugs’ Category
Estrace – what kind of a medication is it?
Estrace is an oral medication which contains estradiol, which is the predominant sex hormone in the female body. Estradiol is vital to a number of processes in the body and the lack of this hormone may cause serious issues with one’s health. It is particularly important for the reproductive system of women and any insufficiencies of estradiol can cause to infertility, different menstrual problems and other issues. Estradiol supports the lining in the vagina, endometrium, the lining of the fallopian tubes and of the cervical glands. There is a whole array of other effects estradiol has on the female body, especially the reproductive system and it is therefore important to keep healthy levels of this hormone in the system.
One of the most common uses for Estrace is in treating problems that might occur in menopause. For example, some menopausal women experience such symptoms like hot flashes, dryness, irritation and burning of the vagina, as well as osteoporosis, a bone condition that can lead to serious medical issues if not treated and managed.
Estrace is also commonly used for treating infertility, as it helps the development of cervical mucus and uterine lining that will help with conception. In such a case, Estrace is usually combined with clomifene.
Another use for Estrace is in men suffering from prostate cancer, especially the advanced cancer of the prostate.
Estrace treatment
Because of the many bodily functions and processes that are affected by estradiol, Estrace can affect a whole number of different medical conditions and it is therefore of utmost importance that your doctor is as informed as possible about your medical condition and the current state of your health. There are some medical conditions that will prevent you from taking Estrace in the first place and these include: cancers that are caused or facilitated by hormones, severe liver disease, abnormal vaginal bleeding, recent strokes or heart attacks, history of blood clots or in case you are pregnant, as Estrace can have detrimental effects on the health of the fetus. In some other cases, your doctor will need to establish if it will be safe for you to take Estrace, and these cases include heart and kidney diseases, endometriosis, lupus, porphyria, gallbladder disease, asthma, underactive thyroid, epilepsy, migraines, hypocalcemia, hysterectomy, or if you have history of jaundice or blood clots. While taking Estrace it is important that you check your breasts and go for mammograms regularly, as Estrace has been known to increase the risk of breast cancer. Also, in case you will be undergoing surgery, make sure the surgeon is aware of your Estrace treatment, as they will most likely want you to stop using this medication some time prior to your surgery. Furthermore, make sure that you get acquainted with all the possible interactions and side effects of Estrace, just to be on the safe side.
When is Evista used?
Evista is a medication that is primarily used for preventing osteoporosis in women in menopause. It can also be used to reduce the risks of breast cancer in menopausal women which are at increased risk of breast cancer. It is capable of both these things as it is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (or SERM), which means that it can have different modes of action in different parts of the body. For example, in bones, it has estrogenic actions, meaning that it reinforces the bones which are compromised by the lower levels of estrogen in the body, while in the breasts; it has an anti-estrogenic action, meaning that it decreases the functioning of estrogen which is responsible for the development of breast cancer.
Osteoporosis is a pretty common condition in menopausal women and it is caused by the reduction in the levels of the hormone estrogen, which is responsible for the health of the bones. Women suffering from this type of osteoporosis are in greater risk of bone fracture, which can further lead to different complications and they are also in greater risk of falling down due to the unhealthy bones. Osteoporosis is prevented by Evista which increases the levels of estrogen in the bones, reinforcing them and making them stronger.
On the other side of the spectrum, it also reduces the risk of developing breast cancer in menopausal women who are at greater risk of contracting breast cancer, for example, smokers, women who have not given birth, genetically predisposed etc.
A proper Evista treatment
Before you start taking Evista, you will need to have a long consultation with your doctor in order to help them decide if you should be taking Evista. For example, if you are allergic to Evista, or if you have ever had blood clots, you must not fail to mention this, as taking Evista can lead to serious consequences in such cases. There are some other medical conditions that can be affected by Evista, and you should also report these to your doctor. They include artherosclerosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney and liver disease, history of strokes, high triglycerides, or if you are a smoker. In case you are not menopausal and you are taking Evista, take special precaution that you do not become pregnant while taking Evista and that you do not fail to mention pregnancy when you talk to your doctor. Evista can cause severe birth defects and should under no circumstance be used by pregnant women. You will also need to follow your doctor’s instruction about the proper way to use Evista, including the dosages, the schedule and the duration of your treatment. If you can, try to take your Evista tablets at the same time each day. If you are taking Evista in order to prevent osteoporosis, your regimen will most likely include other things as well, such as special diet, calcium and vitamin D supplements, weight control and regular exercise. Make sure you do these as well, as this will maximize the beneficial effects of Evista.
