Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

For patients taking any of the androgen and estrogen products by mouth:

  • Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
  • Try to take the medicine at the same time each day to reduce the possibility of side effects and to allow it to work better.
  • Nausea may occur during the first few weeks after you start taking estrogens. This effect usually disappears with continued use. If the nausea is bothersome, it can usually be prevented or reduced by taking each dose with food or immediately after food.

Dosing

The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone

  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For treatment of certain signs of menopause, such as hot flashes and unusual sweating, chills, faintness, or dizziness:
      • Adults—0.625 to 2.5 mg of esterified estrogens and 1.25 to 5 mg of methyltestosterone once a day for twenty-one days. Stop the medicine for seven days, then repeat the twenty-one day cycle.

For testosterone cypionate and estradiol cypionate

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For treatment of certain signs of menopause, such as hot flashes and unusual sweating, chills, faintness, or dizziness:
      • Adults—50 milligrams (mg) of testosterone cypionate and 2 mg of estradiol cypionate injected into a muscle once every four weeks.

For testosterone enanthate and estradiol valerate

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For treatment of certain signs of menopause, such as hot flashes and unusual sweating, chills, faintness, or dizziness:
      • Adults—90 milligrams (mg) of testosterone enanthate and 4 mg of estradiol valerate injected into a muscle once every four weeks.

For testosterone enanthate benzilic acid hydrazone, estradiol dienanthate, and estradiol benzoate

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For treatment of bone loss (osteoporosis) or certain signs of menopause, such as hot flashes and unusual sweating, chills, faintness, or dizziness:
      • Adults—150 milligrams (mg) of testosterone enanthate benzilic acid hydrazone, 7.5 mg of estradiol dienanthate, and 1 mg of estradiol benzoate injected into a muscle once every four to eight weeks or less.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.