What Are the Benefits of Taking Premarin?

Premarin is used to treat vaginal symptoms (such as dryness) due to menopause, hot flashes, night sweats, helps prevent thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) that can cause fractures, and treat women where either the ovaries do not function properly or have been removed.

Premarin (conjugated estrogens) is a form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that is a mixture of several different estrogens derived from natural sources. It is available as a tablet and a cream. 

The benefits of taking Premarin include: 

• Relief of vaginal symptoms due to menopause
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Inflammation
  • Painful intercourse due to atrophy of the vagina and vulva
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Helps prevent thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), which can cause fractures 
• Also used to treat women where either the ovaries do not function properly or have been removed

Common side effects of Premarin (conjugated estrogens) may include:

• Breakthrough bleeding or spotting
• Excessively prolonged periods
• Loss of periods
• Breast pain
• Breast enlargement
• Changes in sex drive

Serious side effects of Premarin may include: 

• Gallstones
• Hepatitis
• Migraine headaches
• Fluid retention (swelling of the lower legs)
• Tan or brown patches of skin on the forehead, cheeks, or temples (melasma) 
• Increased risk of breast cancer, blood clots, and stroke
• Increased risk of impaired cognition and/or dementia among women over age 65
• Increase in the curvature of the cornea, which can cause intolerance to contact lenses

Premarin (conjugated estrogens) may interact with: 

• Rifampin
• Barbiturates
• Phenytoin
• Carbamazepine
• Griseofulvin
• St. John's wort
• Primidone 
• Erythromycin
• Clarithromycin 
• Ketoconazole
• Itraconazole
• Ritonavir 
• Thyroid replacement therapy
• Corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone
• Cyclosporine
• Grapefruit juice