Prempro Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Prempro Tablet combines conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate, a hormone replacement therapy used by postmenopausal women who still have their uterus. It treats moderate to severe hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness linked to menopause, and helps prevent postmenopausal bone loss. The progestin component works alongside the estrogen to help protect the uterine lining.

What is Prempro Tablet

Prempro is a tablet that combines two hormones, conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate (a progestin). It is given to women after menopause who still have their uterus.

Prempro Tablet uses

• Treats moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats caused by menopause
• Treats moderate to severe vaginal dryness, itching, and burning linked to menopause
• Helps prevent thinning and weakening of bones (osteoporosis) after menopause

Benefits of Prempro Tablet

• Reduces moderate-to-severe hot flashes
• Helps treat menopausal symptoms
• Can reduce vaginal dryness and irritation
• Helps prevent postmenopausal bone loss in selected patients
• The progestin component helps protect the uterine lining in patients with a uterus

How Prempro Tablet works

The estrogen in Prempro replaces the estrogen your body stops making after menopause, which helps relieve hot flashes and vaginal symptoms and can slow bone loss. The progestin (medroxyprogesterone) balances the effect of estrogen on the lining of the uterus, which lowers the risk of changes there that could lead to cancer.

Prempro Tablet dosage

Take one tablet by mouth at the same time each day. It can be taken with or without food; taking it with food may help if it causes nausea. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal schedule — do not take two doses at the same time.

Premphase uses two different colored tablets that must be taken in a specific order (one type for the first part of the cycle, the other type for the second part) — follow the order shown on the package.

You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly, such as every 3 to 6 months, about whether you still need treatment. Use the lowest dose that works for you, for the shortest time needed.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet (oral)

Side effects of Prempro Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
• Stomach or abdominal cramps, bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hair loss
• Back pain
• Depression
• Passing gas
• Weakness
• Itching
• Vaginal discharge
• Menstrual cramps

Serious

• Breast cancer
• Cancer of the uterus (endometrial cancer)
• Ovarian cancer
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Blood clots (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism)
• Dementia (in women 65 and older)
• Gallbladder disease requiring surgery
• High or low blood calcium levels
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis, swelling of face/tongue/throat)
• Liver problems
• Vision problems from retinal blood clots

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use estrogens and progestins to try to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes — doing so may actually increase these risks.
• Estrogens with or without progestins increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism, based on a major study (WHI).
• This medicine may increase the risk of dementia in women 65 years of age or older.
• Should not be used by women with a history of breast cancer, blood clots, stroke, heart attack within the past year, liver disease, or undiagnosed vaginal bleeding.
• If you need surgery or will be on extended bed rest, estrogens may need to be stopped beforehand because of clot risk.
• Prempro and Premphase should not be used during pregnancy.
• Caution is needed if used while breastfeeding because the hormones can pass into breast milk and may reduce milk production.
• The effects of kidney impairment on this medicine have not been studied, so caution and monitoring may be needed.
• This medicine should not be used by people with liver disease or impaired liver function, since estrogens may not be properly broken down by an unhealthy liver.

Storage

• Store at 20-25°C (68-77°F); excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]
• Keep PREMPRO and PREMPHASE out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you notice new breast lumps.
• Get medical help right away if you have any unusual vaginal bleeding.
• Get medical help right away for dizziness or fainting.
• Get medical help right away if you notice changes in your speech.
• Get medical help right away for a severe headache.
• Get medical help right away for chest pain.
• Get medical help right away if you feel short of breath.
• Get medical help right away for pain in your legs.
• Get medical help right away for changes in your vision.
• Get medical help right away if you develop signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, or trouble breathing.

Alternatives

• Estradiol + progesterone
• Estradiol patch + progesterone
• Conjugated estrogens with another progestogen