Femara – its uses and benefits
Femara is an aromatase inhibitor, or more precisely a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor and as such, it is used in menopausal woman in treating breast cancer which is hormonally-responsive, meaning that it is either caused or worsened by the female hormones estrogens. The way in which Femara functions is that it inhibits the functioning of the aromatase enzyme, which is responsible for conversion of androgens into estrogen, which can in turn cause breast cancer in menopausal women, or contribute to its growth and spreading. As the mechanism of action of Femara is very precise, this medication has no effect on the mineral-steroids or corticosteroids. It has to be noted, though, that Femara is only effective in preventing and treating cancer in menopausal women, in whom the estrogen is mainly produced in peripheral tissue, like for example in the breasts. As in pre-menopausal women, the source of estrogen is in ovaries; Femara is not effective and will not have an effect on the breast tissue.
Besides treating breast cancer in menopausal women, Femara has found several other off-label uses, and there is always possibility that your doctor will prescribe you with Femara in such cases. For example, Femara has been used as a stimulant for ovulation in women who are suffering from infertility. It is found to cause much less side effects than some other fertility drugs, such as clomifene.
Another use for Femara is in pretreatment in cases when the pregnancy needs to be terminated. Other uses for Femara include endometriosis and preventing fusing of the growth plates in adolescents and children of short stature. There have also been some studies that have concluded that Femara can promote the production of sperm in patients that suffer from nonobstructive azoospermia.
Additional info on Femara
First of all, if you have not completely gone through menopause, you need to inform your doctor about this, as you will most likely feel no benefits from this medication and should be using an alternative treatment. Also, do not fail to mention any allergies to medications, especially those that are similar to this medication. Furthermore, if you have any liver disease, make sure you mention this to your health care provider as well, so that they can establish a dosage and regimen that will not further harm your liver and its functioning. Once you begin taking Femara, you will most probably need to go for regular appointments with your doctor so that you can check your progress. It will also be recommended for you to check the density of your bones regularly, to make sure that Femara is not having any side effects on your bones. Femara is only known to cause mild side effects, such as fatigue, headaches, hot flashes and nausea. If some of these side effects become too bothersome and prevent you from leading a normal lifestyle, do report them to your doctor. Finally, make sure that you talk to your doctor about any other drugs, herbal products, dietary supplements or vitamin supplements you are taking, to make sure they will not interact with your Femara treatment.
What is actually Premarin and what does it do?
Premarin is a compound drug which is taken orally and which consist primarily of estrogens which are obtained from natural sources. In fact, Premarin is isolated from the urine of pregnant mares and hence the name, pre-mar-ine. There are many forms of estrogen found in Premarin, and the most prevalent ones are estrone, equilin and equilenin. As we all know, estrogen is the primary female sex hormone and it is responsible for a number of normal processes in the body, both female and male, although in men, it is of less significance. In menopause, the levels of estrogen drop significantly in the female body and it can lead to health issues that range from simply irritating to outright dangerous. For example, the diminished levels of estrogen can lead to osteoporosis, a bone condition which can in turn result on much more serious complications.
Some women need hormone replacement therapy which is aimed at elevating the levels of estrogen by introducing either synthetic estrogen, or similar hormonal drugs, such as Premarin. Premarin is particularly commonly used in women who have undergone hysterectomy once they have gone through menopause and who are suffering from hot flashes, itching, dryness and burning of the vagina and the groin area. It can also be used in prevention of osteoporosis, although there are other medications that are more commonly prescribed for this. Additional use for Premarin is found in treating breast cancer in both sexes and in treating prostate cancer in men. Premarin is also prescribed for people who are suffering from compromised production of estrogen due to such causes like castration, hypogonadism and ovarian failure.
Premarin treatment – basic facts
Your doctor needs to be aware of your medical history and your current medical condition if they are to make an informed decision on whether you will benefit from Premarin and whether you will be at risk of experiencing any unwanted side effects. For example, if you are affected by any liver disease, if you have vaginal bleeding that hasn’t been checked, if you have any type of uterine, breast or hormone-dependent cancer or if you have a history of strokes, heart attacks and blood clots, you will not be able to take Premarin, as it will pose too great a risk for your health. In cases of the following conditions, your progress will need to be checked more carefully: high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems, endometriosis, kidney disease, asthma, seizure disorders like asthma, migraines, diabetes, underactive thyroid, high cholesterol, lupus, gallbladder disease or porphyria. You will be told to come in for regular checkups and you should make those appointments, as this will ensure a beneficial treatment that will also be risk-free. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to ask your health care provider who will be more than happy to clear everything up.