Premarin Cream 14gm/Tube

Premarin Cream general information

What is Premarin Cream used for?

Premarin Cream is used to treat menopausal changes in and around the vagina, caused by a lack of oestrogen production by the ovaries. Premarin Cream is a short-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to treat atrophic vaginitis (also called vaginal atrophy), which occurs when tissues in and around the vagina become thinner and less elastic and produce less lubrication, causing symptoms of dryness burning and itching around the vagina, which can also lead to inflammation in the vaginal tissues. Changes in the skin of the vagina can lead to sex being uncomfortable or painful, and to an increased susceptibility to vaginal or urinary infections, also mild urinary incontinence. Premarin cream provides a topical oestrogen treatment that helps to restore the vaginal tissue, by treating the underlying cause, which reduces symptoms and prevents recurrent infections.

How does Premarin Cream work?

Premarin cream contains conjugated oestrogens, which is a mixture of natural oestrogens isolated exclusively from natural sources. Oestrogen is a steroid hormone produced by the ovaries that binds to specific receptors inside oestrogen-responsive cells and stimulates them to make proteins involved in producing secondary sexual characteristics, including thickening of the vaginal wall and increasing vaginal secretion. When Premarin cream is inserted into the vagina, oestrogen is slowly released and absorbed into the vaginal skin layer where it reverses changes in the vagina by stimulating thickening of the skin, reducing inflammation and restoring the physiological pH and normal microflora (the “good” bacteria that normally live in the skin and increases resistance to infection with other bacteria that cause vaginal or urinary infections). The restoring effect of Premarin cream reduces symptoms of atrophic vaginitis which can be maintained with continued use.

What does Premarin Cream contain?

Premarin cream contains the active ingredient as a mixture of conjugated estrogens obtained exclusively from natural sources, blended to represent the average composition of oestrogens derived from pregnant mare urine. It is a mixture of natural oestrogens in different forms including: sodium estrone sulphate, sodium equilin sulphate, sodium sulfate conjugates, 17 alpha-dihydroequilin, 17 alpha-estradiol and 17 beta-dihydroequilin. Each gram of cream contains 0.625mg of conjugated oestrogens. The non-liquefying base contains cetyl esters wax, cetyl alcohol, white wax, glyceryl monostearate, propylene glycol monostearate, methyl stearate, benzyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, glycerin, and mineral oil.

Treating vaginal symptoms of menopause with Premarin Cream

Premarin cream is used to treat the vaginal symptoms of menopause, particularly atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy that is caused by lack of oestrogen in menopausal women. Premarin cream contains a mixture of conjugated estrogens, which are natural oestrogens used for short-term topical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Atrophy of the vaginal tissue is a common vaginal symptom of the menopause caused by thinning and shrinking of the vaginal skin layer due to a lack of oestrogen. This leads to symptoms such as dryness, itching, irritation and inflammation, which can lead to sex being uncomfortable or painful, and to an increased susceptibility to vaginal or urinary infections, also mild urinary incontinence. Premarin cream provides a topical oestrogen treatment that helps to restore the vaginal tissue, which will be maintained with continued use. Restoring vaginal tissue reduces symptoms by treating the underlying cause.

What are the side effects of Premarin Cream?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Premarin Cream include local irritation or itching, breast tenderness and breast pain, headache. More severe but less common side effects include blood clots in the veins which can result in thromboembolism.

What are the health risks of Premarin Cream?

Long-term use of Premarin does have associated health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, stroke, deep vein thrombosis. Your doctor may recommend that you also take a progestogen to counteract the increased risk of endometrial cancer when taking oestrogen alone.

When should Premarin Cream not be used?

You should not use Premarin Cream if you:

• are allergic to conjugated oestrogens or any ingredients in Premarin cream
• have a past or family history of carcinoma of the breast, endometrial carcinoma or liver disease
• have deep venous thrombosis, thromboembolic disorders, cerebral vascular accident associated with oestrogen use
• abnormal genital bleeding of unknown cause
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• have porphyria, a condition which affect the skin or nervous system
• are taking other medications that may interact with Premarin cream, such as anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepin, anti-infectives like rifampicin, rifabutin, nevirapine, efavirenz or preparations containing St John's Wort

What medications interact with Premarin Cream?

Several medications interact with Premarin Cream and should either not be taken while you are taking Premarin Cream or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that affect Premarin Cream: anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepin, anti-infectives like rifampicin, rifabutin, nevirapine, efavirenz or preparations containing St John's Wort

How should Premarin Cream be used?

Premarin cream is intended for topical use only and should be inserted into your vagina, using the applicator provided, which has measured dose markings. You should use Premarin cream as recommended by your doctor, usually once a day, before going to bed, for the first week, then once or twice a week or once every two weeks, as instructed. Premarin cream is intended for short-term use until symptoms of atrophic vaginitis improve. You should use Premarin cream for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for a few days or a few months. If you are using Premarin cream for a month or more, you should use it for three weeks and then stop using it for one week.

How long should you take Premarin Cream?

Premarin cream is intended for short-term use until symptoms of atrophic vaginitis improve. You should use Premarin cream for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for a few days or a few months. If you are using Premarin cream for a month or more, you should use it for three weeks and then stop using it for one week.

Missed dose of Premarin Cream

If you miss a dose of Premarin Cream take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Premarin Cream be stored?

You should store your Premarin Cream below 25°C in a cool dry place. keep away from direct sunlight.