Ovestin

What is it?

N hormonal oestrogen preparation available as white tablets containing 1mg of oestriol coded DG7, ORGANON and with *o Also, OVESTIN CREAM, with applicator containing 0.1% of oestriol. Used for. tablets, disorders of genital and urinary tract arising when oestrogen is deficient, e. g. atrophic vaginitis, vaginal atrophy; Also, recurrent infections. Cream, atrophic vaginitis, itching, dryness and atrophy of vulva in elderlywomen. Treatment of this area before vaginal operations.

Dosage

Women, tablets, 0.5 to 3mg each day for 4 weeks then 0.5-1mg daily. Cream, 1 applicator dose into vagina each day for 3 weeks with a maintenance dose of 1 applicatorful twice weekly. Use lowest effective dose for shortest possible time. Stop using for 4 weeks every 2 to 3 months and evaluate. Prior to surgery, 1 applicator dose each day for 2 weeks before operation. Discontinue for at least 2 weeks after surgery.

Special Care

Hypertension, severe kidney disease receiving dialysis, Raynaud's disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma, varicose veins, elevated levels of prolactin (a hormone) in the blood (hyperprolactinemia). Risk of thrombosis increases with smoking, age and obesity. Blood pressure, breasts and pelvic organs should be checked during period of treatment.

Avoid Use

Pregnancy, heart and circulatory diseases, angina, sickle cell anaemia, pulmonary hypertension. Also, hormone-dependent cancers, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, chorea, liver disease, history of cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy, infectious hepatitis, Dublin Johnson syndrome, Rotor syndrome, recent trophoblastic disease.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Phenytoin, carbamazepine, tetracyclines, primidone, chloral hydrate, glutethimide, phenylbutazone, rifampicin, griseofulvin, ampicillin, dichloralphenazone, ethosuximide, barbiturates, St John's Wort.

Known Side Effects

Feeling of bloatedness due to fluid retention, leg pains, breast enlargement, erosion of cervix, muscular cramps, weight gain, breakthrough bleeding, depression, headaches, vaginal discharge, loss of libido, nausea, brown patches on skin (chloasma). Stop drug immediately in event of pregnancy.