People's Pharmacy

Prempro

Generic Name:conjugated estrogens / medroxyprogesterone

Other Brand Names: Premphase

Revised:4/1/2000

Table of Contents

Side Effects and Interactions

Premphase has a number of potential side effects, including breakthrough menstrual bleeding, breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, gallbladder problems, liver tumors, depression, jaundice and high blood pressure.

Some women experience an increase in blood sugar and may go on to develop diabetes.

The skin may become more sensitive to the sun, so it is wise to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing (including a hat and sunglasses) if you will be out.

Some kinds of vaginal infections may be more common in women using estrogen. Candida or yeast overgrowth may be a problem.

Other adverse reactions include a change in weight, fluid retention, alteration in sex drive, hair loss, and change in the curvature of the cornea. This may make contact lenses inappropriate.

Report any suspected side effects to the physician promptly.

Your doctor should be notified immediately of any of the following symptoms: pain in the calf or groin, sudden shortness of breath or sharp chest pain, sudden severe headache, blurred vision or speech, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, yellow skin or eyes or severe abdominal pain.

Let your doctor know if you suspect you may have become pregnant, if you feel seriously depressed, if you notice lumps in your breast, or if vaginal bleeding is abnormal.

Premphase may interact with several other medications, such as theophylline or beta blocker blood pressure pills.

The activity of the anticoagulant Coumadin and that of certain antidepressants may be altered.

Adequate intake of calcium and vitamins B6 and folic acid is important.

Other estrogens interact with alcohol and with grapefruit; it is not known if the conjugated estrogens in Premphase do.

Until the estrogenic activity of hops is further studied, taking this herb in combination with medicines such as oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy is an experiment best avoided.

In general, the herb href="http://www.healthcentral.com/PeoplesPharmacy/PharmFullText.cfm?ID=20597&storytype=HerbalMon">chaste tea berry should not be combined with menopausal hormone replacement therapies.

Saw palmetto berries, which have both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity, are not recommended for women using female hormones for hormone replacement therapy.

Check with your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other medicine or herbs while taking Premphase.