Femhrt

femhrt is a prescription medication approved to treat menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes or night sweats) and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. This medication contains both an estrogen hormone and a progestin hormone, and is specifically designed for women who still have a uterus. femhrt comes in tablet form and is taken once a day. Possible side effects of the drug include headaches, nervousness, and breast pain.

 

What Is Femhrt?

femhrt® (norethindrone acetate/ethinyl estradiol) is a prescription hormone replacement therapy ("HRT") medication. It contains both an estrogen hormone and a progesterone hormone. It is approved for the following uses:
 
For both uses, femhrt is only approved for women who still have a uterus (who have not had a hysterectomy).
 
(Click Femhrt Uses for more information on what femhrt is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Femhrt?

femhrt is made by Warner Chilcott.
 

How Does Femhrt Work?

femhrt contains an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), along with a progestin hormone (norethindrone). It helps to relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing the estrogen that the ovaries no longer produce. Because estrogen helps to keep the bones strong, the decrease in estrogen during menopause causes a significant weakening of the bones, often resulting in osteoporosis. By providing estrogen, femhrt can help prevent these menopause-related bone changes.
 
Norethindrone is added to femhrt because giving estrogens without a progestin to postmenopausal women can increase the risk of cancer of the lining of the uterus. Norethindrone (which is a progestin) decreases this risk. Of course, this only applies to women who still have a uterus (who have not had a hysterectomy). For women without a uterus, the norethindrone component is usually considered unnecessary.
 
(Femhrt Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;