Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Medicines for Menopause

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when the menstrual cycle stops. This change of life yields problems such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and irritation, and weak bones, in some women, because less hormones are being made. Hormone Therapy is available which can help minimize some of these health issues. If you take hormone therapy for menopause, you should take the lowest dose that works for as short a time period as you can.

You are not a candidate for hormone therapy if you think you are pregnant, have unusual vaginal bleeding, have or have had blood clots, have breast or uterine cancer, have liver problems, or have had a heart attack or stroke in the past year.

There are three classes of FDA-approved medicines for hormone therapy: Estrogen-Only Medicines, Progestin-Only Medicines, and Combination Estrogen and Progestin Medicines, each taken on different time plans. Each drug has common side effects you should discuss with your physician before starting a schedule. Hormone therapy may increase the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and gall bladder disease in some women. Women who still have a uterus are at an increased risk for endometrial cancer when taking estrogen only medicines.

Estrogen-Only Medicines

Estrogen-Only Medicines include Alora, Cenestin, Climara, Delestrogen, Enjuvia, Estrace, Estraderm, Estrasorb, Estring, Estrogel, Femring, Femtrace, Menest, Menostar, Ogen, Ortho-Est, Premarin, Vagifem, Vivelle, and Vivelle-Dot. These are in the form of patches, pills, injections, creams, gels, tablets, or inserts. Common side effects include painful or tender breasts, stomach cramps, spotting, weight gain, upset stomach/nausea, and hair loss.

Progestin-Only Medicines

Progestin-Only Medicines include Aygestin, Prometrium, and Provera. These medicines are in pill form. Common side effects include painful or tender breasts, stomach cramps, upset stomach/nausea, vaginal bleeding or spotting, weight gain, and hair loss. If you have diabetes, speak with your physician before taking any of these.

Combination Estrogen and Progestin Medicines

This class of drugs includes Activella, Climara Pro, Combipatch, Femhrt, Prefest, and Prempro. These medicines are pills or patches. Common side effects are painful or tender breasts, stomach cramps, spotting, upset stomach/nausea, weight gain and hair loss.

Have your questions in hand when speaking with your doctor. Find out which hormones are best for you and why, what the benefits and risks are, the side effects, the duration that you should use hormones, the lowest effective dose, and any other medicines or relief measures you can employ.