Adult Dosing
Moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with the menopause
- Usual dose: 10-20 mg IM q4wks
Hypoestrogenism due to hypogonadism, castration, or primary ovarian failure
- Usual dose: 10-20 mg IM q4wks
advanced androgen-dependent carcinoma of the prostate (for palliation only)
- Usual dose: 30 mg IM q1-2 wks
Notes:- Progestin should be initiated to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer
- Use lowest effective dose for the shortest duration
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established
[Outline]
- Estrogen and estrogen/progestin therapy increases the risk of cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction, DVT and stroke, and also venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Discontinue the drug immediately if any of these event suspected [US Black Box warning]
- Increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis in postmenopausal women (50-79 yrs of age) during five years of treatment with oral conjugated equine estrogens (0.625 mg) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg) relative to placebo [US Black Box Warning]
- Unopposed use of estrogens in women with intact uteri increases the risk of endometrial cancer [US Black Box warning]
- Estrogen and estrogen/progestin therapy increases the risk of dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age and older. It should not be used for the prevention of dementia [US Black Box warning]
- Risk factors for arterial vascular disease, venous thromboembolism should be managed appropriately
- Hypercoagulability may occur and appears to be dose and duration dependent
- Estrogen causes fluid retention, use cautiously in patients with conditions like asthma, epilepsy, migraine, and cardiac or renal dysfunction
- May aggravate asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, migraine, porphyria, SLE, hepatic hemangiomas
- Estrogens and progestins use in postmenopausal women increase the risk of breast cancer. Perform breast examination and mammogram yearly based on patient age, risk factors and prior mammogram results
- Increases the risk of gallbladder diseases by 2 to 4 fold in postmenopausal women receiving estrogen therapy
- Estrogen therapy causes severe hypercalcemia in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases. Discontinue the therapy if hypercalcemia occurs, and provide appropriate measures
- Increased risk factors of arterial vascular disease include: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, hypercholesterolemia amd obesity
- Retinal vascular thrombosis occurs in patients receiving estrogens. Discontinue the drug if there is sudden partial or complete loss of vision, or a sudden onset of proptosis, diplopia or migraine. Permanently discontinue if papilledema or retinal vascular lesions are seen on examination
- Use of progestin with estrogen in continuous regimen lowers the incidence of endometrial hyperplasia, than would be induced by estrogen treatment alone. However there is possible increased risk of breast cancer associated with the use of progestins with estrogens compared to estrogen-alone regimens
- Estrogen use causes increases in blood pressure, monitor BP at regular interval
- Estrogen therapy elevates the plasma triglycerides in patients with preexisting hypertriglyceridemia, leading to pancreatitis and other complications
- Use cautiously in patients with a history of cholestatic jaundice associated with past estrogen use or with pregnancy and in the case of recurrence discontinue the drug
- Estrogen administration causes increased thyroid-binding globulin (TBG) levels. Patients on thyroid hormone replacement therapy receiving estrogen require increased doses of their thyroid replacement therapy. Monitor thyroid function regularly to maintain free thyroid hormone levels in an acceptable range
- Use of estrogen alone for 10 or more years increases the risk of ovarian cancer
- Estrogen alone therapy in exacerbate endometriosis in post-hysterectomy, consider addition of progestin to the therapy
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Hypertension
- Hypertriglyceridemia
- History of Cholestatic Jaundice
- Hypothyroidism
- Asthma
- Diabetes mellitus
- Epilepsy
- Migraine
- Surgery or prolonged immobilization
- Porphyria
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Hepatic hemangiomas
- Endometriosis
- Severe hypocalcemia
- Gallbladder Disease
- Obesity
- Patients >65 yrs
- Tobacco use
Pregnancy Category:X
Breastfeeding: Injectable estradiol valerate has been used to suppress lactation, usually in combination with testosterone. It should be avoided in mothers wishing to breastfeed. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 14 June 2011). As per manufacturer's data, detectable amounts of estrogens have been identified in the milk of mothers receiving this drug; caution should be advised in nursing mothers.
US Trade Name(s)
US Availability
estradiol valerate (generic)
- INJ: 10 mg/mL (5 mL vial)
- INJ: 20 mg/mL (5 mL vial)
- INJ: 40 mg/mL (5 mL vial)
Delestrogen
- INJ: 10 mg/mL (5 mL vial)
- INJ: 20 mg/mL (5 mL vial)
- INJ: 40 mg/mL (5 mL vial)
Canadian Trade Name(s)
Canadian Availability
UK Trade Name(s)
UK Availability
Australian Trade Name(s)
Australian Availability
[Outline]
Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.
- Delestrogen 10 MG/ML OIL [Vial] (JHP PHARMACEUTICALS)
5 ml = $85.99
15 ml = $233.96 - Estradiol Valerate 20 MG/ML OIL [Vial] (SANDOZ)
5 ml = $95.99
15 ml = $255.98 - Delestrogen 40 MG/ML OIL [Vial] (JHP PHARMACEUTICALS)
5 ml = $185.99
15 ml = $519.96 - Delestrogen 20 MG/ML OIL [Vial] (JHP PHARMACEUTICALS)
5 ml = $111.99
15 ml = $315.97 - Estradiol Valerate 10 MG/ML OIL [Vial] (SANDOZ)
5 ml = $75.99
15 ml = $227.98
Warning: This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.