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-related involution of the body, as well as against the background of a gradual extinction of the hormonal function of the ovaries.
During 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, depression, weakness and a feeling of constant fear. Often, the weaker sex changes the appetite, migraines, dizziness, and excessive sweating, swelling and spasms of the vessels occur.
To alleviate the condition of women, pharmaceutical companies began to produce anti-climacteric drugs. The most effective of them include such a medication as “Ostrozhel”. Reviews (with menopause this remedy is prescribed very often) consumers will be presented below. You will also learn about how to use the drug, how much it costs and so on.
Description, composition, packaging and form of release
In what form is the medicine “Ostrozhel” 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 tool is estradiol. As auxiliary ingredients, the medication contains carbomer, ethanol, trolamine and purified water.
The drug "Estrogel" (gel) goes on sale in aluminum tubes. Also included is a special applicator for dosing.
Pharmacological features
What is estrogen gel? Instructions for use indicate that this is a hormonal drug that compensates for 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.
In the treatment of this agent in women, the signs of menopausal syndrome, including depressive states, hyperhidrosis, hot flashes and vaginal dryness, are noticeably reduced.
According to its clinical productivity in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms, the medication in question is in no way inferior to treatment with oral estrogen drugs. Moreover, when using this tool during menopause, patients experience a slowdown in processes that reduce bone density.
The therapy also helps to reduce total cholesterol.
It is impossible not to say that the drug “Ostrozhel”, the price of which is indicated below, has procoagulant effectiveness. It reduces the amount of antithrombin III and increases hepatic synthesis of K-dependent blood coagulation agents.
Pharmacokinetic properties
Is the Oestrogel medication absorbed? Experts say that after applying the gel, ethanol evaporates quite quickly, as a result of which estradiol instantly penetrates the skin. In this case, most of the medication immediately enters the systemic circulation, and a 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. The bioavailability of the drug is 82%.
The medication in question does not undergo the “first pass” effect, which provides a higher plasma concentration of estradiol in comparison with oral analogues.
Excretion of estradiol and its metabolic transformations are comparable to those for natural estrogens.
Indications for the use of an external drug
For what purpose can the medicine “Ostrozhel” be used? Instructions for use indicate that this tool is recommended to reduce or completely eliminate the signs of menopause, including artificially induced menopause. In addition, the drug in question is often used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis during postmenopause.
Contraindications
Do you know when you should not use Estrogel gel? The instruction for use reports that the following conditions are considered to be absolute contraindications to this remedy:
- rotor syndrome;
- ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke;
- acute thrombophlebitis or thromboembolism;
- pregnancy period;
- uterine bleeding of uncertain origin;
- renal failure;
- breastfeeding;
- Dubin-Johnson syndrome;
- estrogen-dependent malignant tumors or suspected presence;
- hypersensitivity;
- benign or malignant pituitary tumors;
- serious liver pathologies in the acute period, liver tumors and jaundice.
Cautious use of the drug
In what cases should I use Estrogel gel with extreme caution? Reviews of experts say the following conditions:
- leiomyoma;
- Ischemic heart disease;
- endometriosis;
- impaired hepatic function;
- pancreatitis
- diabetes;
- migraine;
- epilepsy;
- bronchial asthma;
- familial hyperlipoproteinemia;
- hepatic porphyria;
- inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system in the fairer sex;
- previously observed jaundice, including its manifestations during the past pregnancy;
- a history of thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, or thromboembolism (during treatment with estrogen);
- severe hypertension;
- pathology of the gallbladder, as well as cholelithiasis (history);
- hypercalcemia associated with bone metastases in breast tumors;
- circulatory disorders.
Gel "Estrogen": instructions for use
The drug in question is used only externally. Moreover, it is used continuously or cyclically. The duration of therapy and the dosage of the medication are selected individually.
One dose of Estrogel gel (2.5 g) contains 1.5 mg of estradiol.
In the treatment of symptoms of menopause, a single dose of the drug per day is indicated in the amount of one dose. The gel is distributed in a thin layer on the skin in the lumbar region, forearms, abdomen or shoulders and awaits its absolute absorption.
