General Information on Premarin
Premarin is used for treating menopausal symptoms such as vaginal dryness, irritation and burning, and hot flashes. It is also used for preventing osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Its generic name is Conjugated Estrogens, and it belongs to the class of hormonal drugs.
Premarin is given to a patient in the form of oral tablets. It works by providing estrogen to the patient’s body, which is required for several natural processes.
In some cases, Premarin is also used an estrogen replacement in patients with ovarian failure. It can also be used as a part of cancer treatment for both men and women.
Side effects of Premarin
Estrogen can make you more prone to endometrial cancer or cancer of the uterus. Therefore, your doctor may advise you to take it with a progestin. However, when taken with a progestin, estrogen can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, dementia, breast or ovarian cancer, or blood clots in the legs or lungs. Before you buy Premarin, you should talk about the risks involved and precautions needed with your doctor.
Your doctor will not recommend you to use Premarin if you are suffering from certain medical conditions. Such conditions include:
- Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
- Cancers of the breast, ovaries or uterus
- Blood clots
- Stroke or heart attack
- Blood clotting disorder
- Liver or kidney disease
- High blood pressure or diabetes
- Obesity or high cholesterol or triglyceride levels
- Lupus
- Underactive thyroid
- Mineral balance such as low or high calcium levels in the blood
- Hormone problems such as hypoparathyroidism
- Uterus problem such as endometriosis or fibroids
- Gall bladder disease
- Seizures
- Asthma
- Migraine headache
- Blood disorders such as porphyria
- Mental or mood disorders such as depression or dementia
Do not use tobacco or smoke during Premarin treatment. Doing so may increase your risk of suffering from blood clots, stroke, heart attack, or high blood pressure, especially if you are more than 35 years of age.
Premarin may cause dark, blotchy areas on your skin. It may also increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. Therefore, avoid being exposed to harsh sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning booths. Also wear protective clothes and use a sunscreen while going out.
If you wear contact lenses or if you have near-sightedness, you may have problems with your vision or have difficulty wearing your lenses. You should notify your doctor immediately if you develop any such problems.
Dosage of Premarin
The dosage of Premarin depends on the medical condition being treated and your response to treatment. You will have to take the tablets with food or immediately after a meal. This will prevent stomach upset as a side effect of the drug.
Drug Interactions of Premarin
Your doctor will not recommend you to buy Premarin if you are already taking blood thinners (e.g. warfarin), thyroid medicines (e.g. levothyroxine), oral insulin or diabetes drugs, macrolide antibiotics (e.g. itraconazole or ketoconazole), anti-seizure drugs (e.g. carbamazepine or phenytoin, barbiturates (e.g. butabarbital or amobarbital) or antidepressants (e.g. amoxapine or amitriptyline).
