Estradiol acetate
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From MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Boxed warning
WARNING: ENDOMETRIAL CANCER, CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS, BREAST CANCER AND PROBABLE DEMENTIA Estrogen-Alone Therapy Endometrial Cancer There is an increased risk of endometrial cancer in a woman with a uterus who uses unopposed estrogens. Adding a progestin to estrogen therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, which may be a precursor to endometrial cancer. Adequate diagnostic measures, including directed or random endometrial sampling when indicated, should be undertaken to rule out malignancy in postmenopausal women with undiagnosed persistent or recurring abnormal genital bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Cardiovascular Disorders and Probable Dementia Estrogen-alone therapy should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.3 ), and Clinical Studies (14.3 , 14.4 )] . The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) estrogen-alone substudy reported increased risks of stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) during 7.1 years of treatment with daily oral conjugated estrogens (CE) [0.625 mg]-alone, relative to placebo [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , and Clinical Studies (14.3) ].
The WHI Memory Study (WHIMS) estrogen-alone ancillary study of the WHI reported an increased risk of developing probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older during 5.2 years of treatment with daily CE (0.625 mg)-alone, relative to placebo. It is unknown whether this finding applies to younger postmenopausal women [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) , Use in Specific Populations (8.5) , and Clinical Studies (14.4) ]. In the absence of comparable data, these risks should be assumed to be similar for other doses of CE and other dosage forms of estrogens.
Estrogens with or without progestins should be prescribed at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman. Estrogen Plus Progestin Therapy Cardiovascular Disorders and Probable Dementia Estrogen plus progestin therapy should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.3 ) and Clinical Studies (14.3 , 14.4 )] .
The WHI estrogen plus progestin substudy reported increased risks of DVT, pulmonary embolism (PE), stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) during 5.6 years of treatment with daily oral CE (0.625 mg) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) [2.5 mg], relative to placebo…
Handling and access
NIOSH hazardous drug
Table 2NIOSH lists estradiol as a hazardous drug. AHFS class: 68:16.04 estrogens; 92:24 bone resorption inhibitors.
- Meets the NIOSH definition of a hazardous drug (carcinogenicity, developmental or reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity at low doses, or genotoxicity) without MSHI or a Group 1 or 2A carcinogen classification.
Handle with the precautions your facility uses for hazardous drugs (USP <800>). NIOSH's Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures lists controls by drug form and activity.
Estrogen
Dosing in kidney impairment
Renal Impairment The effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of Femring has not been studied.
Dosing in liver impairment
Hepatic Impairment The effect of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of Femring has not been studied.
Drug interactions
Check interactions
Add the patient's other drugs. Matches come from both FDA labels: by name, drug class, and enzyme or transporter pathway.
- Estradiol acetate
Label text (3 paragraphs)
No drug interaction studies have been conducted for Femring. • Inducers and/or inhibitors of CYP3A4 may affect estrogen drug metabolism ( 7.1 )
7.1 Metabolic Interactions In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that estrogens are metabolized partially by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Therefore, inducers or inhibitors of CYP3A4 may affect estrogen drug metabolism. Inducers of CYP3A4 such as St. John’s wort ( Hypericum perforatum ) preparations, phenobarbital, carbamazepine and rifampin may decrease the plasma concentration of estrogens, possibly resulting in a decrease in therapeutic effects and/or changes in the uterine bleeding profile.
Inhibitors of CYP3A4 such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir and grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentration of estrogens and may result in side effects.
Contraindications
Femring is contraindicated in women with any of the following conditions: • Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding • Known, suspected, or history of breast cancer • Known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia • Active DVT, PE, or history of these conditions • Active arterial thromboembolic disease (for example, stroke and MI), or a history of these conditions • Known anaphylactic reaction or angioedema to Femring • Known liver impairment or disease • Known protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency, or other known thrombophilic disorders • Known or suspected pregnancy • Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding ( 4 ) • Known, suspected, or history of breast cancer ( 4 , 5.2 ) • Known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia ( 4 , 5.2 ) • Active DVT, PE, or history of these conditions ( 4 , 5.1 ) • Active arterial thromboembolic disease (for example, stroke and MI), or a history of these conditions ( 4 , 5.1 ) • Known anaphylactic reaction or angioedema to Femring ( 4 ) • Known liver impairment or disease ( 4 , 5.10 ) • Known protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency, or other known thrombophilic disorders ( 4 ) • Known or suspected pregnancy ( 4 , 8.1 )
Safety data
Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Liver injury (LiverTox)
LiverTox has no chapter for estradiol acetate. Check the label's hepatic warnings.
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Femring should not be used during pregnancy [see Contraindications (4) ] . There appears to be little or no increased risk of birth defects in children born to women who have used estrogens and progestins as an oral contraceptive inadvertently during early pregnancy.
Lactation
8.3 Nursing Mothers Femring should not be used during lactation. Estrogen administration to nursing women has been shown to decrease the quantity and quality of the breast milk. Detectable amounts of estrogens have been identified in the breast milk of women receiving estrogen-alone therapy. Caution should be exercised when Femring is administered to a nursing woman.
Breastfeeding (LactMed)
Limited information on the use of estradiol during breastfeeding indicates that the route of administration and dosage form have influences on the amount transferred into breastmilk. Vaginal administration results in measurable amounts in milk, but transdermal patches do not. Maternal doses of up to 200 mcg daily transdermally do not increase estradiol or estriol in breastfed infants or cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Vaginal administration results in unpredictable peak times for estradiol in breastmilk, so timing of the dose with respect to breastfeeding is probably not useful. Milk estradiol levels have not been studied after use of the estradiol gel, but maternal blood levels only increase slightly in a dose-dependent manner. Estrogens can decrease the milk supply, especially if started before the milk supply is well established at about 6 weeks postpartum.
- Ethinyl Estradiol
Supply and cost
Drug shortage status
Recalls (last 24 months)
Therapeutic equivalence (Orange Book)
Price ladder
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