Estrace Side Effects Center

What Is Estrace?

Estrace (estradiol) is a female hormone (estrogen) used to treat certain symptoms of menopause such as dryness, burning, and itching of the vaginal area and urgency or irritation with urination. Estrace is available in generic form.

What Are Side Effects of Estrace?

Common side effects of Estrace include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• bloating,
• stomach cramps,
• stomach upset,
• breast tenderness/pain/swelling,
• headache,
• weight changes,
• freckles or darkening of facial skin,
• loss of scalp hair,
• vaginal itching or discharge,
• changes in your menstrual periods, or
• break-through bleeding.

Dosage for Estrace

The dosage range of Estrace is 2 to 4 g (marked on the applicator) daily for one or two weeks, then gradually reduced to one half initial dosage for a similar period. A maintenance dosage of 1 g, one to three times a week, may be used after restoration of the vaginal mucosa has been achieved.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Estrace?

Estrace may interact with anticoagulants (blood thinners), thyroid medication, insulin or an oral diabetes medicine, glyburide, or tamoxifen. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking.

Estrace During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Estrace must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. This medication passes into breast milk. It may reduce the quality and amount of breast milk produced. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Estrace (estradiol) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;
• signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
• signs of a blood clot--sudden vision loss, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood, pain or warmth in one or both legs;
• swelling or tenderness in your stomach;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• memory problems, confusion, unusual behavior;
• unusual vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain;
• a lump in your breast; or
• high levels of calcium in your blood--nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst or urination, muscle weakness, bone pain, lack of energy.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps;
• mood changes, sleep problems (insomnia);
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat;
• weight gain;
• headache, back pain;
• breast pain;
• thinning scalp hair; or
• vaginal itching or discharge, changes in your menstrual periods, breakthrough bleeding.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.