"Estrogel": instructions for use, description of the preparation, analogs, side effects

It is not a secret to anyone that the climacteric syndrome is characterized by vegetative-vascular, mental and metabolic-endocrine disorders that occur in women with a general age involution, as well as against the gradual extinction of the hormonal function of the ovaries.

In this difficult period for women, they regularly feel hot flashes to the head, upper body and arms.

In addition, the symptoms of menopause include excessive irritability, insomnia, a depressed state, weakness and a feeling of constant fear. Often the representatives of the weaker sex change appetite, disturb migraines, dizziness, and also there are excessive sweating, swelling and spasms of blood vessels.

To alleviate the condition of a woman, pharmaceutical companies began to manufacture anti-climacteric drugs. The most effective of them include such a drug as "Estrojel". Reviews (with menopause this drug is prescribed very often) consumers will be presented further. Also, you will learn how to use the drug, how much it costs and so on.

Description, composition, packaging and form of release

In what form is the "Estrozel" medication sold? Reviews of women say that such a drug can be found in the form of a transdermal gel. It is colorless, transparent, and also has the smell of ethanol.

The active substance of this agent is estradiol. As auxiliary ingredients, the medication contains a carbomer, ethanol, trolamine and purified water.

The drug "Estrozel" (gel) goes on sale in tubes of aluminum. Also included is a special applicator for dosing.

Pharmacological features

What is the gel "Estrogel"? Instructions for use indicate that this hormonal remedy, which replenishes the lack of estrogen in the body of a woman.

Due to its active ingredient, this medication has estrogenic activity. It is intended for external or local use only.

When treating this drug in women, the signs of a climacteric syndrome, including depressive conditions, hyperhidrosis, hot flushes and dryness of the vagina, are noticeably reduced.

By its clinical efficacy in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms, the drug in question is not inferior to treatment with oral estrogen drugs. Moreover, when using this remedy during the menopause, patients are slowing down processes that reduce the density of bone tissue.

Also conducted therapy helps to lower the level of total cholesterol.

One can not help saying that the drug "Estrojel", the price of which is indicated below, has a procoagulant effectiveness. It reduces the amount of antithrombin III and increases the hepatic synthesis of K-dependent blood coagulation agents.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Is the drug "Estrogel" absorbed? Experts say that after the application of the gel, evaporation of ethanol takes place very quickly, as a result of which the estradiol instantly penetrates through the skin. At the same time, most of the medication immediately enters the systemic circulation, and the smaller part is retained in the subcutaneous fat, where it is also slowly released.

After topical use of the gel, the maximum concentration of estradiol in the blood is noted after 180-240 minutes. Biological availability of the drug is 82%.

The drug under consideration is not subjected to the "first passage" effect, which provides a higher plasma concentration of estradiol compared to oral analogs.

Estradiol excretion and its metabolic transformations are comparable with those for natural estrogens.

Indications for the use of an external preparation

What is the purpose of the "Estrogel" medication? Instructions for use indicate that this tool is recommended to reduce or completely eliminate symptoms of a climacteric syndrome, including artificially induced menopause. In addition, the drug in question is often used to prevent and treat osteoporosis during postmenopause.

Contraindications

Do you know when you should not use the gel "Estrogel"? Instruction for use reports that the absolute contraindications for this tool include the following states:

• Rotor syndrome;
• Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke;
• Acute thrombophlebitis or thromboembolism;
• Period of pregnancy;
• Uterine bleeding of undetermined origin;
• Kidney failure;
• Breastfeeding;

• The Dubin-Johnson syndrome;
• Estrogen-dependent malignant tumors or suspected of their presence;
• Hypersensitivity;
• Benign or malignant tumors of the pituitary gland;
• Serious liver pathologies in the acute period, liver tumors and jaundice.

Cautious use of medicament

In what cases should you apply with particular caution the gel "Estrozel"? The opinions of specialists speak of the following states:

• Leiomyoma;
• IHD;
• Endometriosis;
• Violations of hepatic function;
• Pancreatitis;
• diabetes;
• migraine;
• epilepsy;
• bronchial asthma;
• Familial hyperlipoproteinemia;
• Hepatic porphyria;
• Inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system in women;
• Observed earlier jaundice, including its manifestations in the process of past pregnancy;
• Thrombosis, thrombophlebitis or thromboembolism in the history (on the background of estrogen treatment);
• Arterial hypertension in severe form;
• Pathology of the gallbladder, as well as cholelithiasis (in the anamnesis);
• Hypercalcemia associated with metastases in bone tissue in mammary tumors;
• Circulatory disorders.

Gel "Estrozhel": instructions for use

The drug in question is used only externally. In doing so, it is used continuously or cyclically. Duration of therapy and dosage of the drug are selected individually.

