If your body is lacking a sufficient amount of estrogen due to menopause or conditions such as ovarian failure, your doctor may prescribe Premarin. This is a combination of estrogens that helps relieve the symptoms of menopause and prevent osteoporosis. While you may be eager to rid yourself of the hot flashes, you should learn about Premarin's side effects and weigh its pros against its cons.
Most Common
While unpleasant, the most common side effects of Premarin are usually the least likely to cause any long-term health problems. In most cases, these side effects subside as you progress through your treatment.
Headaches, back pain and vaginal bleeding are no real cause for concern unless they persist or worsen over time. The same can be said for breast, stomach and joint pain. Initially you may feel weak, experience leg cramps or notice a white vaginal discharge--these are also considered common and are no reason for alarm unless they continue for a long period of time. Yeast infections may also accompany Premarin, as can nervousness, and changes in weight and appetite. Some women report a decrease in their sex drive, mild nausea and/or vomiting.
Stroke and Heart Attack
Premarin can cause very serious medical conditions such as strokes and heart attacks. It is imperative to recognize the symptoms of these conditions in the event that you suffer from either of them.
According to eMedTV.com, signs of a stroke include but are not limited to a severe headache, changes in your vision, slurring your speech or a complete inability to communicate and a weakness or numbness on one side of your body. It should be noted that stroke symptoms generally have a quick onset.
If you experience a heart attack, the signs typically include chest pain that may radiate to your neck, jaw or around to your shoulders; shortness of breath; pain or tingling sensation in your arms and chest heaviness. Call 911 immediately if you find yourself suffering from one or more of these symptoms.
Blood Clots
Blood clots are another serious side effect of Premarin and can affect everything from your eyes to your legs. If not recognized and treated, the clots can dislodge and block the flow of blood to your your heart and brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
If you suddenly lose your sight or experience vision changes such as blurred or double vision, you may be suffering from a blood clot behind your eye.
Signs of a clot in your lungs include but are not limited to shortness of breath, coughing up blood and chest pain.
If the clots are in your legs, you may have pain in your calf, leg cramping or swelling of your feet or ankles.
Liver Damage
Liver damage is an irreversible condition--if you notice any sign of this condition, you need to call your doctor immediately. Signs of liver damage include nausea, fever, pain in the upper right quadrant of your abdomen, darkened urine and jaundice--a condition causing a yellowing of your skin and eyes.
More Serious Side Effects
Premarin spawns more serious side effects that do not fit into any particular category, but that are of equal importance. For instance, if you begin suffering from migraines, or have a history of migraines and they worsen once you begin taking Premarin, you need to contact your doctor without hesitation.
Breast lumps also need to be reported with haste, as they may be an indication of breast cancer. Estrogen enables cancerous tissues to grow; if you have any risk factors for this disease, the estrogen in Premarin may cause either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) lumps to appear.
Heavy vaginal bleeding is yet another side effect your doctor needs to be made aware of. While some vaginal bleeding and changes in you rmenstrual cycle are normal, excessive bleeding is not and could indicate an underlying problem.
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