Key takeaways
Premarin (conjugated estrogens) and Climara (estradiol) are both estrogen replacement therapies used to treat menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but they have some key differences. Premarin is an oral tablet, while Climara is a transdermal patch that you apply to your skin. Premarin can also be used to treat low estrogen levels due to other conditions and certain cancers in advanced stages, whereas Climara is also used to treat low estrogen levels due to genetic conditions. Premarin and Climara can both be taken for osteoporosis prevention, but they are usually not the first choice. Premarin is taken daily or in cycles, while Climara is applied once or twice a week. Both medications can cause headaches and weight gain and increase the risk of certain cancers, blood clots, and strokes. If you have a uterus, you will need to take an additional hormone called progestin with both medications to lower the risk of uterine cancer.
