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Alora Side Effects
Vaginal bleeding, breast pain, and skin reaction at the application site are the most common side effects reported with Alora. Side effects of the medicine are typically mild and, in most cases, either do not require treatment or can be easily treated. Rare but serious side effects of Alora that require immediate medical attention include signs of an allergic reaction, migraines, or chest pain.
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As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Alora® (estradiol patch). However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most women tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Alora. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Alora side effects with you.)
Alora has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occurred in a group of people taking the drug were documented and then compared to the side effects that occurred in another group of people taking a placebo (a patch that does not contain any active ingredients). As a result, it was possible to see what side effects occurred, how often they appeared, and how they compared to the group not taking the medicine.
In these studies, the most common Alora side effects included:
- Skin reaction at the application site -- in up to 56.7 percent of women
- Breast pain -- up to 34.8 percent
- Vaginal bleeding -- up to 33.3 percent
- Headaches -- up to 21.3 percent
- The flu or flu-like symptoms (such as fever, chills, and aches) -- up to 13.3 percent
- Fungal infections -- up to 10 percent
- Anxiety -- up to 10 percent.
Other common side effects (occurring in 3 to 9 percent of women) included:
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Accidental injury
- Vaginal infection or irritation
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
- Back pain
- Bronchitis
- Dizziness
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Migraines
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Breast enlargement
- Muscle pain
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Gas
- Joint problems
- Sore throat
- Undesired facial or body hair growth
- A milky white vaginal discharge
- Coughing
- Asthma
- Ear infections
- Diarrhea
- Conjunctivitis ("pink eye").
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD