Cenestin

Cenestin is a medication approved to help relieve certain symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. This prescription medication contains a mixture of synthetic (manufactured) estrogen hormones and works by replacing the estrogen that the ovaries no longer produce. It comes in tablet form and is taken once a day. Possible side effects include nausea, breast pain, and irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting.

 

What Is Cenestin?

Cenestin® (conjugated estrogens) is a prescription medication that contains a mixture of synthetic (manufactured) estrogen hormones. It is approved for treating menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
 
(Click Cenestin Uses for more information on what Cenestin is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Cenestin?

Cenestin is made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 

How Does Cenestin Work?

During and after menopause, women experience a drop in estrogen levels, as well as a shift in the balance of estrogens that the body produces. Before menopause, the ovaries produce the main source of estrogen, and the main type of estrogen produced is known as estradiol. After menopause, the main source of estrogen is androstenedione, which is produced by the adrenal gland and is converted into an estrogen known as estrone. Menopausal symptoms and changes result from both the decrease in estrogen and the shift from estradiol to estrone.
 
Cenestin is a mixture of synthetic (manufactured) estrogens. Unlike many other estrogen products, it does not contain any hormones produced by horses. It helps to relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing the estrogen that the ovaries no longer produce.
 

When and How to Use Cenestin

Some general considerations for when and how to use Cenestin include the following:
 
  • Cenestin comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once a day.
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  • You can take Cenestin with food or on an empty stomach. If Cenestin bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
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  • It does not matter what time of day you take Cenestin, although it is best to take it at the same time each day.
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  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
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Cenestin Dosing Information

The dose of Cenestin your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your specific menopause symptoms
  • How you respond to Cenestin
  • Whether you have had a hysterectomy
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
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As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Cenestin Dosage for more information.)
 

Side Effects of Cenestin

As with any medicine, Cenestin can cause side effects. However, not everyone who uses the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people 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. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects of Cenestin include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
  • Breast pain
  • Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
  • Nausea.
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(Click Cenestin Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 

Drug Interactions With Cenestin

Cenestin can interact with several other medications (see Cenestin Drug Interactions).
 

Cenestin: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using Cenestin if you have:
 
  • Cancer (or if you have had cancer in the past)
  • Unexplained vaginal bleeding
  • Had a heart attack or stroke
  • Heart disease
  • Had a blood clot
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Diabetes
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Liver disease, such as liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver tumors
  • Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
  • Congestive heart failure (CHF)
  • An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
  • Had yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice) during a prior pregnancy or estrogen use
  • High cholesterol
  • Low calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia)
  • Endometriosis
  • Any allergies, including allergies to drugs, foods, preservatives, or dyes.
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Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
 
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Cenestin Warnings and Precautions to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)
 

Alternatives to Cenestin

Cenestin is not the only available method of relieving menopausal symptoms. Other options include:
 
  • Coping strategies (such as wearing lighter clothes for hot flashes or using a vaginal lubricant for dryness)
  • Other medications, such as other estrogens or combinations of estrogens with progestins
  • Natural remedies, including herbal supplements and "bioidentical" hormone replacement.
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(Click Cenestin Alternatives for more information about other menopause treatment options.)
 

What If I Take a Cenestin Overdose?

People who take too much Cenestin may experience the following symptoms:
 
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Vaginal bleeding.
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(Click Cenestin Overdose for more information.)
 

Cenestin: Storage Methods

Cenestin tablets should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Cenestin tablets should be stored in an airtight container. Keep Cenestin and all other medications out of the reach of children.
 

What If I Miss a Dose of Cenestin?

If you do not take your Cenestin as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not double your dose of Cenestin.
 

Cenestin Strengths

Cenestin tablets come in the following strengths:
 
  • Cenestin 0.3 mg
  • Cenestin 0.45 mg
  • Cenestin 0.625 mg
  • Cenestin 0.9 mg
  • Cenestin 1.25 mg.
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Generic Cenestin

At this time, there are no generic versions of Cenestin licensed for sale (see Generic Cenestin for more information).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;