Don’t see your pharmacy listed? Most pharmacies accept our discounts, so have your pharmacist enter this coupon to see if you will save money:
USARx offers the following ways to purchase this medication. Choose the Best option for you!
Elestrin is estradiol 0.06% in a colorless, non-staining gel supplied in a non-aerosol, metered-dose pump container. Estradiol is a form of estrogen, a female sex hormone made in the ovaries that regulates many processes in the body.
Elestrin is used after menopause to reduce moderate to severe hot flashes.
Ovaries normally stop making estrogens when a woman is between 45 to 55 years old. This drop in body estrogen levels causes the “change of life” or menopause (the end of monthly menstrual periods). When estrogen levels begin dropping, some women develop very uncomfortable symptoms, such as feelings of warmth in the face, neck, and chest, or sudden strong feelings of heat and sweating (“hot flashes”). In some women, the symptoms are mild, and they will not need estrogens. In other women, symptoms can be more severe and treatment with products such as Elestrin may help.
You should not use Elestrin gel if you have any of the following conditions: a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot, a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder, liver disease, abnormal vaginal bleeding, history of an allergic reaction to estradiol topical, or a hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer.
Do not use Elestrin if you are pregnant.
Estradiol may increase your risk of developing a condition that may lead to uterine cancer. Call your doctor at once if you have any unusual vaginal bleeding while using Elestrin gel.
Children should avoid coming into contact with skin areas where you have applied Elestrin gel. Topical estradiol is absorbed through the skin and can cause side effects in a child who comes into contact with this medicine or with skin where the Elestrin gel was applied.
Estradiol should not be used to prevent heart disease, stroke, or dementia, because this medicine may actually increase your risk of developing these conditions. Long-term use of Elestrin gel may also increase your risk of breast cancer or blood clot.
Talk with your doctor about your individual risks before using Elestrin long-term. Your doctor should check your progress on a regular basis (every 3 to 6 months) to determine whether you should continue this treatment.
You should not use Elestrin if you have:
abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor;
any type of breast, uterine, or hormone-dependent cancer;
a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot (especially in your lung or your lower body);
liver disease;
a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder;
if you are pregnant or may become pregnant; or
if you have ever had an allergic reaction to estradiol topical.
Estradiol will not prevent heart disease, heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, or dementia, and may actually increase your risk of developing these conditions. Estradiol may also increase your risk of uterine or ovarian cancer. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks.
To make sure Elestrin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
unusual vaginal bleeding;
heart disease;
asthma;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
liver or kidney disease;
hereditary angioedema;
endometriosis;
a thyroid disorder;
lupus;
high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia);
migraines;
gallbladder disease; or
risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40, or if you have had a hysterectomy).
Do not use Elestrin if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine.
Estradiol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. This medicine may also slow breast milk production. Do not use Elestrin if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Use Elestrin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Estradiol may increase your risk of developing a condition that may lead to uterine cancer. Your doctor may prescribe a progestin to take while you are using estradiol, to help lower this risk. Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away.
Elestrin comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use, and directions for priming the gel pump. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Apply Elestrin only to clean, dry, unbroken skin. Do not apply to skin that is red or irritated. Never apply this medicine to the breasts.
Elestrin is applied once daily to the upper arm using a metered-dose pump which delivers 0.87 gram of Elestrin gel per actuation. Dosage should be started with the lowest effective dose of Elestrin, which is one pump per day. Subsequent dosage adjustment may be made based upon the response. This dose should be periodically reassessed by the healthcare provider. Use the gel at the same time each day.
Do not rub the Elestrin gel in, but allow it to dry on your skin for at least 5 minutes before you dress.
Wash your hands with soap and water after applying Elestrin gel. Avoid allowing other people to get this medicine on their skin. If this happens, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water,
Children should avoid coming into contact with skin areas where you have applied Elestrin. Topical estradiol is absorbed through the skin and can cause premature puberty in a child who comes into contact with this medicine or with skin where the medicine was applied. Cover treated areas with clothing to protect others from coming into contact with the skin where you apply this medicine.
Your doctor should check your progress on a regular basis (every 3 to 6 months) to determine whether you should continue this treatment. Self-examine your breasts for lumps on a monthly basis, and have regular mammograms while using estradiol.
If you need surgery or medical tests or if you will be on bed rest, you may need to stop using this medicine for a short time. Any doctor or surgeon who treats you should know that you are using estradiol.
Store Elestrin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you are more than 12 hours late, skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, breast tenderness, drowsiness, and vaginal bleeding.
Do not apply sunscreen to your skin at the same time you apply Elestrin.
Avoid getting Elestrin gel in your eyes. If this does happen, rinse with water.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with estradiol and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Elestrin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Elestrin and call your doctor at once if you have:
abnormal vaginal bleeding;
a lump in your breast;
confusion, problems with memory or concentration;
heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;
liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
signs of a blood clot in the lung--chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood; or
signs of a blood clot in your leg--pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs.
Topical estradiol is absorbed through the skin of a child who comes into contact with this medicine. Call your doctor if a child who has close contact with you develops swollen nipples or enlarged breasts.
Common Elestrin side effects may include:
breast pain;
headache;
vaginal itching or discharge, changes in your menstrual periods, light vaginal bleeding or spotting;
thinning scalp hair; or
nausea, vomiting, bloating, stomach cramps.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Other drugs may interact with estradiol topical, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
Further informationRemember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Elestrin only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Elestrin (www.drugs.com/elestrin.html).
