Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Premarin

Descriptions


Conjugated estrogens is a medicine that contains a mixture of estrogen hormones. Conjugated estrogens injection is used to treat abnormal bleeding from your uterus caused by hormonal imbalance when your doctor has found no other cause of bleeding. This medicine is to be given for short-term use only, to provide a fast and temporary increase in your estrogen levels.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Powder for Solution

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Premarin® injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of Premarin® injection have not been performed in the geriatric population, no geriatric-specific problems have been documented to date. However, elderly patients are more likely to have breast cancer, stroke, or dementia, which may require caution in patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

Studies suggest that this medication may alter milk production or composition. If an alternative to this medication is not prescribed, you should monitor the infant for side effects and adequate milk intake.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Amifampridine
  • Bupropion
  • Cosyntropin
  • Donepezil

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Etoricoxib
  • Ginseng
  • Levothyroxine
  • Licorice
  • Tipranavir

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Blood clots (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), active or history of or
  • Breast cancer, known or suspected, or a history of or
  • Heart attack, history of or
  • Liver disease or
  • Protein C, protein S, or other known blood clotting disorders or
  • Stroke, history of or
  • Tumors (estrogen-dependent), known or suspected—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Asthma or
  • Cancer, history of or
  • Diabetes or
  • Edema (fluid retention or body swelling) or
  • Endometriosis or
  • Epilepsy (seizures) or
  • Gallbladder disease or
  • Heart disease or
  • Hereditary angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat) or
  • Hypercalcemia (high calcium in the blood) or
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
  • Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides or fats in the blood) or
  • Hypocalcemia (low calcium in the blood) or
  • Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) or
  • Jaundice during pregnancy or from using hormonal therapy in the past or
  • Liver tumors or
  • Migraine headache or
  • Porphyria (an enzyme problem) or
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given into a vein or into a muscle. This medicine is not for long-term use.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read the information carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check you closely to make sure this medicine is working properly and does not cause unwanted effects. Pelvic exam, breast exam, and mammogram (breast x-ray) may be needed to check for unwanted effects, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Using this medicine may increase your risk of endometrial cancer, breast cancer, or uterine cancer. Talk with your doctor about this risk. If you still have your uterus (womb), ask your doctor if you should also use a progestin medicine. Check with your doctor immediately if your experience abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Using this medicine may increase your risk of dementia, especially in women 65 years of age and older.

Using this medicine may increase your risk for having blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks. This risk may continue even after you stop using the medicine. Your risk for these serious problems is even greater if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol in your blood, diabetes, or are overweight or smoke cigarettes. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience confusion, difficulty speaking, double vision, headaches, an inability to move arms, legs or facial muscle, or an inability to speak.

This medicine may cause serious types of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema. Anaphylaxis and angioedema can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash; itching; hoarseness; trouble breathing; trouble swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, mouth, or throat while you are using this medicine.

Pancreatitis may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, or lightheadedness.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine before you have surgery or if you need to stay in bed for an extended time. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Check with your doctor immediately if severe headache or sudden loss of vision or any other change in vision occurs while you are using this medicine. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may change the amount of this medicine that is absorbed in the body.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (e.g., St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

  1. Abdominal or stomach cramps, pain, or tenderness
  2. anxiety
  3. backache
  4. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  5. bloody or clay-colored stools
  6. changes in skin color
  7. chest pain or discomfort
  8. chills or fever
  9. clear or bloody discharge from the nipple
  10. cough or sore throat
  11. darkened urine
  12. difficulty with speaking
  13. dizziness, lightheadedness, or confusion
  14. double vision
  15. fainting
  16. fast heartbeat
  17. fluid-filled skin blisters
  18. headache, severe and throbbing
  19. heartburn or indigestion
  20. heavy bleeding
  21. inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
  22. irregular heartbeats
  23. joint or muscle pain
  24. loss of appetite
  25. loss of bladder control
  26. lump in the breast or under the arm
  27. muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
  28. muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
  29. nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  30. numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
  31. pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
  32. pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg
  33. painful or tender cysts in the breasts
  34. painful, red lumps under the skin, mostly on the legs
  35. rash, hives or welts
  36. rectal bleeding
  37. red, irritated eyes
  38. redness or swelling of the breast
  39. sensitivity to the sun
  40. sore on the skin of the breast that does not heal
  41. sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
  42. stomach discomfort or upset
  43. sudden loss of consciousness
  44. sudden shortness of breath or troubled breathing
  45. sweating
  46. swelling of the foot or leg
  47. tremor
  48. unusual tiredness or weakness
  49. vomiting of blood
  50. yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

  1. Brown, blotchy spots on exposed skin
  2. decreased interest in sexual intercourse
  3. difficulty of wearing contact lenses
  4. hair loss in the scalp
  5. increase or decrease in weight
  6. increased hair growth, especially on the face
  7. mental depression
  8. muscle pain or stiffness
  9. pain or swelling at the injection site
  10. twitching, uncontrolled movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/conjugated-estrogens-intravenous-route/description/drg-20075642