How Much Is Prempro Without Insurance?
How much is Prempro without insurance? It varies from pharmacy to pharmacy, but without discounts or assistance, you may pay over $300 for a monthly supply.
Prempro
Used for Menopause, Osteoporosis
Used for Menopause, Osteoporosis
Prempro is a combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for postmenopausal women who still have a uterus. It's used to relieve vaginal dryness and hot flashes caused by menopause and to help prevent osteoporosis after menopause. The medication contains estrogen and a progestin in one tablet that's taken by mouth once a day. Common side effects include breast pain, back pain, and headache.
Premphase contains the same hormones but uses a different dosing schedule: estrogen alone for the first 14 days, followed by estrogen plus progestin for the next 14 days.
What is Prempro?
What is Prempro used for?
- Moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) of menopause, like hot flashes and night sweats
- Moderate-to-severe vaginal symptoms due to menopause, like vaginal dryness and irritation
- Prevention of bone loss (osteoporosis) after menopause
How Prempro works
Prempro is a combination of two medications:
- Conjugated estrogens is a mixture of estrogens. It replaces the estrogen your body loses during menopause. This helps relieve hot flashes and vaginal symptoms and can slow bone loss.
- Medroxyprogesterone is a progestin that acts like the hormone progesterone. It helps balance the effect of estrogen on your uterine lining, lowering the risk of changes that can lead to cancer.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Prempro, Premphase |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Estrogen replacement / Progestin |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Prempro
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
Prempro:
- Breast pain (32-36%)
- Headaches (15-19%)
- Stomach pain (10-15%)
- Passing gas (7-8%)
- Nausea (6-8%)
- Depression (4-8%)
- Menstrual cramps (5-8%)
- Back pain (5-6%)
- Itching (5-6%)
- Vaginal discharge (4-6%)
- Weakness (4-5%)
Premphase:
- Breast pain (31%)
- Headache (19%)
- Stomach pain (17%)
- Menstrual cramps (13%)
- Depression (8%)
- Vaginal discharge (8%)
- Back pain (7%)
- Passing gas (7%)
- Nausea (7%)
- Weakness (6%)
- Pelvic pain (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
Prempro:
- Pelvic pain
- Swelling
- Breast enlargement
- Spotting
- Weight gain
- Leg cramps
- Dizziness
- Nervousness
- Migraine
- Trouble sleeping
- Hair loss
Premphase:
- Itching
- Breast enlargement
- Leg cramps
- Swelling
- Weight gain
- Migraine
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Joint pain
- Dizziness
- Nervousness
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, arm pain, shortness of breath, cold sweats, lightheadedness
- Stroke: sudden weakness on one side of your body, drooping face, changes in your speech or vision, confusion, headache
- Blood clots: trouble breathing, chest pain, leg pain or swelling, skin that's warm to the touch
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, or pelvic pain
When do Prempro possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Breast tenderness
Headache
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
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
backache
breast pain or tenderness
confusion
darkened urine
decreased vision or other changes in vision
difficulty with speaking
double vision
fainting
inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
inability to speak
indigestion
loss of appetite
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:
Less common
Blemishes on the skin
body aches or pain
congestion
depersonalization
difficulty with moving
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
quick to react or overreact emotionally
rapidly changing moods
rash
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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$302.98
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Subject to eligibility$25.00
Pros and cons of Prempro
Pros
- Taken once a day by mouth
- Combines estrogen and a progestin in one tablet
- Treats several menopause symptoms
- Helps prevent bone loss after menopause
Cons
- Raises your risk of certain cancers, blood clots, and strokes
- Commonly causes breast pain, back pain, and headache
- Not safe if you have liver problems
- Not for women without a uterus
Pharmacist tips for Prempro
- You can take Prempro with or without food. If you have nausea, try taking it with food. For best results, take your dose around the same time each day.
- Premphase comes with two different types of tablets that must be taken in the correct order. Follow the order shown on the package, and ask your pharmacist if you're unsure how to take it.
- If you miss a dose of Prempro, take it as soon as you remember. If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and don't take 2 doses at once.
- You might start to notice relief from menopause symptoms within a few weeks of starting Prempro. Talk to your prescriber if your symptoms aren't improving after about a month.
