Vagifem® (estradiol vaginal tablets) Indications and Usage
Vagifem® is an estrogen (estradiol) indicated for the treatment of atrophic vaginitis due to menopause.
Vagifem® Important Safety Information
WARNING: CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS, ENDOMETRIAL CANCER, BREAST CANCER and PROBABLE DEMENTIA
Estrogen-Alone Therapy
Endometrial Cancer
There is an increased risk of endometrial cancer in a woman with a uterus who uses unopposed estrogens. Adding a progestin to estrogen therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, which may be a precursor to endometrial cancer. Adequate diagnostic measures, including directed or random endometrial sampling when indicated, should be undertaken to rule out malignancy in postmenopausal women with undiagnosed persistent or recurring abnormal genital bleeding.
Cardiovascular Disorders and Probable Dementia
Estrogen-alone therapy should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia.
The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) estrogen-alone substudy reported increased risks of stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) during 7.1 years of treatment with daily oral conjugated estrogens (CE) [0.625 mg], relative to placebo.
The WHI Memory Study (WHIMS) estrogen-alone ancillary study of WHI reported an increased risk of developing probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older during 5.2 years of treatment with daily CE (0.625 mg) alone, relative to placebo. It is unknown whether this finding applies to younger postmenopausal women.
In the absence of comparable data, these risks should be assumed to be similar for other doses of CE and other dosage forms of estrogens. Estrogens with or without progestins should be prescribed at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman.
Estrogen Plus Progestin Therapy
Cardiovascular Disorders and Probable Dementia
Estrogen plus progestin therapy should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia.
The WHI estrogen plus progestin substudy reported increased risks of DVT, pulmonary embolism, stroke and myocardial infarction in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) during 5.6 years of treatment with daily oral CE (0.625 mg) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) [2.5 mg], relative to placebo.
The WHIMS estrogen plus progestin ancillary study of the WHI, reported an increased risk of developing probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older during 4 years of treatment with daily CE (0.625 mg) combined with MPA (2.5 mg), relative to placebo. It is unknown whether this finding applies to younger postmenopausal women.
Breast Cancer
The WHI estrogen plus progestin substudy also demonstrated an increased risk of invasive breast cancer.
In the absence of comparable data, these risks should be assumed to be similar for other doses of CE and MPA, and other combinations and dosage forms of estrogens and progestins.
Estrogens with or without progestins should be prescribed at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman.
The use of Vagifem® is contraindicated in women who exhibit one or more of the following: undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding; known, suspected, or history of breast cancer; known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia; active deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or history of these conditions; active arterial thromboembolic disease or a history of these conditions; known liver dysfunction or disease, or known or suspected pregnancy.
Vagifem® is intended only for vaginal administration. Systemic absorption occurs with the use of Vagifem®. The warnings, precautions, and adverse reactions associated with the use of systemic estrogen therapy should be taken into account.
The WHI estrogen plus progestin substudy reported a statistically non-significant increased risk of ovarian cancer.
Other warnings include: gallbladder disease, severe hypercalcemia, loss of vision, severe hypertriglyceridemia, cholestatic jaundice, and vaginal abrasion caused by the Vagifem® applicator. Women on thyroid replacement therapy should have their thyroid function monitored.
In a randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study for Vagifem® 10 mcg, adverse events with an incidence of ≥5% included vulvovaginal mycotic infection, vulvovaginal pruritus, back pain and diarrhea.
For additional information about Vagifem® please refer to Prescribing Information, including boxed warning.
Activella® ([estradiol/norethindrone acetate] tablets) Indications and Usage
Activella® 0.5 mg/0.1 mg (estradiol/norethindrone acetate) tablets is indicated in women who have a uterus for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause and the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. When prescribing solely for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, therapy should only be considered for women at significant risk of osteoporosis and non-estrogen medications should be carefully considered.
Activella® 1.0 mg/0.5 mg (estradiol/norethindrone acetate) tablets is also indicated in women who have a uterus for the treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with menopause. When used solely for the treatment of symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy, topical vaginal products should be considered.
Activella® Important Safety Information
Estrogens with or without progestins should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia. (See CLINICAL STUDIES and WARNINGS, Cardiovascular disorders and Dementia in the Prescribing Information)
The estrogen plus progestin substudy of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) reported increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) during 5.6 years of treatment with oral conjugated estrogens (CE 0.625 mg) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA 2.5 mg) per day, relative to placebo. (See CLINICAL STUDIES and WARNINGS, Cardiovascular disorders and Malignant neoplasms, Breast cancer in the Prescribing Information)
The estrogen-alone substudy of the WHI reported increased risks of stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) during 6.8 years and 7.1 years, respectively, of treatment with oral conjugated estrogens (CE 0.625 mg) per day, relative to placebo. (See CLINICAL STUDIES and WARNINGS, Cardiovascular disorders in the Prescribing Information)
The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), a substudy of the WHI study, reported increased risk of developing probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older during 4 years of treatment with CE 0.625 mg combined with MPA 2.5 mg and during 5.2 years of treatment with CE 0.625 mg alone, relative to placebo. It is unknown whether this finding applies to younger postmenopausal women. (See CLINICAL STUDIES, WARNINGS, Dementia and PRECAUTIONS, Geriatric Use in the Prescribing Information)
Other doses of oral conjugated estrogens with medroxyprogesterone acetate, and other combinations and dosage forms of estrogens and progestins were not studied in the WHI clinical trials and, in the absence of comparable data, these risks should be assumed to be similar. Because of these trials, estrogens with or without progestins should be prescribed at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman.
Activella® should not be used in women with any of the following conditions: undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding; known, suspected, or history of cancer of the breast; known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia; active deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or history of these conditions; active or recent (e.g., within the past year) arterial thromboembolic disease (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction); liver dysfunction or disease; known hypersensitivity to the ingredients of Activella® 1.0 mg/0.5 mg or Activella® 0.5 mg/0.1 mg; known or suspected pregnancy.
Other warnings include: gallbladder disease, hypercalcemia and visual abnormalities.
In a clinical trial, the most commonly reported adverse events (reported at a frequency of ≥5%) were back pain, headache, pain in extremity, nausea, diarrhea, nasopharyngitis, endometrial thickening and vaginal hemorrhage.
For additional information about Activella® please refer to Prescribing Information, including boxed warning.
