This medicine is a female hormone. It provides hormones not produced by the body after menopause (when a woman no longer has regular monthly periods). It helps eliminate the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, nervousness, and trouble sleeping.

Proper Use

Your doctor will prescribe a low dosage at first. He or she may increase your dosage later to help control your symptoms. Follow your doctor's directions exactly. Do not change your dosage on your own.

Please Note

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine during pregnancy because it can harm the baby. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, stop taking it and contact your doctor right away. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

This medicine may cause high blood pressure, which usually returns to normal when you stop taking the medicine.

Diabetics: You may need a change in your diabetes medicine. Discuss this with your doctor.

Possible Side Effects

Serious (report these to your doctor): Changes in vaginal bleeding, vaginal discomfort or pain, change in menstrual flow, swollen ankles or feet, unusual vaginal discharge, chest pain, sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness in your arms or legs.

Other: Headache, migraine, dizziness, depression, anxiety, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, stomach upset, yellowing of skin or eyes, swelling caused by fluid retention, breast tenderness, sudden shortness of breath, chest pain.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Possible Drug Interactions

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it may increase or decrease the effects of the medicines. Or the combination may cause harmful side effects. Some medicines that may interact with this medicine are:

• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, butabarbital (Butisol), amobarbital (Amytal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital (Seconal)
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron), betamethasone (Celestone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-Hydrocort), prednisone (Meticorten, Orasone, Deltasone), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenalog)
• hydantoins such as phenytoin (Dilantin), mephenytoin (Mesantoin), ethotoin (Peganone), and fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), doxepin (Sinequan), and imipramine (Tofranil).

Be sure that you tell all doctors who treat you about all medicines you are taking, including nonprescription products.

This educational document includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Other Names For This Medication:

Cenestin (synthetic conjugated estrogens, A, oral); synthetic conjugated estrogens A, oral; MENOPAUSE