Bijuva vs. Duavee for Menopause: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Bijuva

(estradiol / progesterone)

Duavee

(conjugated estrogens / bazedoxifene)

Summary for Bijuva

Prescription only

Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) is a medication that combines two hormones into a single pill. It's used to treat moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats. It's FDA approved for people with a uterus and have gone through menopause. This medication is a type of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The dosage is 1 capsule by mouth each night with food. Side effects can include breast tenderness and headaches.

Indications for Bijuva

Moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause (e.g., hot flashes, night sweats) in people with a healthy uterus

Pros and Cons for Bijuva

Pros

Only taken once a day
Contains progesterone to help lower risk of uterine cancer from the estrogen

Cons

Can take a few weeks to feel the effects of the medication
Can cause breast tenderness

Common Side Effects for Bijuva

Breast tenderness (up to 10%)
Headache (up to 4%)
Nausea (up to 4%)
Vaginal discharge (up to 3%)
Vaginal bleeding (3%)
Pelvic pain (3%)

Warnings for Bijuva

Risk for blood clots and related complications (e.g., heart attack, stroke)
Risk for breast cancer
Risk for uterine cancer (also called endometrial cancer)
Possible risk of ovarian cancer
Risk for dementia
Liver or gallbladder problems in certain people
Vision problems
High triglyceride (fat) levels
Buildup of fluids in the body (fluid retention)
Low thyroid hormone levels in people who take thyroid hormone replacement therapy
Worsening of other medical conditions

Summary for Duavee

Prescription only

Duavee (conjugated estrogens / bazedoxifene) treats vasomotor symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats. It can also help prevent osteoporosis in people who've gone through menopause. This combination medication has two active ingredients. The estrogen helps restore estrogen levels in the body while the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) helps protect against bone loss. The dosage is 1 tablet taken by mouth once every day. Side effects can include muscle spasms, nausea, and diarrhea.

Indications for Duavee

Treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause (e.g., hot flashes, night sweats)
Prevention of osteoporosis in people who've gone through menopause

Pros and Cons for Duavee

Pros

Relieves bothersome menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats
Contains an ingredient (bazedoxifene) that helps lower the risk for uterine cancer (no need to take an additional progestin medication)

Cons

Not a first-choice option for preventing osteoporosis in people who've gone through menopause
Not recommended for people who haven't gone through menopause, people 75 years or older, or people with kidney problems

Common Side Effects for Duavee

Muscle spasms or twitching (9%)
Nausea (8%)
Diarrhea (8%)
Indigestion (7%)
Upper stomach pain (7%)
Throat pain (7%)
Dizziness (5%)
Neck pain (5%)

Warnings for Duavee

Risk for blood clots and related complications (e.g., heart attack, stroke)
Risk for uterine cancer (also called endometrial cancer)
Unknown risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer
Risk for dementia
Gallbladder or liver problems in certain people
Changes in vision
High triglyceride (fat) levels
Low thyroid hormone levels in people who take thyroid hormone replacement therapy
Buildup of fluids in the body (fluid retention)
Worsening of other medical conditions