Your health practitioner may prescribe estrogen to help treat the bothersome symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flashes. Estrogen can also treat men and women with hormone-related cancers such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, and other hormone-related conditions, reports MedlinePlus. As with all medications, the key to taking estrogen safely is to ensure that you understand how and when to take it, and report any questions and problems to your doctor of pharmacist in a timely manner.
Step 1
Ask your medical practitioner how to take estrogen pills safely during the appointment at which she prescribes it. Make sure you know the dosage prescribed and when and how often to take it.
Step 2
Fill the prescription at your local pharmacy, checking to ensure it is filled properly. Tell your pharmacist about any other medications you use -- including prescription and over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies -- to prevent potentially dangerous drug interactions.
Step 3
Read the instructions that come with the prescription carefully prior to taking your first dose of estrogen.
Step 4
Take the pill as directed. Doctors often prescribe estrogen to be taken once daily with food when used to treat menopause symptoms, MedlinePlus reports. When used as a cancer treatment, it often is taken three times daily.
Step 5
Continue taking the estrogen pills as directed, monitoring yourself for potentially serious side effects. Immediately notify your doctor if you experience any of the following: jaundice; pain or swelling in the stomach; hives; itching; a rash or blisters; bulging eyes; swelling in the face, eyes, throat, tongue, feet, hands, arms, legs or ankles; trouble breathing or swallowing; hoarseness; joint pain; weakness; loss of appetite; uncontrollable body movements; or fever, chills or other signs of an infection.
Step 6
Keep any follow-up appointments with your doctor so you can discuss whether the estrogen has been effective and whether you have experienced any of the potentially serious effects. In some cases, your doctor may decide to increase or decrease the dosage, so it's important to keep your scheduled appointments to assess whether your condition is improving.
