estropipate, Ogen: Drug Facts, Side Effects and Dosing

What brand names are available for estropipate?

Ogen, ORTHO-EST

Is estropipate available as a generic drug?

GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes

Do I need a prescription for estropipate?

Yes

What are the side effects of estropipate?

Common side effects include break-through
vaginal
bleeding or spotting, loss of periods or excessively prolonged periods,
breast pain,
breast enlargement, and changes in sexuality (increased or
decreased libido).

Abdominal pain may result from obstruction of the gallbladder due to
gallstones
caused by the estrogen.
Migraine headaches
have been associated with estrogen therapy. Estrogens can cause sodium and fluid
retention leading to swelling in the legs (edema).
Melasma – tan or brown patches – may develop on the forehead, cheeks, or
temples. These may persist even after the estrogen is stopped. Estrogens may
cause an increase in the curvature of the cornea, and patients with contact
lenses may develop intolerance to their lenses. Estrogens may increase risk of
developing DVTs (deep vein thrombosis or blood clot) and
endometrial cancer.

What is the dosage for estropipate?

The usually recommended dose for treating menopause is 0.75 to6 mg
orally daily; cycling is 21 days on the medication followed by about 7- 10 days
not taking the drug. The dose for osteoporosis prevention is 0.75 mg daily for
25 days then off for 6 days.

Which drugs or supplements interact with estropipate?

: Estrogens can inhibit the metabolism of cyclosporine,
resulting in increased cyclosporine levels in blood. Such increased blood levels
can result in kidney and/or
liver damage. If this combination cannot be avoided,
cyclosporine concentrations can be monitored, and the dose of cyclosporine can
be adjusted to assure that its blood levels are not elevated.

Estrogens appear to increase the risk of liver disease in patients receiving
dantrolene through an unknown mechanism. Women over 35 years of age and those
with a history of liver disease are especially at risk. Estrogens increase the
liver's ability to manufacture clotting factors. Because of this, patients
receiving warfarin
(Coumadin) need to be monitored for loss of the anticoagulant (blood thinning)
effect of warfarin if estrogens like estropipate are added.

Rifampin (Rifadin), barbiturates,
carbamazepine
(Tegretol), griseofulvin,
phenytoin (Dilantin)
and primidone (Mysoline), all can increase the elimination of estrogens by
enhancing the liver's ability to metabolize (break down) the estrogens. Thus,
concurrent use of these drugs and estrogens may result in reduction of the
beneficial effects of estrogens.

Is estropipate safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Estrogens are secreted in
breast milk
and cause unpredictable effects in the infant. They generally are not
recommended for nursing mothers.

What else should I know about estropipate?

What preparations of estropipate are available?

Tablets: 0.75, 1.5, 3, and 6 mg or 0.625, 1.25 or 2.5,
depending on the drug manufacturer.

How should I keep estropipate stored?

Tablets should be stored below 25 C (77 F).

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What is estropipate, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?

Estropipate is a form of estrogen, a female sex hormone necessary for many processes in the body. It is used to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, and vaginal dryness, burning, and irritation. It is also used to prevent osteoporosis.