Prempro™ (
conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone) is a prescription medication that contains a mixture of natural estrogen hormones (the same hormones in
Premarin®), along with a progestin hormone. It is approved for the following uses:
- Treating moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause
- Treating moderate to severe itching, burning, or dryness in or around the vagina due to menopause
- Preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Prempro is only approved for use in women who still have a uterus (who have not had a hysterectomy).
Prempro is made by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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 the decrease in estrogen and the shift from estradiol to estrone.
Prempro is a mixture of natural equine (horse) estrogens, combined with a progestin hormone (medroxyprogesterone). It helps relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing the estrogen and progesterone that the ovaries no longer produce. Because estrogen helps keep the bones strong, the decrease in estrogen during menopause causes a significant weakening of the bones, often resulting in osteoporosis. By providing estrogen, Prempro can help prevent these menopause-related bone changes.
Medroxyprogesterone, which is a progestin, is added to Prempro because giving estrogens without a progestin to postmenopausal women can increase the risk of cancer of the lining of the uterus. Of course, this applies only to women who still have a uterus (who have not had a hysterectomy). For women without a uterus, the medroxyprogesterone component is usually considered unnecessary.
When and How to Use Prempro
General considerations for when and how to use Prempro include the following:
- The medication comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once a day.
- You can take Prempro with or without food. If the medication bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- You can take Prempro at any time of the day, although it is best to take it at the same time each day.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Prempro will not work if you stop taking it.
Dosing Information for Prempro
The dose of Prempro your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- How you respond to Prempro
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, Prempro can cause side effects. However, not everyone who uses the drug 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 Prempro include but are not limited to:
(Click Prempro Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Drug Interactions With Prempro
Prempro: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
Talk with your healthcare provider prior to using Prempro if you have:
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.
Prempro 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
- Natural remedies, including herbal supplements and "bioidentical" hormone replacement.
What If I Take an Overdose of Prempro?
Women who take too much Prempro may experience the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding.
How Should Prempro Be Stored?
Prempro tablets should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. The tablets should be stored in their original dispenser packaging. Keep Prempro and all other medications out of the reach of children.
What If I Miss a Dose of Prempro?
If you do not take your Prempro 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 take a double dose.
Prempro tablets come in the following strengths:
- Prempro 0.3 mg/1.5 mg -- 0.3 mg of conjugated estrogens and 1.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate
- Prempro 0.45 mg/1.5 mg -- 0.45 mg of conjugated estrogens and 1.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate
- Prempro 0.625 mg/2.5 mg -- 0.625 mg of conjugated estrogens and 2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate
- Prempro 0.625 mg/5 mg -- 0.625 mg of conjugated estrogens and 5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate.
Every tablet in each pack of Prempro contains both hormones, unlike
Premphase® (a similar product), which contains medroxyprogesterone for only the last half of each cycle.
At this time, there are no generic versions of Prempro licensed for sale
(see Generic Prempro for more information).
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