Home | Health & Wellness
QUESTION: Can estrogen be compounded in a cream for vaginal use? My doctor has prescribed oral estradiol, and I’m afraid to use it. Please let me know if you offer an alternative. ANSWER: Estradiol is one of the natural (bioidentical) human hormones. Compounding pharmacists use pure estradiol powder to prepare a wide range of preparations in dosage forms such as capsules, suppositories, and topical creams. Hormones are sometimes prescribed for vaginal use. I'm not a fan of the vaginal application of supplementary hormones, because that dosage form requires a higher dose of hormone to achieve the desired effect. Vaginally applied hormone creams are fine if they are used to treat a vaginal symptom; however, some patients experience vaginal irritation if they use a cream containing a higher dose of hormone. To treat vaginal dryness or incontinence, doctors often prescribe a 0.05% bioidentical estrogen cream to be applied to the vagina according to a decreasing schedule: daily for 10 days and then 2 to 3 times weekly, if needed. This treatment has been well received by patients, and it does not seem to have a systemic effect; it works where it is applied. It’s important to know the doses of hormones in capsules or creams that are prescribed for you and to work with your doctor and compounding pharmacist to safely achieve the results you want.
Article Source: http://www.realworldtactics.com/articledirectory
Larry Frieders, RPh, owner of The Compounder pharmacy in Aurora, Illinois, is a licensed professional pharmacist who lets people know about drug and health issues as he sees them and explains how to sort out fact from fiction. Please visit his Web site at www.thecompounder.com, contact him at The Compounder, 340 Marshall Ave, Unit 100, Aurora, IL 60506, or send an e-mail to Larry at info@thecompounder.com.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
