Estratest is a hormone replacement for women who suffer from menopause symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal irritation. Estratest is available by prescription only. Estratest is made from two ingredients, esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone. According to Rxlist.com, Estratest is available in two forms, full and half-strength. The full strength contains 1.25mg of esterified estrogens and 2.5mg of methyltestosterone. According to both Drugs.com and Rxlist.com, Estratest should not be taken by individuals with liver, heart or circulatory issues. Consult with a physician to discuss any issues prior to receiving an Estratest prescription.
Esterified Estrogens
According to Drugs.com, esterified estrogens are the female sex hormones the body needs for proper function. Esterified estrogens, according to Rxlist.com, are sodium salts mixture of estrogenic sulfate esters, especially estrone. Estrone is an estrogen replacement made from the urine of pregnant mares.
Methyltestosterone
Methyltestosterone is a man-made testosterone. While testosterone is a naturally occurring sex hormone produced in men, testosterone also is valuable in women's health in smaller doses. The female production of these small amounts of testosterone occurs in the ovaries and adrenal system. Testosterone balances estrogen and regulates menopausal symptoms.
Inactive Ingredients
There are only two active ingredients in Estratest. The remaining ingredients are used to make the tablet, keep the ingredients active and to lubricate the machines during manufacturing.
A few of the inactive ingredients are acacia, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, povidone, talc and tribasic calcium phosphate. Acacia is made from a shrub and used in cholesterol lowering medications. Its use in Estratest is as a food additive and preservative.
Microcrystalline cellulose is a natural substance used to bind the tablet ingredients together. Used in medications, magnesium stearate serves two purposes. One is as a dilutant for the ingredients and the other is as a lubricant. The lubrication properties aid in tablet manufacturing by keeping the mixture slippery and able to move through the machinery without clogging.
Povidone, according to the MedicalDictionary.com, is a man-made agent used in medications to aid in dispersing the ingredients into the body. Talc and tribasic calcium phosphate are both used as binding agents. Coloring agents are also added to distinguish the full dose pill from the half-dose. The full Estratest dosage contains coloring ingredients to make it a bright green like FD&C Blue No. 1 Lake and D&C Yellow No. 10 Lake. The half-dose contains the same coloring agents, but adds FD&C Red No. 40 Lake and D&C Yellow No. 10 Lake to make the pill a light green color.