Note: This document contains side effect information about estradiol. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Elestrin.
In SummaryCommon side effects of Elestrin include: cerebrovascular accident, infection, and malignant neoplasm of breast. Other side effects include: abdominal pain, nausea, pruritus, skin rash, and vaginitis. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
For the ConsumerApplies to estradiol: vaginal capsule liquid filled, vaginal cream, vaginal insert extended release, vaginal tablet
Other dosage forms:
Vaginal route (Insert, Extended Release; Cream)
Estrogens increase the risk of endometrial cancer; monitor for abnormal vaginal bleeding. Estrogens with or without progestins should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia. Increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) have been reported. An increased risk of developing probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older has also been reported in women receiving estrogen alone or estrogen combined with progestins. Risks should be assumed to be similar for other doses, combinations, and dosage forms of estrogens and progestins. Estrogens, with or without progestins, should be prescribed at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration possible.
Vaginal route (Insert, Extended Release)
Use of unopposed estrogens increases the risk of endometrial cancer, while addition of a progestin decreases the risk of endometrial hyperplasia. Rule out malignancy if abnormal vaginal bleeding develops. Do not use estrogen alone or in combination with progestin to prevent cardiovascular disease or dementia. There is an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders (ie, DVT, pulmonary embolism, stroke, myocardial infarction) with combination therapy in women 50 years or older, and an increased risk of dementia in women 65 years or older with estrogen monotherapy or combination therapy. Combination therapy also increases the risk of invasive breast cancer. Prescribe estrogens with or without progestins at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration consistent with risks and treatment goals.
Along with its needed effects, estradiol (the active ingredient contained in Elestrin) 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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking estradiol:
Less common
Incidence not known
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking estradiol:
Symptoms of overdose
Some side effects of estradiol 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:
More common
Less common
Incidence not known
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to estradiol: compounding powder, intramuscular solution, oral tablet, transdermal emulsion, transdermal film extended release, transdermal gel, transdermal spray, vaginal ring
GenitourinaryVery common (10% or more): Breast pain (29%)
Common (1% to 10%): Vulvovaginal pruritus, leukorrhea, vaginal hemorrhage, vaginal discharge, vaginal discomfort, menopause symptoms, breakthrough bleeding or spotting, dysmenorrhea, breast swelling, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, endometrial hyperplasia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary problems
Rare (less than 0.1%): Galactorrhea
Postmarketing reports: Vaginal irritation, vaginal pain, genital pruritus, changes in bleeding pattern, pelvic pain, breast tenderness, vaginal ulceration, uterine fibroids
GastrointestinalVery common (10% or more): Abdominal pain (16%),
Common (1% to 10%): Flatulence, nausea, diarrhea
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting
Postmarketing reports: Abdominal distension
MusculoskeletalVery common (10% or more): Back pain (11%), arthralgia (11%)
Common (1% to 10%): Leg cramps
CardiovascularCommon (1% to 10%): Varicose veins, cardiac symptoms (e.g. palpitations)
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hot flush, hypertension, venous thromboembolic disease
Rare (less than 0.1%): Arterial hypertension
Postmarketing reports: Deep vein thrombosis, changes in blood pressure
Nervous systemVery common (10% or more): Headache (18%)
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vertigo, migraine
Rare (less than 0.1%): Aggravation of epilepsy
Postmarketing reports: Migraine aggravated, paresthesia, dizziness
OncologicUncommon (0.1% to 1%): Benign breast neoplasm, increased volume of uterine leiomyoma
Postmarketing reports: Endometrial cancer, breast cancer
OtherVery common (10% or more): Pain (11%)
Common (1% to 10%): Edema
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Weight increased, asthenia
Postmarketing reports: Drug ineffectiveness, blood estrogen increase, fatigue, exacerbation of hereditary angioedema
PsychiatricCommon (1% to 10%): Depression
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sleep disorders, nervousness, mood swings
Rare (less than 0.1%): Change in libido
Postmarketing reports: Vaginismus, insomnia, anxiety, irritability
DermatologicCommon (1% to 10%): Pruritus
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash
Rare (less than 0.1%): Skin discoloration, acne
Postmarketing reports: Urticaria, erythematous or pruritic rash, alopecia, hyperhidrosis, night sweats, contact dermatitis, eczema
OcularUncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vision abnormal NOS
Postmarketing reports: Visual disturbances, contact lens intolerance
HepaticRare (less than 0.1%): Liver function tests abnormalities
Postmarketing reports: Cholestatic jaundice
MetabolicRare (less than 0.1%): Glucose intolerance
Postmarketing reports: Fluid retention
HypersensitivityRare (less than 0.1%): Anaphylactic reaction (with a past history of allergic reaction)
Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic reactions, hypersensitivity
ImmunologicVery common (10% or more): Upper respiratory tract infection (17%)
Common (1% to 10%): Vulvovaginal mycotic infection, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, moniliasis genital
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vaginitis/vaginal candidosis
LocalCommon (1% to 10%): Skin irritation (topical gel)
Postmarketing reports: Application site reaction
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Elestrin (www.drugs.com/elestrin.html).
September 28, 2020
September 28, 2020
November 24, 2020
December 2, 2020
November 15, 2020
December 2, 2020