Premarin Side Effects

Although most people tolerate Premarin well, the medication can cause side effects. Premarin has been shown to cause common problems, such as headaches, joint pain, and vaginal bleeding. Serious side effects may also occur and should be reported to your healthcare provider right away. Some of these serious Premarin side effects include chest pain, vision changes, and heavy vaginal bleeding.

 

An Introduction to Premarin Side Effects

As with any medicine, Premarin® (conjugated estrogens) can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes Premarin 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.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Premarin. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Premarin side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Premarin

Premarin has been thoroughly studied 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 "sugar pill" 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 Premarin side effects included:
 
  • Headaches -- in up to 32 percent of people
  • Abdominal pain (stomach pain) -- up to 17 percent
  • Back pain -- up to 14 percent
  • Joint pain -- up to 14 percent
  • Vaginal bleeding -- up to 14 percent
  • Accidental injury -- up to 12 percent
  • Breast pain -- up to 12 percent.
     
Other common side effects of Premarin (occurring in 5 to 10 percent of people) included:
 
  • Weakness
  • Gas
  • Leg cramps
  • Nervousness
  • A milky white vaginal discharge
  • Vaginal irritation or infection, including yeast infections.
     
Contrary to what you may read on the Internet, weight gain is not a typical side effect of Premarin (see Premarin and Weight Gain).
 
(Premarin Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;