Premarin is an oral tablet containing a mixture of estrogen hormones. Drugs.com states that it is used to treat the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, vaginal burning and vaginal irritation. It can also be used to prevent osteoporosis in women beyond menopause or to increase estrogen levels in women who have deficiencies for various reasons. Premarin can be prescribed as a vaginal cream and as an oral tablet. Both types are sold under different brand names.
Tablet
Premarin brand conjugate estrogens come in oval tablets of different colors depending on the dose size. Drugs.com points out that a 0.3 mg dose of Premarin is green while a larger dose of 2.5 mg is purple. Other brand names, including Cenestin, provide tablets in similar dosing schedules but the tablet is coated with a film. Side effects for the medication do not vary because the Food and Drug Administration regulates the manufacturing of all medications.
The prescription for Premarin typically advises a woman to take one pill at the same time each day to maintain steady estrogen levels. Side effects are generally mild but there are serious risks associated with the medication. Examples of mild side effects include mild nausea, abdominal cramps, breast discomfort, headaches, vaginal itching or discharge and increased hair growth. Serious effects should be reported to a medical professional and include chest pain, sudden headache with confusion or sensory problems, abnormal vaginal bleeding or breast lumps, Drugs.com states.
Cream
Premarin Vaginal Cream is used to treat the same conditions and symptoms of menopause as the oral medication. The low dose cream is used to primarily restore vaginal comfort, especially the bothersome effects of vaginal dryness, PremarinVaginalCream.com states. The dosing of this medication varies, like the oral form. A suppository device is provided with the cream to assist a woman in placing the medication in the vagina.
Side effects most commonly reported with the vaginal cream include headache, secondary infections, abdominal pain, back pain, accidental injury and vaginitis, according to PremarinVaginalCream.com. Any unusual side effects, such as chest pain, abnormal swelling or irritation of the vagina, should be reported to a doctor, as these are considered to be serious side effects of the drug.
Generics
As of 2010, the Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve a generic form of Premarin. Other brand name medications used as estrogen-replacement therapy have been approved and may contain the same horse urine derivatives. The reason generic forms have not been approved for use is that the ingredients are not the same as the name brand options. The efficacy of generic Premarin drugs cannot be guaranteed with such a difference in ingredients.