The area of the skin where the drug was applied should not be less than the area of both palms of the patient.
For the correct application with the most effective result, the absorption of the drug in 3 minutes is characteristic. Moreover, the preservation of stickiness after applying a single dose of the drug for 5 minutes indicates an insufficient area of the used skin.
The patient himself should use this medication (morning or evening). It is advisable to apply the gel on previously cleansed integuments.
Side effects
What are the undesirable effects that occur after using the Estrogel gel? Reviews of women indicate such side effects:
- skin irritation, skin hyperemia, headaches and migraines;
- mood swings and dizziness;
- increased sensitivity and an increase in the size of the mammary glands, their pain, menorrhagia, amenorrhea, breakthrough bleeding;
- neoplasms in the mammary glands, increased libido, spotting vaginal discharge, including during menstrual periods;
- dyspepsia, gallbladder obstruction, nausea, vomiting, hepatitis, epigastric pain, anorexia, pancreatitis;
- cholelithiasis, cholestatic jaundice, diarrhea, gastrointestinal spasms, flatulence;
- thromboembolism, intolerance to contact lenses, weight changes, peripheral edema;
- increased blood pressure, allergic manifestations (including urticaria and itching of the skin), contact dermatitis.
All of the listed side effects are expressed rather weakly. As a rule, they appear at the initial stages of therapy and almost never require drug withdrawal.
Overdose symptoms
What will happen when using a large amount of the drug "Ostrozhel" (how to apply this tool, we described above)? In the case of using high doses of the drug, the patient develops nausea and vomiting, as well as uterine bleeding. When these symptoms form, the use of the gel is immediately stopped.
Interaction with other medicines
Is it possible to combine the drug “Ostrozhel” (gel) with other medicines?
- With the parallel use of antihypertensive and hypoglycemic agents, as well as indirect anticoagulants , a decrease in their effectiveness is possible, which requires a review of the dosage regimen.
- The combination of “Ostrozhel” and lipid-lowering drugs leads to an increased effect of the latter.
- When used simultaneously with drugs that induce microsomal liver enzymes (for example, with Rifampicin, Carbamazepine, Griseofulvin and barbiturates), the plasma content of estradiol may decrease.
- Using a 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.
- The combination with some antibiotics (including Rifampicin and Ampicillin), as well as with Phenylbutazone, reduces plasma concentrations of estradiol.
- Concomitant therapy with folic acid and hormones of the thyroid gland increases the effects of estradiol.
Special recommendations
The drug "Estrogen" during pregnancy is strictly prohibited. It should also be noted that before using this gel, a woman must undergo a complete gynecological examination. With prolonged use of the drug, such procedures must be carried out at least once a year.
According to the recommendations of a specialist, it is advisable to carry out estradiol treatment in combination with progestogen therapy. This combination will protect the endometrium.
The mucous membranes of the vulva and vagina, as well as the skin in the area of the mammary glands should be protected from contact with the drug in question.
Prolonged use of the drug, including in high doses, increases the risk of breast and endometrial cancer.
If it is necessary to carry out a planned surgical intervention, then treatment with estrogen should be discontinued 4-6 weeks before.
"Estrogen" when planning pregnancy is prohibited. It should also be noted that this medication does not have contraceptive properties and does not prevent conception.
Preparations "Ostrozhel" and "Utrozhestan" - the perfect combination. Thanks to this scheme, the patient's quality of life during menopause is significantly improved.
Cost and similar
How much does estrogen gel cost? The price of this tool is about 700 rubles. If necessary, it can be replaced with drugs such as Estrokad, Esterlan, Estrovagin, Ovestin, Sinestrol, Kolpotrofin, Ethinyl estradiol, Elvagin, Ovipol Klio, Pausogest "," Klimen "and others.
Women's reviews
Representatives of the weaker sex, using this tool to relieve menopausal symptoms, leave only positive reviews about it. They note its high effectiveness, as well as the low frequency and severity of side effects compared with oral counterparts.
The positive qualities of the drug also include its convenient dosage mechanism, lack of stickiness after the procedure and rapid absorption into the skin.