Premarin
ESTROGENS, CONJUGATED
Indications and usage 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE PREMARIN is a mixture of estrogens indicated for: • Treatment of Moderate to Severe Vasomotor Symptoms due to Menopause ( 1.1 ) • Treatment of Moderate to Severe Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy due to Menopause ( 1.2 ) • Treatment of Hypoestrogenism due to Hypogonadism, Castration or Primary Ovarian Failure ( 1.3 ) • Treatment of Breast Cancer (for Palliation Only) in Appropriately Selected Women and Men with Metastatic Disease ( 1.4 ) • Treatment of Advanced Androgen-Dependent Carcinoma of the Prostate (for Palliation Only) ( 1.5 ) • Prevention of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis ( 1.6 ) 1.1 Treatment of Moderate to Severe Vasomotor Symptoms due to Menopause 1.2 Treatment of Moderate to Severe Symptoms of Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy due to Menopause Limitations of Use When prescribing solely for the treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause, topical vaginal products should be considered. 1.3 Treatment of Hypoestrogenism due to Hypogonadism, Castration or Primary Ovarian Failure 1.4 Treatment of Breast Cancer (for Palliation Only) in Appropriately Selected Women and Men with Metastatic Disease 1.5 Treatment of Advanced Androgen-Dependent Carcinoma of the Prostate (for Palliation Only) 1.6 Prevention of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Limitations of Use When prescribing solely for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, therapy should only be considered for women at significant risk of osteoporosis and non-estrogen medication should be carefully considered.
Dosage and administration 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Generally, when estrogen therapy is prescribed for a postmenopausal woman with a uterus, a progestin should be considered to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer [see Boxed Warning ].
Structured Monograph
Clinical summary
Indications and usage 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE PREMARIN is a mixture of estrogens indicated for: • Treatment of Moderate to Severe Vasomotor Symptoms due to Menopause ( 1.1 ) • Treatment of Moderate to Severe Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy due to Menopause ( 1.2 ) • Treatment of Hypoestrogenism due to Hypogonadism, Castration or Primary Ovarian Failure ( 1.3 ) • Treatment of Breast Cancer (for Palliation Only) in Appropriately Selected Women and Men with Metastatic Disease ( 1.4 ) • Treatment of Advanced Androgen-Dependent Carcinoma of the Prostate (for Palliation Only) ( 1.5 ) • Prevention of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis ( 1.6 ) 1.1 Treatment of Moderate to Severe Vasomotor Symptoms due to Menopause 1.2 Treatment of Moderate to Severe Symptoms of Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy due to Menopause Limitations of Use When prescribing solely for the treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause, topical vaginal products should be considered. 1.3 Treatment of Hypoestrogenism due to Hypogonadism, Castration or Primary Ovarian Failure 1.4 Treatment of Breast Cancer (for Palliation Only) in Appropriately Selected Women and Men with Metastatic Disease 1.5 Treatment of Advanced Androgen-Dependent Carcinoma of the Prostate (for Palliation Only) 1.6 Prevention of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Limitations of Use When prescribing solely for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, therapy should only be considered for women at significant risk of osteoporosis and non-estrogen medication should be carefully considered. Dosage and administration 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Generally, when estrogen therapy is prescribed for a postmenopausal woman with a uterus, a progestin should be considered to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer [see Boxed Warning ]. A woman without a uterus does not need progestin. In some cases, however, hysterectomized women with a history of endometriosis may need a progestin [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.16) ] . Use of estrogen-alone, or in combination with a progestin, should be with the lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman. Postmenopausal women should be re-evaluated periodically as clinically appropriate to determine if treatment is still necessary. PREMARIN may be taken without regard to meals. • Daily administration of 0.3, 0.45, 0.625, 0.9, and 1.25 mg ( 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.5 , 2.6 ) • Cyclic administration of 0.3, 0.625, and 1.25 mg ( 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 ) 2.1 Treatment of Moderate to Severe Vasomotor Symptoms due to Menopause Patients should be treated with the lowest effective dose. Generally, women should be started at 0.3 mg PREMARIN daily. Subsequent dosage adjustment may be made based upon the individual patient response. This dose should be periodically reassessed by the healthcare provider. PREMARIN therapy may be given continuously, with no interruption in therapy, or in cyclical regimens (regimens such as 25 days on drug followed by 5 days off drug), as is medically appropriate on an individual basis. 2.2 Treatment of Moderate to Severe Symptoms of Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy due to Menopause Patients should be treated with the lowest effective dose. Generally, women should be started at 0.3 mg PREMARIN daily. Subsequent dosage adjustment may be made based upon the individual patient response. This dose should be periodically reassessed by the healthcare provider. PREMARIN therapy may be given continuously, with no interruption in therapy, or in cyclical regimens (regimens such as 25 days on drug followed by 5 days off drug), as is medically appropriate on an individual basis. 