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Prempro

Prempro Side Effects

Allison Gourley, PharmDKristianne Hannemann, PharmD
Reviewed by Allison Gourley, PharmD, Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD
Last reviewed on October 21, 2021

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Breast pain (up to 36%)
  • Headaches (up to 19%)
  • Stomach pain (up to 17%)
  • Menstrual cramps (up to 13%)
  • Gas (up to 8%)
  • Nausea (up to 8%)
  • Depression (up to 8%)
  • More vaginal discharge than usual (up to 8%)

Less Common Side Effects

  • Back pain
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Migraines
  • Itching
  • Breast growth
  • Vaginal pain
  • Weight gain

Prempro serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Severe allergic reactions: swelling of the tongue or throat, trouble breathing, skin rash or hives
  • Heart attack: chest pain or tightness, pain that radiates up to your shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw
  • Stroke: sudden trouble talking or walking, numbness on one side of your body or face, severe headache, dizziness, confusion
  • Blood clot: chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fast heart rate, swelling, pain, or redness in the arms or legs
  • Cancer: lumps, pain, swelling, or changes in the breasts; swollen lymph nodes, unusual or heavy vaginal bleeding, bloating, extreme tiredness, stomach-area pain
When do Prempro possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Breast tenderness
Headache

Source: DailyMed

The following Prempro side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet

blood in the urine

blurred vision

chest pain

clear or bloody discharge from the nipple

cough or hoarseness

dimpling of the breast skin

dizziness

fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded

feeling of warmth or heat

fever or chills

flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck

headache

inverted nipple

lower back or side pain

lump in the breast or under the arm

nervousness

pain during sexual intercourse

painful or difficult urination

persistent crusting or scaling of the nipple

pounding in the ears

redness or swelling of the breast

severe cramping of the uterus

sore on the skin of the breast that does not heal

sweating

thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor

tingling of the hands or feet

unusual weight gain or loss

vaginal bleeding that is unusual and heavy

vaginal or genital itching

vaginal yeast infection

Incidence not known

Absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods

acid or sour stomach

anxiety

backache

breast pain or tenderness

confusion

constipation

darkened urine

decreased vision or other changes in vision

difficulty with speaking

double vision

fainting

heartburn

inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles

inability to speak

indigestion

loss of appetite

nausea

pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

pain or feeling of pressure in the pelvis

pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg

painful or tender cysts in the breasts

pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

slow speech

sudden shortness of breath or troubled breathing

unexpected or excess milk flow from the breasts

vomiting

yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Back pain

depression

excess gas in the stomach or intestines

lack or loss of strength

Less common

Blemishes on the skin

body aches or pain

congestion

depersonalization

diarrhea

difficulty with moving

dry skin

dryness of the vagina

dysphoria

euphoria

excessive muscle tone

feeling paranoid

flu-like symptoms

fullness or swelling of the breasts

hair loss or thinning of the hair

headache, severe and throbbing

leg cramps

loss of bladder control

menstrual periods that are longer or heavier

muscle pain or stiffness

pain in the joints

pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones

pimples or acne

quick to react or overreact emotionally

rapidly changing moods

rash

sleeplessness

sore mouth or tongue

stuffy or runny nose

tender, swollen glands in the neck

tightness of the chest or wheezing

trouble with sleeping

trouble with swallowing

vaginal discharge that is clear or white

voice changes

white patches in the mouth or on the tongue

Incidence not known

Changes in appetite

hives or welts

inability to have or keep an erection

increased hair growth, especially on the face

increased interest in sexual intercourse

irritability

loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

loss of scalp hair

pain in the ankles or knees

painful, red lumps under the skin, mostly on the legs

patchy brown or dark brown discoloration of the skin

redness of the skin

weight changes

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Why trust our experts?

Allison Gourley, PharmD, is a kidney and pancreas transplant pharmacist at a teaching hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area. When she’s not educating patients about their immunosuppressants, she's actively involved in transplant research.
Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in California. She has been a retail pharmacy manager and staff pharmacist for over 7 years and has contributed drug information content to different health companies.

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