Conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone

Do not use this medication if you have any of the following conditions: a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot (especially in your lung or your lower body), liver disease, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or a hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer.

This medication can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant.

Long-term use of conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone may increase your risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, or blood clot. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks before using this medication long term.

Have regular physical exams and mammograms, and self-examine your breasts for lumps on a monthly basis while using conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone.

Conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone should not be used to prevent heart disease or dementia, because this medication may actually increase your risk of developing these conditions.

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

The 28-day Premphase treatment consists of two differently colored pills, 14 of each color. Carefully follow the patient instructions about which pills to take on days 1 through 14 and which pills to take on days 15 through 28.

You may take this medication with or without food. Try to take the medicine at the same time each day.

Have regular physical exams and mammograms, and self-examine your breasts for lumps on a monthly basis while using this medication.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

If you need surgery or medical tests or if you will be on bed rest, you may need to stop using this medication for a short time. Any doctor or surgeon who treats you should know that you are taking conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone.

This medication can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the medicine container tightly closed.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, or vaginal bleeding.

Do not smoke while using this medication. Smoking can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack caused by conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

• a thyroid medication such as levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid and others);

• insulin or diabetes medicine taken by mouth;

• rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane);

• ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox);

• seizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), or primidone (Mysoline);

• a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); or

• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.