2.3 Treatment of Hypoestrogenism due to Hypogonadism, Castration, or Primary Ovarian Failure PREMARIN therapy should be initiated and maintained with the lowest effective dose to achieve clinical goals. Female hypogonadism: 0.3 mg or 0.625 mg daily, administered cyclically (e.g., three weeks on and one week off). Doses are adjusted depending on the severity of symptoms and responsiveness of the endometrium [ see Clinical Studies (14.4) ]. Female castration or primary ovarian failure: 1.25 mg daily, cyclically. Adjust dosage, upward or downward, according to severity of symptoms and response of the patient. For maintenance, adjust dosage to lowest level that will provide effective control. 2.4 Treatment of Breast Cancer (for Palliation Only) in Appropriately Selected Women and Men with Metastatic Disease Suggested dosage is 10 mg three times daily, for a period of at least three months. 2.5 Treatment of Advanced Androgen-Dependent Carcinoma of the Prostate (for Palliation Only) 1.25 mg to 2 × 1.25 mg three times daily. The effectiveness of therapy can be judged by phosphatase determinations as well as by symptomatic improvement of the patient. 2.6 Prevention of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis PREMARIN therapy may be given continuously, with no interruption in therapy, or in cyclical regimens (r
Boxed Warning
WARNING: ENDOMETRIAL CANCER, CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS, BREAST CANCER and PROBABLE DEMENTIA WARNING: ENDOMETRIAL CANCER, CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS, BREAST CANCER and PROBABLE DEMENTIA See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Estrogen-Alone Therapy • There is an increased risk of endometrial cancer in a woman with a uterus who uses unopposed estrogens ( 5.2 ) • Estrogen-alone therapy should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia ( 5.1 , 5.3 ) • Women's Health Initiative (WHI) estrogen-alone substudy reported increased risks of stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) ( 5.1 ) • The WHI Memory Study (WHIMS) estrogen-alone ancillary study of WHI reported an increased risk of probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age and older ( 5.3 ) Estrogen Plus Progestin Therapy • Estrogen plus progestin therapy should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia ( 5.1 , 5.3 ) • The WHI estrogen plus progestin substudy reported increased risks of stroke, DVT, pulmonary embolism (PE), and myocardial infarction (MI) ( 5.1 ) • The WHI estrogen plus progestin substudy reported increased risks of invasive breast cancer ( 5.2 ) • The WHIMS estrogen plus progestin ancillary study of WHI reported an increased risk of probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age and older ( 5.3 ) 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 (14.5, 14.6) ] . 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 (14.5) ]. The WHI Memory Study (WHIMS) estrogen-alone ancillary study of 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 (14.6) ] . 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 (14.5 , 14.6) ]. 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 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), and Clinical Studies (14.5) ] . The WHIMS estrogen plus progestin ancillary study of the WHI, reported an increased risk of developing probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older during 4 years of treatment with daily CE (0.625 mg) combined with MPA (2.5 mg), 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 (14.6) ] . Breast Cancer The WHI estrogen plus progestin substudy also demonstrated an increased risk of invasive breast cancer [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) , and Clinical Studies (14.5) ]. In the absence of comparable data, these risks should be assumed to be similar for other doses of CE and MPA, and other 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 consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman.
Monitoring
- • 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Estrogens increase the risk of gallbladder disease ( 5.4 ) • Discontinue estrogen if severe hypercalcemia, loss of vision, severe hypertriglyceridemia or cholestatic jaundice occurs ( 5.5 , 5.6 , 5.10 , 5.11 ) • Monitor thyroid function in patients on thyroid replacement therapy ( 5.12 , 5.19 ) 5.1 Cardiovascular Disorders An increased risk of stroke and DVT has been reported with estrogen-alone therapy.
- • An increased risk of PE, DVT, stroke and MI has been reported with estrogen plus progestin therapy.
- • Should any of these events occur or be suspected, estrogen with or without progestin therapy should be discontinued immediately.
- • Risk factors for arterial vascular disease (for example, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity) and/or venous thromboembolism (VTE) (for example, personal or family history of VTE, obesity, and systemic lupus erythematosus) should be managed appropriately.
Interaction Notes
- • 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Data from a single-dose drug-drug interaction study involving CE and MPA indicate that the pharmacokinetic disposition of both drugs is not altered when the drugs are coadministered.
- • No other clinical drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with CE.
- • 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.