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Estrace (Estradiol Vaginal) - Summary

 



ESTROGENS INCREASE THE RISK OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCER


Close clinical surveillance of all women taking estrogens is important. Adequate diagnostic measures, including endometrial sampling when indicated, should be undertaken to rule out malignancy in all cases of undiagnosed persistent or recurring abnormal vaginal bleeding. There is no evidence that the use of “natural” estrogens results in a different endometrial risk profile than synthetic estrogens at equivalent estrogen doses. (See WARNINGS, 2. Malignant neoplasms, a. Endometrial cancer.)  

CARDIOVASCULAR AND OTHER RISKS


Estrogens with or without progestins should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. (See WARNINGS, 1. Cardiovascular disorders.)

The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study reported increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) during 5 years of treatment with oral conjugated estrogens (CE 0.625 mg) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA 2.5 mg) relative to placebo. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Clinical Studies.)

The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), a substudy of WHI, reported increased risk of developing probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older during 4 years of treatment with oral conjugated estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate relative to placebo. It is unknown whether this finding applies to younger postmenopausal women or to women taking estrogen alone therapy. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Clinical Studies.)

Other doses of oral conjugated estrogens with medroxyprogesterone acetate, and other combinations and dosage forms of estrogens and progestins were not studied in the WHI clinical trials and, in the absence of comparable data, these risks should be assumed to be similar. Because of these risks, 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.

 

ESTRACE SUMMARY

Each gram of ESTRACE® (estradiol vaginal cream, USP, 0.01%) contains 0.1 mg estradiol in a nonliquefying base containing purified water, propylene glycol, stearyl alcohol, white ceresin wax, mono- and di-glycerides, hypromellose 2208 (4000 cps), sodium lauryl sulfate, methylparaben, edetate di-sodium and tertiary -butylhydroquinone.

ESTRACE (estradiol vaginal cream, USP, 0.01%) is indicated in the treatment of vulvar and vaginal atrophy.


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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Estrace (Estradiol Vaginal)

Bleeding Is Rare In IVF Patients Who Become Pregnant When Treated With A Combination Of Vaginal Progesterone Gel And Estrogen
Source: Fertility News From Medical News Today [2009.10.23]
A prospective, multi-center study demonstrated that in IVF (in vitro fertilization) cycles supplemented with once-daily dosing of Crinone® vaginal progesterone gel and Estrace® oral estrogen, vaginal bleeding is rare in patients who become pregnant. Bleeding does occur in approximately one-quarter of patients who do not become pregnant. These data were presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) annual meeting in Atlanta.

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Published Studies Related to Estrace (Estradiol Vaginal)

The Prevention of Post-Partum Relapses with Progestin and Estradiol in Multiple Sclerosis (POPART'MUS) trial: rationale, objectives and state of advancement. [2009.11.15]
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects 1 in 1000 people in western countries, mainly women in their childbearing years. It is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which results in a chronic focal inflammatory response with subsequent demyelination and axonal loss... Assuming the results of the trial to be positive, this new treatment could be considered in the relapsing-remitting phase of the disease in women afar from pregnancy and post-partum.

A randomized controlled trial of a low-dose combined oral contraceptive containing 3 mg drospirenone plus 20 microg ethinylestradiol in the treatment of acne vulgaris: lesion counts, investigator ratings and subject self-assessment. [2009.09]
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing 3 mg drospirenone (drsp) plus 20 microg ethinylestradiol (EE) administered in 24 days of active treatment followed by a four-day hormone-free interval (24/4 regimen) compared with placebo for the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris... CONCLUSION: The 3 mg drsp/20 microg EE COC administered in a 24/4 regimen significantly reduced acne lesions.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics following application of a novel transdermal estradiol spray in healthy postmenopausal women. [2009.09]
This study was designed to evaluate the steady-state pharmacokinetics (PK) of estradiol and its metabolites, estrone and estrone sulfate, following application of a novel estradiol transdermal spray to healthy postmenopausal women. Participants were randomly assigned in parallel to receive 1-, 2-, or 3-spray doses (24 participants/dose level) of a 1.7% estradiol metered-dose transdermal spray (1.53 mg/spray) once daily for 14 days...

