Ethinyl estradiol is used as contraception (including emergency contraceptive) to treat vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, hypogonadism, breast cancer and as palliative treatment for prostate cancer.
What is Ethinyl estradiol?
Ethinyl estradiol is a semi-synthetic hormone that acts like estrogen. It acts by interacting with the receptors of these hormones and increasing the hepatic synthesis of different proteins. It inhibits the FSH hormone, thereby reducing the GnRH hormone secretion.
How should Ethinyl estradiol be taken?
Typically, ethinyl estradiol is administered in the form of tablets and it can also be combined with other drugs.
Side effects associated with Ethinyl estradiol
Among the possible side effects of ethinyl estradiol include the following:
- Chloasma
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Water retention
- Mastodynia
- Changes in sexual desire
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Hypercoagulability
- Liver problems (rare)
- Worsening of a pre-existing porphyria
- Migraine
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Contact lenses discomfort
- Alteration of the curvature of the cornea
- Fibrocystic breast changes
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Ethinyl estradiol
Before taking ethinyl estradiol, it is important to tell your doctor if:
- You have any allergies to this drug or any other medication
- You are taking any other medications, herbal remedies or supplements. Mentioning in particular: acenocoumarol, aminophylline, amobarbital, amoxicillin, ampicillin, amprenavir, anisindione, aprepitant, aprobarbital. artemether, azlocillin, aztreonam, bacampicillin, bendamustine, bosentan, butabarbital, butalbital, butobarbital, carbamazepine, clavulanate, cloxacillin, colesevelam, cyclosporine, demeclocycline, dicloxacillin, dicoumarol, doxycycline, eltrombopag, etotoina, etoricoxib, flucloxacillin, fosphenytoin, griseofulvin, hexobarbital, ketoconazole, lamotrigine, mephentine, methacycline, methohexital, methylphenobarbital, methicillin, mezlocillin, minocycline, modafinil, nafcillin, nelfinavir, oxacillin, oxcarbazepine, oxtriphilline, oxytetracycline, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, phenytoin, piperacillin, pivampicillin, prednisolone, prednisone, primidone, raloxifene, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, ritonavir, rolitetracycline, rufinamide, secobarbital, St. John's wort, tacrolimus, talbutal, tazobactam, tetracycline, theophylline, thiopental, ticarcillin, tipranavir, tizanidine, topiramate, tretinoin, troglitazone, ursodeoxycholic acid and warfarin
- You are suffering (or have suffered) from a particular disease or health problems
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
