Premarin

Women who have not had a hysterectomy and take estrogen along with progesterone have a lower risk of precancerous endometrial changes. However, you should be aware that estrogen/progesterone combinations could increase "bad" LDL cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as increase the risk of breast cancer.

There is a slight chance that estrogen therapy could cause an increase in blood pressure. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure regularly.

If you have high levels of fat in your blood, specifically a high triglyceride level, conjugated estrogens such as Premarin are likely to cause side effects in the pancreas.

Use Premarin with caution if you have a history of liver problems, including jaundice. Call your doctor right away if you develop abdominal pain or yellowing of the skin.

Premarin can alter thyroid function. If you're taking thyroid medication, you may need your dosage adjusted.

Premarin can also cause fluid retention. Use the drug with caution if you have heart or kidney problems, or any other condition that's affected by excess fluid in the body.

Some studies have shown that using estrogen-only drugs, especially for 10 years or more, could increase the risk of ovarian cancer. It's unknown whether this also applies to estrogen/progesterone combinations.

Estrogens such as Premarin have been known to make certain conditions worse, including asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, migraine, porphyria (a genetic enzyme deficiency), lupus, and liver tumors.

If you are using Premarin vaginal cream, you should be aware that this product can weaken latex condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Premarin

If Premarin is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Premarin with the following:

Barbiturates such as phenobarbital
Blood thinners such as Coumadin
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Drugs used for epilepsy, such as Dilantin
Erythromycin
Grapefruit juice
Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Major tranquilizers such as Thorazine
Oral diabetes drugs such as Micronase
Rifampin (Rifadin)
Ritonavir (Norvir)
St. John's wort
Steroid medications such as Deltasone
Thyroid preparations such as Synthroid
Tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofranil
Vitamin C