Lower-dose vs high-dose oral estradiol therapy of hormone receptor-positive, aromatase inhibitor-resistant advanced breast cancer: a phase 2 randomized study. [2009.08.19]
CONTEXT: Estrogen deprivation therapy with aromatase inhibitors has been hypothesized to paradoxically sensitize hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer tumor cells to low-dose estradiol therapy. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether 6 mg of estradiol (daily) is a viable therapy for postmenopausal women with advanced aromatase inhibitor-resistant hormone receptor-positive breast cancer... CONCLUSIONS: In women with advanced breast cancer and acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitors, a daily dose of 6 mg of estradiol provided a similar clinical benefit rate as 30 mg, with fewer serious adverse events. The efficacy of treatment with the lower dose should be further examined in phase 3 clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00324259.

Evaluation of different add-back estradiol and progesterone treatments to gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. [2009.08]
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate which add-back hormone replacement therapy would be most beneficial in terms of mood effects for patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder who are receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy... CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of the present study, long-cycle add-back treatment to avoid frequent progestagen use appears to be most beneficial for patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

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Clinical Trials Related to Estrace (Estradiol Vaginal)

Effect of Angeliq on Blood Pressure (BP) in Postmenopausal Hypertensive Women [Completed]
The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of Angeliq on BP over a period of 8 weeks in postmenopausal women who may benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the relief of vasomotor symptoms and who have hypertension.

Evaluation of Adhesion Quality of a New Formulation of the Mylan Estradiol Transdermal System 0.025 mg/Day and Climara® Transdermal System 0.025 mg/Day [Completed]
The primary objective of this study was to compare the adhesive quality of a new formulation of the Mylan Estradiol Transdermal System with that of Climara® Transdermal System following a single system application in 80 healthy postmenopausal female volunteers. As a secondary objective, primary dermal irritation was assessed after removal of each transdermal system.

Treatment of Hot Flushes in Asian Women With Ultra-Low Dose Estradiol Patch [Completed]
150 postmenopausal Asian women with vasomotor symptoms, after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled in the study. The women will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (Menostar® or placebo), after which they will be asked to use a patch once a week for 12 weeks.

Vasomotoric Symptoms Study of a 0.5 mg Estradiol and 2.5 mg Dydrogesterone Combination [Completed]

Neoadjuvant Estradiol or Androgen Deprivation in Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer [Completed]
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among males in the U. S. More than 220,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the USA this year and more that 31,000 will die of this disease.

Androgen deprivation, the elimination of testosterone and its active metabolites, remains the single most effective intervention available for the treatment of advanced prostate carcinoma. Androgen deprivation induces an immune response to normal prostate and prostate cancer, which is usually short-lived. Estradiol induces activation of many arms of the immune system and may be a more effective and long lasting means of inducing immunity to prostate tissue.

This study will treat clinically localized prostate cancer patients with either estrogens, or standard androgen deprivation without estrogens, prior to prostatectomy in order more completely to describe immune regulation by estradiol in men. Control tissue from patients who have not been treated with androgen deprivation will be procured from the Northwest Special Projects in Oncology Research Excellence (SPORE) tissue core and used as comparisons against the cancers treated before prostatectomy. Tumors removed at prostatectomy, tissue samples and blood samples will be assessed for immune system changes.

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PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Based on a total of 4 ratings/reviews, Estrace has an overall score of 9. The effectiveness score is 9 and the side effect score is 8.50. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. Below are selected reviews: the highest, the median and the lowest rated.
 

Estrace review by 57 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   menopause
Dosage & duration:   .05mg taken once daily for the period of three years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   no mood swings or hot flsshes
Side effects:   moderate weight gain
Comments:   take one pill daily

 

Estrace review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   surgical menopause
Dosage & duration:   2mg taken once per day for the period of 17 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   reduction in mood swings;night sweats;wt. gain
Side effects:   gallbladder disease;reflux
Comments:   This medication was working well until it changed from round tablet to oblong tablet. Now need to take higher dose for similar effect. Has not worked as well since name brand was sold to different company and shape change. I wonder if there are women having same problem. Had surgical menopause for 19 years.

 

Estrace review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   surgical menopause
Dosage & duration:   2mg taken once per day for the period of 17 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   reduction in mood swings;night sweats;wt. gain
Side effects:   gallbladder disease;reflux
Comments:   This medication was working well until it changed from round tablet to oblong tablet. Now need to take higher dose for similar effect. Has not worked as well since name brand was sold to different company and shape change. I wonder if there are women having same problem. Had surgical menopause for 19 years.

See all reviews / ratings >>

Page last updated: 2009-10-23

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