Using estrogen alone may increase your chance of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are using Prempro. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus. Your healthcare provider should check any unusual vaginal bleeding to find out the cause.
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or dementia (decline in brain function).
Using estrogen alone may increase your chances of getting strokes or blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, or blood clots.
Using estrogens, with or without progestins, may increase your chance of getting dementia, based on a study of women aged 65 years and older.
Estrogens should be used at the lowest dose possible, only for as long as needed. You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Prempro.
Prempro should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, have or had cancer, had a stroke or heart attack, have or had blood clots or liver problems, have a bleeding disorder, are allergic to any of its ingredients, or think you may be pregnant. If you do not have a uterus, you do not need a progestin and should not take Prempro.
If you take thyroid medication, consult your healthcare provider, as use of estrogens may change the amount needed.
Serious, but less common side effects include heart attack, stroke, blood clots, dementia, breast cancer, cancer of the lining of the uterus, cancer of the ovary, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, gallbladder disease, liver problems, enlargement of benign tumors of the uterus (fibroids), mental depression and severe allergic reactions.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following warning signs or any other unusual symptoms that concern you: new breast lumps; unusual vaginal bleeding; changes in vision or speech; sudden new severe headaches; severe pains in your chest or legs with or without shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue; and swollen lips, tongue, and face.
Less serious, but common side effects include headache, breast pain, irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting, stomach/abdominal cramps/bloating, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, fluid retention, and vaginal yeast infection.
These are not all the possible side effects of Prempro.
INDICATION
Prempro contains two kinds of hormones, estrogens and a progestin. Prempro is used after menopause in women with a uterus to reduce moderate to severe hot flashes and help reduce the chances of getting osteoporosis (thin, weak bones). If you use Prempro only to prevent osteoporosis due to menopause, talk with your healthcare provider about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
