Clinical medicine profile
Oestradiol
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class)
- Route
- See product SmPC
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Selected breast cancer
- estrogen dependent neoplasia
- undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding
- history of thrombophlebitis
- thrombo-embolic disorders
- pregnancy
- severe hepatic /renal /CVS impairment
- porphyria.
Precautions
- Physical/history examination before initiating oestrogen therapy should be done
- fluid retention
- women with narrow vagina
- uterovaginal prolapse
- treatment unresponsive infection
- Cushing syndrome
- BP monitor
- 4 weeks before surgery
- history of endometriosis
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
For treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, vulval and vaginal atrophy associated with the menopause: the lowest dose that will control symptoms should be selected. Attempts to discontinue or taper medication should be made at 3-month to 6-month intervals. The usual initial dosage is 1 - 2 mg daily. Administration should be cyclic [e.g. 4 weeks on and 1 week off]. For treatment of female hypoestrogenism due to hypogonadism, castration, or primary ovarian failure: Treatment is initiated with a dose of 1 - 2 mg daily. For treatment of breast cancer, for palliation only, in appropriately selected women and men with metastatic disease: 10 mg TID for at least three months. For treatment of advanced androgen-dependent carcinoma of the prostate, for palliation only: 1-2 mg TID. The effectiveness of therapy can be judged by phosphatase determinations as well as by symptomatic improvement of the patient.
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
Moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, vulval and vaginal atrophy associated with the menopause, female hypoestrogenism due to hypogonadism, castration, or primary ovarian failure, palliation in breast cancer (women and men with metastatic disease, prevention of osteoporosis, advanced androgen-dependent carcinoma of the prostate, for palliation only
Adverse effects
- Changes in menstrual flow
- break through bleeding
- dysmenorrhoea
- amenorrhoea during and after treatment
- GI disturbances
- allergic reactions
- visual disturbances
- mental depression
- convulsion
- fluid retention
- aggravation of existing hypertension
- tenderness and enlargement of the breasts
- headache
- pre-mature closure of epiphysis
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Mechanism & disposition
It acts by regulating the tran-scription of a limited number of genes.
Read complete mechanism
It acts by regulating the tran-scription of a limited number of genes. It diffuses through cell membranes, distributes itself throughout the cell, and binds to and activates the nuclear oestrogen receptor, a DNA-binding protein that is found in oestrogen-responsive tissues. The activated oestrogen receptor binds to specific DNA sequences, or hormone-response elements, which enhance the transcription of adjacent genes and in turn lead to the observed effects.
Product-specific
Product-specific
See product SmPC
are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT
when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROGYNOVA | DAIMA BIASHARA / Wholesale Import | 2MG TABS 20 | KES 660.30Daima Chemist price-list reference ↗ Source date not recorded · verify current price |
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.