Prometrium

The recommended dose of Prometrium (Progesterone) is 200 mg daily taken at bedtime for the last 14 days of estrogen treatment per cycle. Women who take high doses of estrogen should receive a Prometrium (Progesterone) dose of 300 mg per day. If the dose is 300 mg daily, 200 mg should be taken at bedtime and 100 mg should be taken 2 hours after breakfast for the last 12 to 14 days of estrogen treatment per cycle.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Prometrium (Progesterone) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you are using 200 mg daily and miss a dose of Prometrium (Progesterone) at bedtime (i.e., 2 of the 100 mg capsules), take an extra dose of 100 mg (1 capsule) the following morning and continue taking the rest of the capsules as prescribed by your doctor. If you are taking 300 mg daily and miss a dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Prometrium (Progesterone) at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause stomach ache; it may cause drowsiness or dizziness - use caution when getting up from a lying or sitting position and use caution if driving; it may affect menstruation (irregular or absence of menses); it may cause your breasts to feel swollen and tender. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

Each capsule contains 100 mg of micronized Prometrium (Progesterone). Nonmedicinal ingredients: sunflower oil, gelatin, glycerin, soya lecithin, and titanium dioxide.

Do not take Prometrium (Progesterone) if you:

• are allergic to Prometrium (Progesterone), peanuts (the capsules contain peanut oil), soya, or any ingredients of Prometrium (Progesterone)
• are or may be pregnant
• have a history of Blood Clots (e.g., pulmonary Embolism, deep vein thrombosis) or blood clotting disorders
• have a tumour dependent on Prometrium (Progesterone) or estrogen for growth (e.g., breast or endometrial cancer)
• have active liver disease
• have classical migraines
• have endometrial hyperplasia (overgrowth of the lining of the uterus)
• have had a Stroke, Heart Attack, or heart disease
• have partial or complete loss of vision due to blood vessel disease of the eye
• have unexplained abnormal vaginal bleeding

There may be an interaction between Prometrium (Progesterone) and any of the following:

• Aliskiren
• Amiodarone
• Apixaban
• argatroban
• barbiturates (e.g., pentobarbital, Phenobarbital)
• Bosentan
• Bosutinib
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• Carvedilol
• cetirizine
• ciprofloxacin
• Colchicine
• Cyclosporine
• dabigatran
• Dabrafenib
• Daunorubicin
• Deferasirox
• Dexamethasone
• diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, glipizide, Glyburide, insulin, Metformin, Nateglinide, Rosiglitazone, Sitagliptin)
• Digoxin
• dofetilide
• Doxorubicin
• Etoposide
• Everolimus
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• fluconazole
• Fluvoxamine
• Gemfibrozil
• Heparin
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• Hydrocortisone
• Idarubicin
• imatinib
• indinavir
• Irinotecan
• isoniazid
• ketoconazole
• Loperamide
• lopinavir
• low molecular weight heparins (e.g., Dalteparin, Enoxaparin, Tinzaparin)
• Methotrexate
• Mitotane
• Nadolol
• nelfinavir
• Ondansetron
• Oxcarbazepine
• Paclitaxel
• Paliperidone
• Pazopanib
• Phenytoin
• Pimozide
• Pomalidomide
• primidone
• Prucalopride
• quinidine
• quinine
• Ranitidine
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Risperidone
• ritonavir
• Rivaroxaban
• Romidepsin
• St. John's wort
• saquinavir
• Silodosin
• Sirolimus
• "statin" anti-cholesterol medications (e.g., Atorvastatin, Lovastatin, Simvastatin)
• Tacrolimus
• Temsirolimus
• Ticlopidine
• Tocilizumab
• Tolvaptan
• Topotecan
• trabectedin
• Ulipristal
• Vinblastine
• Vincristine
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Prometrium (Progesterone). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Prometrium (Progesterone).

Important information about estrogen:

• Estrogen should be used at the lowest dose that relieves your menopausal symptoms for the shortest time period possible.
• You should not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes.

Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Several studies have shown an association between a modest increase in the risk of developing Breast Cancer or ovarian cancer and the use of hormone replacement therapy during Menopause when taken over the long term. Ask your doctor which cancer screening tests you may need and how to perform breast self-examination. Women who have breast nodules, fibrocystic disease, abnormal mammograms, or a strong family history of breast cancer should be closely monitored by their doctor.

Dementia: Women over the age of 65 receiving combined hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progestin) may be at increased risk of developing dementia (loss of memory and intellectual function). If you are over 65, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested for dementia.

Depression: Hormones, such as Prometrium (Progesterone), have been known to cause mood swings and symptoms of depression. If you have depression or a history of depression, discuss with your doctor how Prometrium (Progesterone) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Prometrium (Progesterone), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of depression such as poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, or notice them in a family member who is taking Prometrium (Progesterone) contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Diabetes: As with other hormone replacement medications, Prometrium (Progesterone) may cause an increase in blood sugar levels and glucose tolerance may change. People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using Prometrium (Progesterone).

If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor how Prometrium (Progesterone) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Prometrium (Progesterone), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Follow-up examinations: It is important to have a follow-up examination 3 to 6 months after starting Prometrium (Progesterone) to assess your response to treatment. Examinations should be done at least once a year after the first one.

Heart Disease: Several studies have demonstrated that the use of estrogen and progestins to treat menopausal symptoms is related to an increased risk of heart disease, blood clots, and stroke. If you have risk factors for heart disease or stroke, discuss with your doctor how Prometrium (Progesterone) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Prometrium (Progesterone), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Occupational hazards: Temporary and occasional drowsiness or dizziness may occur for some people 1 to 4 hours after taking Prometrium (Progesterone), particularly if it is taken with food. If this occurs, avoid activities requiring concentration, good coordination, or reflex action such as driving or operating machinery. In most cases, these problems can be prevented by taking the capsules at the recommended times. The 200 mg dosage should be taken at bedtime. The 300 mg dosage should be divided into two doses: 100 mg 2 hours after breakfast and 200 mg at bedtime.

Vaginal bleeding: Prometrium (Progesterone) can cause changes to your normal pattern of vaginal bleeding. If you experience menstrual bleeding that lasts longer or heavier than usual, contact your doctor.

Pregnancy: Do not take Prometrium (Progesterone) during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Prometrium (Progesterone), contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: Prometrium (Progesterone) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Prometrium (Progesterone), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

This medication is typically used only once a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. If you forget a dose, contact your pharmacist. This medication should not be taken with food. It is best taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Information on this sheet does not apply when this medication is administered vaginally for infertility treatments or during pregnancy.