|
Medication
|
Dosage
|
Side
Effects/General Information
|
| Estrogen Estraderm® Vivelle® Climara® FemPatch® Premarin® |
Estradiol transdermal systems : • Alora®, Estraderm®, Vivelle® are applied twice a week • Climara® and FemPatch® are applied every 7 days Congested estrogens 0.625 mg/day administered orally Used for prevention and treatment |
Drug
choice in postmenopausal women. Must be taken with a progestin in women with an in- tact uterus to prevent endometrial cancer. Contraindicted in women with a high risk of breast cancer, deep vein thrombosis, or unexplained uterine bleeding. |
| Alendronate (Fosamax®) | 5
mg/day administered orally for prevention 10 mg/day administered orally for treatment |
Associated
with esophagitis and gastrointestinal dis- tress. Used when estrogen therapy is contraindicted or not tolerated. |
| Raloxifene (Evista®) | 60
mg/day administered orally without food Used for prevention |
May
increase symptoms of menopause (e.g., hot flashes). May increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis. May be used in women who cannot take estrogens due to an increased risk of breast cancer. |
| Calcitonin-salmon • Calcimar® or Miacalcin® injection • Miacalcin® nasal spray |
|
Used
when estrogen therapy is contraindicted
or not tolerated. |