- Check in with your prescriber regularly while taking Prempro to make sure you still need treatment. Long-term use can raise your risk of serious problems, such as breast cancer, heart attack, and blood clots, so use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time needed.
- Tell your prescriber right away if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, a breast lump, vision changes, or severe headaches while taking Prempro. These could be signs of a more serious problem.
- Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all medications and supplements you take before starting Prempro. Products such as St. John's wort, rifampin, ketoconazole, and clarithromycin can affect your hormone levels.
- Tell your prescriber if you take thyroid replacement medication while taking Prempro. Estrogen can affect your thyroid hormone levels, so you might need extra blood tests or a change in your thyroid medication dose.
Risks and warnings for Prempro
Prempro can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes
- Risk factors: Personal or family history of blood clots | High blood pressure | Diabetes | High cholesterol | Smoking | People who identify as obese | Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
HRTs like Prempro can increase your risk of blood clots because they contains estrogen. Sometimes, these blood clots can be very dangerous and lead to a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs).
Tell your prescriber about your full medical history so they can check your risk for blood clots. Also tell your prescriber about any planned procedures or long periods of bedrest. Your prescriber will let you know when to stop Prempro before your procedure and when to restart it afterwards to lessen your risk for blood clots. In general, you should take the lowest dose of Prempro for the shortest period of time possible to lower your risk for blood clots.
Be aware of the signs and symptoms of a blood clot and related complications.
- Blood clot in arm or leg: swelling or pain in the arm or leg
- Blood clot in the lung: chest pain, trouble breathing
- Blood clot in the eye: sudden partial or complete vision loss, bulging eyes, double vision
- Heart attack (blood clot near the heart): chest pain, arm pain, shortness of breath, a cold sweat, lightheadedness
- Stroke (blood clot in the brain): sudden weakness on one side of the body, drooping face, trouble breathing, bad headache, changes in speech or vision
Get medical help right away if you have any signs or symptoms of a blood clot.
Breast cancer
- Risk factors: Personal or family history of breast cancer | Long-term use of Prempro
Taking HRT with estrogen and progestin, like Prempro, can raise your risk of breast cancer. Your risk can increase the longer you use the medication, so it's recommended to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time needed.
Talk to your prescriber about your risk, especially if you or a family member has had breast cancer. Keep up with recommended breast cancer screenings, including mammograms. Let your prescriber know if you notice a breast lump or other unusual breast changes.
Uterine (endometrial) cancer
- Risk factors: Estrogen therapy without additional progestin | People with a healthy uterus | Taking Prempro for a long time
Vaginal bleeding after menopause can be a warning sign of uterine (endometrial) cancer, so let your prescriber know if you notice any unusual bleeding. Even though Prempro contains a progestin to help protect your uterus, unusual bleeding still needs to be checked.
Ovarian cancer
HRTs like Prempro could raise your risk of ovarian cancer. Although this risk is small, it’s important to be aware of possible symptoms.
Tell your care team if you notice unusual vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, bloating, or a feeling of fullness that doesn’t go away. These can be signs of ovarian cancer and should be checked by your care team.
Dementia
- Risk factors: Age 65 years or older
People taking medications that contain estrogen, such as Prempro, might have a higher risk of dementia. This risk has been seen in women who start hormone therapy at age 65 or older.
Be aware of the early signs and symptoms of dementia, such as becoming confused or more forgetful, getting lost, and having trouble doing familiar things at home or at work. Speak with your prescriber if the risk for dementia worries you.
Liver and gallbladder problems
- Risk factors: History of liver problems or jaundice
The risk for gallbladder problems is higher for people who've gone through menopause and are taking estrogen therapy like Prempro. Sometimes, these gallbladder problems require surgery. Let your prescriber know if you've previously had jaundice (yellowing of your skin or whites of the eyes). And tell your care team if you start having jaundice, stomach pain that doesn't go away, nausea, or vomiting while you're taking this medication. These can be signs of liver damage or gallbladder problems.
Changes in calcium levels in the blood
- Risk factors: Breast cancer | Cancer that has spread to the bones | Low parathyroid hormone levels
Prempro can change the calcium levels in the blood. People with breast cancer and people with cancer that's spread to the bones are at higher risk of dangerously high calcium levels while they're taking estrogens. Tell your care team if you have any symptoms of high calcium levels, including tiredness, muscle weakness, bone pain, nausea, constipation, and thirst.