One dose of the gel "Estrozel" (2.5 g) contains 1.5 mg of estradiol.

In the treatment of symptoms of menopause, one-time application of the drug per day in the amount of one dose is shown. The gel is spread thinly over the skin in the region of the lumbar region, forearms, abdomen or shoulders and await its absolute absorption.

The area of skin, where the drug was applied, should be no less than the area of both hands of the patient.

For the proper implementation of the applications with the most effective result, the absorption of the drug is typical for 3 minutes. At the same time, the maintenance of stickiness after applying a single dose of the drug for 5 minutes indicates insufficient coverage of the skin.

Use this medication should the patient himself (in the morning or in the evening). Apply gel preferably on pre-cleaned covers.

Adverse events

What are the undesirable consequences of using the gel "Estrozel"? Comments from women indicate such side effects:

• Skin irritation, skin hyperemia, headaches and migraines;
• Mood swings and dizziness;
• Increased sensitivity and increase in the size of the mammary glands, their soreness, menorrhagia, amenorrhea, breakthrough bleeding;
• Neoplasms in the mammary glands, increased libido, smearing discharge from the vagina, including during intermenstrual periods;
• Dyspepsia, gallbladder obstruction, nausea, vomiting, hepatitis, epigastric pain, anorexia, pancreatitis;
• Cholelithiasis, cholestatic jaundice, diarrhea, spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, flatulence;
• Thromboembolism, intolerance to contact lenses, weight changes, peripheral edema;
• Increased blood pressure, allergic manifestations (including hives and itching of the skin), contact dermatitis.

All listed side effects are rather weakly expressed. As a rule, they appear at the initial stages of therapy and almost never require the withdrawal of the medicine.

Overdose Symptoms

What will happen when using a large amount of the drug "Estrozel" (how to apply this tool, we described above)? In the case of using higher doses of medication, the patient experiences nausea and vomiting, and uterine bleeding develops. When these symptoms are formed, the use of the gel is immediately stopped.

Interaction with other medicines

Is it possible to combine the drug "Estrogel" (gel) with other medicines?

• With the parallel use of antihypertensive and hypoglycemic agents, as well as indirect anticoagulants , their effectiveness may be reduced, which requires a revision of the dosage regimen.
• The combination of "Estrozel" and lipid-lowering medications leads to an intensified effect of the latter.
• When used concomitantly with drugs that are inducers of microsomal liver enzymes (for example, with Rifampicin, Carbamazepine, Griseofulvin, and barbiturates), the plasma content of estradiol may decrease.
• The use of gel reduces the effectiveness of diuretics and male sex hormones.
• The simultaneous use of tranquilizers, opioid analgesics and drugs used for general anesthesia, accelerates the metabolism of estradiol.
• Combination with some antibiotics (including with "Rifampicin" and "Ampicillin"), as well as with "Phenylbutazone" reduces plasma concentrations of estradiol.
• Simultaneous therapy with folic acid and hormonal thyroid drugs increases the effects of estradiol.

Special Recommendations

The drug "Estrogen" during pregnancy is strictly prohibited. It should also be noted that before applying this gel a woman must necessarily undergo a full gynecological examination. With prolonged use of the drug, such procedures should be carried out at least once a year.

According to the recommendations of a specialist, it is advisable to administer estradiol in combination with gestagen therapy. This combination will protect the endometrium.

It is necessary to protect the mucous membranes of the vulva and vagina, as well as the skin in the area of the mammary glands from getting onto the drug in question.

Long-term use of the drug, including in high doses, increases the risk of breast and endometrial cancer.

If it is necessary to conduct a planned surgery, then treatment with estrogen should be stopped 4-6 weeks before.

"Estrogel" when planning pregnancy is prohibited. It should also be noted that this medication has no contraceptive properties and does not prevent conception.

Preparations "Estrogel" and "Utrozhestan" - the perfect combination. Thanks to this scheme, the quality of life of the patient during the menopause significantly improves.

Cost and similar means

How much does the gel "Estrojel" cost? The price of this tool is about 700 rubles. If required, it can be replaced with such drugs as Estrokad, Esterlan, Estrovagin, Ovestin, Sinestrol, Kolpotrophin, Ethinyl estradiol, Elvagin, Ovipol Clio, Pausogest "," Klimen "and others.

Women's Feedback

Representatives of the weaker sex, using this remedy for relief of menopausal symptoms, leave only positive responses about it. They note its high efficiency, as well as a small frequency and severity of side effects compared with oral analogs.

Also, the positive qualities of the drug include its convenient dosing mechanism, lack of stickiness after the procedure and rapid absorption into the skin.