Estradiol, a synthetic form of the female hormone estrogen, is used to treat such menopausal symptoms as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, burning or irritation. According to Drugs.com, estradiol can also treat hypogonadism (a condition in which your ovaries no longer function) and prostate cancer. Estradiol is available as an intramuscular (through your muscle) injection and its frequency and dosage depends upon the condition in question.
Common Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, estradiol typically causes vomiting, nausea, depression and poor appetite. Vomiting can deplete your body of potassium and fluids. You can become dehydrated, so it is important to drink eight to nine glasses of water daily to replace the lost fluid. Hypokalemia (low potassium levels) symptoms include constipation, fatigue and muscle spasms. Estradiol may also cause breast swelling, acne, menstrual irregularities, vaginal bleeding, dryness and discomfort. Talk to your doctor when estradiol causes these side effects to persist for more than a week.
Serious Side Effects
The National Library of Medicine says that estradiol increases your chances of developing endometrial (uterine lining) cancer. Endometrial cancer symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, severe pelvic pain and white vaginal discharge. Estradiol can also increase your chances of developing a stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), breast cancer, pulmonary emboli (blood clots in your lung) and deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in your leg). Stroke symptoms include sudden paresthesia (numbness or tingling) of one side of your body, trouble speaking and eating. Heart attack symptoms include a crushing chest pain that radiates down your arm, fatigue and sweating. Pulmonary emboli manifestations include sudden difficulty breathing, hemoptysis (coughing up blood) and chest pain with inspiration. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) symptoms include leg pain and leg edema (swelling). Drugs.com indicates that estradiol can lead to jaundice, a condition that makes your skin turn yellow. This is usually a sign of liver damage. Call your doctor immediately when you present with estradiol's serious side effects.
Additional Concerns
Avoid estradiol if you are allergic to it. A hypersensitivity response includes such side effects as hives, swelling of your face or throat and trouble breathing. Do not take estradiol if you have a history of a stroke, breast or uterine cancer or blood-clotting problems, says Drugs.com. Estradiol may worsen these conditions. You should not combine estradiol with phenobarbital, warfarin, ritonavir, carbamazepine or rifampin. Estradiol and these drugs can provoke the aforementioned serious side effects.
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