On the other hand, estrogen therapy can make calcium levels drop in people with low parathyroid hormone levels. Contact your care team if you have symptoms of low calcium levels, such as muscle cramps; brittle nails; and tingling in your fingers, toes, or lips.
Vision problems
Although very rare, some people taking estrogens have experienced vision problems caused by a blood clot in the eyes. If you have sudden partial or complete vision loss, bulging eyes, double vision, or migraines, stop Prempro and tell your care team.
High triglycerides (fat) levels
- Risk factors: History of high triglyceride levels in the blood
Let your prescriber know if you have a history of having high triglyceride levels. It's possible that the estrogen in Prempro can raise the amount of triglycerides (fat) in the blood. And having too much in the blood can lead to swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Tell your care team right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis, like sudden stomach or back pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or weakness.
Low thyroid hormone levels
- Risk factors: Conditions that cause low thyroid hormone levels
The estrogen in Prempro can cause changes to the thyroid hormone levels in the body. It's harder for the body to adjust to these changes for people with low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism) than for an average person. If you take thyroid replacement medication for your thyroid condition, you might need a higher dose of your thyroid medication. Work with your prescriber to adjust the dose of your thyroid medication.
Buildup of fluids in your body (fluid retention)
- Risk factors: History of heart or kidney problems
Estrogen/progestin combination therapies like Prempro can make your body hold onto extra fluids. This can sometimes cause swelling of your hands and feet. Fluid retention can worsen symptoms of certain heart conditions, like heart failure, and kidney damage. Tell your healthcare team if you notice any signs of worsening fluid retention (e.g., swelling, sudden weight gain) while you're taking Prempro if you have heart or kidney problems.
Severe allergic reaction
Prempro can rarely cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and facial or throat swelling. These reactions can happen within minutes to hours after taking a dose. Symptoms can include hives, itching, swelling of your face, lips, or tongue, trouble breathing, stomach pain, or vomiting. Get emergency medical help right away if you develop these symptoms.
Worsening of certain other health conditions
Before you start Prempro, speak with your care team about your medical history. Taking estrogen-containing medications can worsen certain health conditions and you might require closer follow up. These health conditions include diabetes, asthma, migraine, lupus, seizures, and hereditary angioedema.
Prempro dosage
The average cost for 1 package of 28 tablets of 0.3mg/1.5mg of Prempro is $25.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 91.75% off the average retail price of $303.00.
Interactions between Prempro and other drugs
Prempro may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Prempro. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amifampridine
- Apalutamide
- Aprepitant
- Armodafinil
- Artemether
- Bexarotene
- Bosentan
- Brigatinib
- Bupropion
- Carbamazepine
- Cenobamate
- Clobazam
- Dabrafenib
- Darunavir
- Dexamethasone
- Donepezil
- Efavirenz
- Elagolix
- Elvitegravir
- Encorafenib
- Enzalutamide
- Eslicarbazepine Acetate
- Etravirine
- Fosaprepitant
- Fosphenytoin
- Griseofulvin
- Isotretinoin
- Ivosidenib
- Lesinurad
- Lorlatinib
- Lumacaftor
- Mitotane
- Modafinil
- Mycophenolic Acid
- Nafcillin
- Nevirapine
- Oxcarbazepine
- Phenobarbital
- Phenylbutazone
- Phenytoin
- Pitolisant
- Prednisone
- Primidone
- Red Clover
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Ritonavir
- Rufinamide
- Secobarbital
- St John's Wort
- Sugammadex
- Tazemetostat
- Telaprevir
- Theophylline
- Topiramate
- Ulipristal
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Etoricoxib
- Ginseng
- Levothyroxine
- Licorice
- Tipranavir
How much does Prempro cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Prempro (brand)
$25.00
Prempro contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Prempro will not be safe for you to take.
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding that a healthcare professional hasn't diagnosed yet
- Currently have or have had breast cancer
- Currently have or have had a tumor that depends on estrogen for growth
- Currently have or have had a blood clot (e.g., DVT, PE)
- History of stroke or heart attack
- Blood-clotting conditions
- Liver damage or liver problems
What are alternatives to Prempro?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Prempro. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Prempro images
