Precautions and Warnings With Esterified Estrogens

By Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD |

Make sure you are aware of the precautions and warnings with esterified estrogens before starting hormone replacement therapy. Before using the drug, let your healthcare provider know if you have heart disease, high cholesterol, or unexplained vaginal bleeding. It is important to know that esterified estrogens may potentially increase the risk of dementia, gallbladder disease, and ovarian cancer.

Esterified Estrogens: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using esterified estrogens (Menest^®) if you have:

Had a heart attack or stroke
Heart disease or heart problems of any kind
Had a blood clot, including blood clots in the legs or lungs
High cholesterol
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Unexplained vaginal bleeding
Cancer (or if you have had cancer in the past)
Diabetes
Had yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice) during a prior pregnancy or estrogen use
Gallbladder disease
Liver disease, such as liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver tumors
Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Low calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia)
Endometriosis
Any allergies, including allergies to drugs, foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:

Have an upcoming surgery
Smoke cigarettes
Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
Are breastfeeding.

Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.