Bijuva

• Risk factors: Personal or family history of blood clots | High blood pressure | Diabetes (high blood sugar) | High cholesterol | Tobacco use | Considered obese | Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Estrogen/progestin therapy like Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) can raise the risk of blood clots. These clots can block the blood flow to other parts of the body, like the leg, lungs, heart, or brain. Some clots can lead to dangerous complications, like heart attack or stroke.

Before starting Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone), ask your prescriber if it's safe for you. There are many things that can raise your risk for blood clots, like high blood pressure, smoking, and long periods of time when you're sitting still. Don't take Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) to prevent heart disease.

Be sure you know the signs and symptoms of a blood clot, heart attack, and stroke.

• Blood clot in arm or leg: swelling, pain, or tenderness in the arm or leg; skin that's warm to the touch
• Blood clot in the lung: chest pain, trouble breathing
• Heart attack (blood clot near the heart): chest pain traveling to the arm, neck, or jaw; shortness of breath; cold sweat; lightheadedness
• Stroke (blood clot in the brain): sudden weakness on one side of the body, drooping face, bad headache, changes in speech or vision, confusion

Stop taking Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) and get medical help right away if you have any signs or symptoms of a blood clot.

• Risk factors: Personal or family history of breast cancer | Taking hormone therapy for a long time

Studies show that combination hormone therapy like Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) can raise the risk of invasive breast cancer. The risk might be higher if you've taken hormone therapy for a long time. Don't take Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) if you have or have had breast cancer. For people whose breast cancer has spread to the bones, this medication can also cause very high calcium levels.

To lower your risk, take the lowest dose of Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) for the shortest time possible. Check your breasts regularly for changes and get breast scans (mammograms) as recommended. Talk to your prescriber or gynecologist if you're worried about breast cancer. Tell them if you notice any unusual changes in breast shape, size, or color so they can check it out.

• Risk factors: Estrogen therapy without additional progestin | People with a healthy uterus | Taking estrogen therapy for more than 1 year | High estrogen dose

Bijuva contains estradiol and progesterone. Estrogens like estradiol can change and thicken the lining of the uterus (endometrium). This can sometimes lead to uncontrolled growth of the uterine lining. This raises the risk of uterine (endometrial) cancer in people with a healthy uterus. The progesterone in Bijuva helps balance out estrogen's effect on the uterine lining. This helps lower the risk for uterine cancer.

Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) has an ingredient that helps protect the uterine lining from estrogen's effect. But it's still important to look out for signs of uterine cancer. These include vaginal bleeding that doesn't stop or keeps coming back, or pelvic pain. Talk to your primary care provider or gynecologist if you're worried about uterine cancer or have these signs.

People who take menopausal hormone therapy might have a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Talk to your prescriber if you're worried about this risk with Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone). Let your prescriber or gynecologist know if you have any unusual vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, or pelvic pain. These could be signs of ovarian cancer.

• Risk factors: Age 65 years or older

Studies suggest that people 65 and older who've gone through menopause and take hormonal replacement therapy might have a higher risk of dementia. Be aware of early signs like memory loss, confusion about time, getting lost, and misplacing things often. Talk to your primary care provider if you're worried about the risk of dementia. Don't take Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) to prevent dementia.

• Risk factors: History of liver problems or jaundice

People who've gone through menopause and take estrogen medications like Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) have a higher risk of gallbladder problems. Tell your primary care provider if you've ever had jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. Also let your care team know if you notice jaundice after starting Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone). These could be signs of gallbladder or liver problems. Don't take Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) if you have liver problems.

Although very rare, some people who took estrogens had vision problems from a blood clot in the eye. Stop taking Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) right away and tell your primary care provider if you have sudden vision loss, bulging eyes, double vision, or migraines.

• Risk factors: History of high triglyceride levels in the blood

Estrogen therapy can raise the level of triglycerides (fat) levels in your blood. Too much triglyceride can cause swelling in the pancreas (pancreatitis). People who already have high triglyceride levels might be at higher risk of pancreatitis. Tell your primary care provider right away if you notice signs of pancreatitis. Look out for stomach pain that spreads to your back, stomach tenderness, fever, nausea, or vomiting.

• Risk factors: Heart failure | Kidney problems

Estrogen/progestin medications like Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) can make your body hold onto extra fluid. This can lead to swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles.

Tell your primary care provider if you have heart failure. Fluid buildup can make this condition worse. Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone) also isn't recommended for people with kidney problems. They have a higher risk of complications from fluid retention.

Call your primary care provider if you notice swelling or signs that your heart condition is getting worse while you're taking Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone).

• Risk factors: Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)

Estrogens can affect the thyroid hormone levels in your body. Usually, your body adjusts these levels on its own. But if you have low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism), it might be harder to adjust.

If you're taking thyroid hormone replacement, you might need a higher dose of it while you're taking Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone). This helps your body adjust to changes in thyroid hormone levels during treatment. Keep getting blood tests as instructed by your primary care provider so they can check your thyroid hormone levels.

Tell your prescriber about all the medical conditions you have before taking Bijuva (estradiol / progesterone). This medication can make some health conditions worse. This includes asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, migraine, and lupus, among others. It can also affect people with hypoparathyroidism or hereditary angioedema.