Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (162 page)

RARELY USED
estramustine (Rx)

(ess-tra-muss′teen)

Emcyt

Func. class.:
Antineoplastic alkylating agent

USES:

Metastatic prostate cancer

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Pregnancy (D), hypersensitivity to estradiol, thromboembolic disorders, stroke, thrombophlebitis

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult:
PO
14-16 mg/kg/day or 600 mg/m
2
/day in 3-4 divided doses; treatment may continue for ≥3 mo

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

estrogens, conjugated (Rx)

Cenestin, Premarin

estrogens, conjugated
synthetic B (Rx)

Enjuvia

Func. class.:
Estrogen, hormone

Do not confuse:
Premarin
/Provera

ACTION:

Needed for adequate functioning of female reproductive system; affects release of pituitary gonadotropins, inhibits ovulation, adequate calcium use in bone

USES:

Vasomotor symptoms (menopause), inoperable breast cancer, prostatic cancer, abnormal uterine bleeding, hypogonadism, primary ovarian failure, prevention of osteoporosis, castration, atrophic vaginitis

Unlabeled uses:
hyperparathyroidism, infertility

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Pregnancy (X), breastfeeding, thromboembolic disorders, reproductive cancer, genital bleeding (abnormal, undiagnosed), hypersensitivity, MI, stroke, thrombophlebitis

 

Black Box Warning:

Endometrial, breast cancer, thromboembolic diseases

Precautions:
Hypertension, asthma, blood dyscrasias, CHF, diabetes mellitus, depression, migraine headache, seizure disorders, gallbladder/bone/hepatic/renal disease, family history of cancer of breast or reproductive tract, smoking, dementia, hypothyroidism, obesity, SLE

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Estrogens conjugated
Vasomotor symptoms (menopause)

• Adult:
PO
0.3-1.25 mg/day 3 wk on, 1 wk off

Prevention of osteoporosis

• Adult:
PO
0.3 mg/day or in cycle

Atrophic vaginitis

• Adult:
VAG CREAM
0.5 g/day × 21 days, off 7 days, repeat

Prostatic cancer

• Adult:
PO
1.25-2.5 mg tid

Advanced inoperable breast cancer

• Adult:
PO
10 mg tid × ≥3 mo

Abnormal uterine bleeding

• Adult:
IV/IM
25 mg q6-12hr

Castration/primary ovarian failure

• Adult:
PO
1.25 mg/day 3 wk on, 1 wk off

Hypogonadism

• Adult:
PO
2.5-7.5 mg/day × 20 days/mo

Estrogens conjugated synthetic B
Vasomotor symptoms (menopause)

• Adult:
PO
0.625 mg/day initially; may increase based on response

Available forms:
Tabs 0.3, 0.45, 0.625, 0.9, 1.25, 2.5 mg; inj 25 mg/vial; vag cream 0.625 mg/g;
synthetic B:
tabs 0.625, 1.25 mg

Administer:

• 
Titrated dose; use lowest effective dose

PO route

• 
Give with or immediately after food to reduce nausea

IM route

• 
IM reconstitute after withdrawing 5 ml of air from container, inject sterile diluent on vial side, rotate to dissolve; give inj deep in large muscle mass, aspirate before inj

Vaginal route

• 
Use applicator provided, wash after use

Direct IV route

• 
IV, after reconstituting as for IM, inject into distal port of running IV line of D
5
W, 0.9% NaCl at ≤5 mg/min

Y-site compatibilities:
Heparin, hydrocortisone, potassium chloride, vit B/C

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Dizziness, headache, migraine, depression,
seizures,
mood disturbances

CV:
Hypertension, thrombophlebitis, edema,
thromboembolism, stroke, pulmonary embolism, MI,
chest pain

EENT:
Contact lens intolerance, increased myopia, astigmatism

GI:
Nausea
, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, pancreatitis, cramps, constipation, increased appetite,
cholestatic jaundice, hepatic adenoma,
weight gain/loss

GU:
Amenorrhea, cervical erosion, breakthrough bleeding, dysmenorrhea, vaginal candidiasis, breast changes,
gynecomastia, testicular atrophy, impotence
,
increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer,
libido changes

INTEG:
Rash, urticaria, acne, hirsutism, alopecia, oily skin, seborrhea, purpura, melasma

META:
Folic acid deficiency, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia

PHARMACOKINETICS

PO/IM/IV:
Degraded in liver, excreted in urine, crosses placenta, excreted in breast milk

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
toxicity—cycloSPORINE, dantrolene

Increase:
action of corticosteroids

Decrease:
action of estrogens—anticonvulsants, barbiturates, phenylbutazone, rifampin

Decrease:
action of anticoagulants, oral hypoglycemics, tamoxifen, thyroid

Drug/Food

Increase:
estrogen level—grapefruit juice

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
BSP retention test, PBI, T
4
, serum sodium, platelet aggregation, thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), prothrombin; factors VII, VIII, IX, X; triglycerides

Decrease:
serum folate, serum triglyceride, T
3
resin uptake test, glucose tolerance test, antithrombin III, pregnanediol, metyrapone test

False positive:
LE prep, antinuclear antibodies

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

 

Black Box Warning:

Breast, endometrial cancer:
estrogens should not be used in known, suspected, or history of these disorders

 

Black Box Warning:

Stroke, thromboembolic disease of MI:
Should not be used in these conditions or known protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, or antithrombin deficiency

• 
Blood glucose if diabetic patient; hyperglycemia may occur

• 
Weight daily; notify prescriber of weekly weight gain >5 lb; if increase, diuretic may be ordered; check for edema; B/P baseline and periodically

• 
Hepatic studies: AST, ALT, bilirubin, alk phos

• 
Hypertension, cardiac symptoms, jaundice, hypercalcemia

• 
Mental status: affect, mood, behavioral changes, aggression

• 
Female patient for intact uterus; if so, progesterone should be added to estrogen therapy to decrease risk of endometrial cancer; abnormal uterine bleeding, breast exam; Pap smear

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: absence of breast engorgement, reversal of menopause symptoms, decrease in tumor size with prostatic cancer

Teach patient/family:

• 
To avoid breastfeeding, since product excreted in breast milk

• 
To weigh weekly; to report gain >5 lb

 

Black Box Warning:

To report breast lumps, vaginal bleeding, edema, jaundice, dark urine, clay-colored stools, dyspnea, headache, blurred vision, abdominal pain; leg pain and redness, numbness or stiffness; chest pain; males to report impotence or gynecomastia

• 
To avoid sunlight or wear sunscreen; burns may occur

• 
To notify prescriber if pregnancy is suspected

• 
That vasomotor symptoms improve in 2 wk, max relief in 8 wk

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

RARELY USED
estropipate

(ess-troe-pip′ate)

Func. class.:
Estrogen

USES:

Primary ovarian failure, menopausal symptoms, prevention of osteoporosis, vaginal atrophy

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, coagulation disorders, breast and reproductive cancers, undiagnosed genital bleeding

 

Black Box Warning:

Pregnancy (X)

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Vaginal atrophy/vulval atrophy/menopausal symptoms

• Adult (women):
PO
0.75-6 mg/day × 3 wk on 1 wk off, may be used continuously in menopausal symptoms

Primary ovarian failure

• Adult (women):
PO
1.5-9 mg/day × 3 wk, then off for 8-10 days; if bleeding does not occur, repeat cycle

Osteoporosis prevention

• Adult (women):
PO
0.75 mg/day × 25 days, 6 days off, repeat as needed

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