Esterified estrogens

Medical uses

EEs are used in hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, female hypogonadism, ovariectomy, and primary ovarian failure and in the treatment of breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Available forms

EEs are available in the form of 0.3 mg, 0.625 mg, 1.25 mg, and 2.5 mg oral tablets. Estratest is a combination formulation of 1.25 mg EEs with 2.5 mg methyltestosterone.

Side effects

Pharmacology

EEs consist primarily of sodium estrone sulfate and sodium equilin sulfate, and are very similar to conjugated estrogens (CEEs, conjugated equine estrogens; brand name Premarin). However, EEs and CEEs differ in the sources of their contents and in the percentages of their constituents; CEEs consist of approximately 53% sodium estrone sulfate and 25% sodium equilin sulfate, while EEs contain about 75 to 85% sodium estrone sulfate and 6 to 11% sodium equilin sulfate. EEs have been found to produce similar serum levels of estrone and estradiol relative to CEEs, although with higher levels of estrone and lower levels of equilin. One study found that the risk of venous thrombosis may be less with EEs relative to CEEs.

Chemistry

EEs contain synthetic, plant-derived estrogens and are manufactured from soybeans and yams.

History

EEs were introduced for medical use by 1970.

Society and culture

Generic names

Estrogens, esterified is the generic name of the drug and its . It is also known as esterified estrogens.

Brand names

EEs are marketed under a variety of brand names including Amnestrogen, Estragyn, Estratab, Evex, Femibel, Femogen, Menest, Neo Estrone Tab, and Oestro-Feminal alone, and, in combination with methyltestosterone, under the brand names Covaryx, Delitan, Eemt, Essian, Estratest, Feminova-T, Menogen, and Syntest.

Availability

EEs are or have been marketed in Argentina, Chile, Switzerland, and the United States. Both EEs and the combination of EEs and methyltestosterone are listed as being marketed only in Chile and the United States as of present.

References

References

1. (2009). "Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference". Pharmaceutical Press.
2. (August 2005). "Pharmacology of estrogens and progestogens: influence of different routes of administration". Climacteric.
3. (2 April 2013). "The Complete Guide to Medications During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Everything You Need to Know to Make the Best Choices for You and Your Baby". St. Martin's Press.
4. (December 2006). "Conjugated equine estrogen, esterified estrogen, prothrombotic variants, and the risk of venous thrombosis in postmenopausal women". Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
5. (14 May 2013). "Hormone Therapy: A Clinical Handbook". Springer Science & Business Media.
6. (1980). "Functional Morphologic Changes in Female Sex Organs Induced by Exogenous Hormones". Springer.
7. (31 October 2007). "Desk Reference of Clinical Pharmacology, Second Edition". CRC Press.
8. "Drugs@FDA: FDA Approved Drug Products". United States Food and Drug Administration.
9. (5 November 1999). "Endocrinology of Aging". Springer Science & Business Media.
10. (28 March 2012). "Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility". Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
11. (9 January 2007). "The Hormone Decision: Untangle the Controversy, Understand Your Options, Make Your Own Choices". Rodale.
12. (October 2004). "Esterified estrogens and conjugated equine estrogens and the risk of venous thrombosis". JAMA.
13. (February 2006). "Esterified estrogen and conjugated equine estrogen and the risk of incident myocardial infarction and stroke". Archives of Internal Medicine.
14. (1970). "Northwest Medicine". Northwest Medical Pub. Association.
15. "Estrogens, Esterified (USP) - Searchable synonyms, formulas, resource links, and other chemical information". U.S. Library of Medicine.
16. "Esterified estrogens".