Femhrt

Generic Name: ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (HRT) (ETH in ill ess tra DYE ole/ nor ETH in drone )
Brand Names: femhrt, femhrt 1/5

What is femhrt?

Ethinyl estradiol is a form of estrogen. Estrogen is a female sex hormone necessary for many processes in the body.

Norethindrone is a form of progesterone. Progesterone is a female hormone important for the regulation of ovulation and menstruation.

femhrt is a tablet containing a combination of ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone.

femhrt is used to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, and vaginal dryness, burning, and irritation. It is also used to prevent osteoporosis.

femhrt may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about femhrt

This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant, or if you miss two menstrual periods in a row. Do not use femhrt if you have any of the following conditions: a history of stroke or blood clot, circulation problems, a hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer, abnormal vaginal bleeding, if you have recently had a stroke or heart attack, if you have had your uterus removed (hysterectomy), or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to birth control pills or other hormones.

Before taking femhrt, tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure or heart disease, high cholesterol, gallbladder disease, diabetes, asthma, seizures, liver disease, a thyroid disorder, high levels of calcium in your blood, migraine headaches or a history of depression, fibroid tumors in your uterus, or a history of breast cancer or an abnormal mammogram.

Avoid smoking while using femhrt. Smoking can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack caused by taking hormones.

Have regular physical exams and self-examine your breasts for lumps on a monthly basis while using femhrt.

Before taking femhrt

femhrt can cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant, or if you miss two menstrual periods in a row. Do not use femhrt if you have:

• abnormal vaginal bleeding that a doctor has not checked;

• a hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer;

• a history of blood clot or circulation problems;

• if you have recently had a stroke or heart attack;

• if you have had your uterus removed (hysterectomy); or

• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to birth control pills or other hormones.

Before using femhrt, tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions.

• high blood pressure or heart disease;

• high cholesterol, gallbladder disease, or diabetes;

• asthma;

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• liver disease;

• a thyroid disorder;

• high levels of calcium in your blood;

• migraine headaches or a history of depression;

• fibroid tumors in your uterus; or

• a history of breast cancer or an abnormal mammogram.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use femhrt.

The hormones in femhrt can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. femhrt may also slow breast milk production. Do not use if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take femhrt?

Use femhrt exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Try to take your medicine at the same time each day.

If you need to have any type of medical tests or surgery, or if you will be on bed rest, you may need to stop using femhrt for a short time. Any doctor or surgeon who treats you should know that you are using hormones.

It is important to use femhrt regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Have regular physical exams and self-examine your breasts for lumps on a monthly basis while using femhrt.

Store femhrt at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of femhrt.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of femhrt is unlikely to threaten life. Call an emergency room or poison control center for advice.

Symptoms of a femhrt overdose might include nausea, vomiting, and vaginal bleeding.

What should I avoid while taking my femhrt?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using femhrt.

Avoid smoking while using femhrt. Smoking can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack caused by taking hormones.

femhrt side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using femhrt and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

• sudden headache, confusion, pain behind the eyes, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; or

• gallbladder problems (pain in your upper right stomach area with nausea and vomiting);

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• a breast lump.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

• breast tenderness or swelling;

• freckles or darkening of facial skin;

• increased hair growth, loss of scalp hair;

• changes in weight or appetite;

• problems with contact lenses;

• runny nose;

• vaginal itching or discharge;

• changes in your menstrual periods, decreased sex drive; or

• headache, dizziness, sleep problems.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect femhrt?

Before taking femhrt, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol);

• cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune);

• prednisolone (Orapred);

• theophylline (Respbid, Theo-Dur);

• St. John's wort;

• an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);

• seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol) or phenobarbital (Solfoton);

• rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rimactane); or

• HIV or AIDS medication such as ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with femhrt. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about femhrt.

• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

Copyright 1996-2008 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.03. Revision Date: 12/05/2007 12:20:30 PM.

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