This article explains how estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet are similar and different. For more information about estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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Cost of estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone
As with the cost of other medications, the cost of estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet can vary. Their price may be affected by:
- whether they’re covered by health insurance, if you have coverage
- the pharmacy they’re purchased from
- the quantity prescribed
Coupons and cost savings
To view drug prices when Optum Perks coupons are applied, see this coupon page for estradiol oral tablet and this coupon page for esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
The options described in this article may also help you save on your prescription.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Brand-name versions
Below is information about whether estradiol oral tablet or esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet is available in a brand-name version.
Estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet are both generic medications. Estradiol oral tablet is not available as a brand-name version. Esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet is available as branded-generic versions called EEMT and Covaryx.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient(s). But branded-generic drugs are given a proprietary name by the drugmaker.
Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.
Uses of estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone
Here’s a summary of estradiol oral tablet’s and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet’s uses:
It’s important to note that esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet is prescribed off-label to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone to treat any condition. This is because the drug has been available since before the FDA began its drug approval process. So any use of the drug is considered off-label use.
If you’d like to know more about taking either medication for your condition, ask your doctor. They can determine whether estradiol oral tablet or esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet is an option to consider.
Dosage and administration of estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone
Below is dosage information for the condition that both estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet are prescribed to treat. To get detailed dosage information for all conditions that these drugs treat or help prevent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Below are dosages provided by the drugmakers of estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes either medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. They’ll advise the dosage that’s best for your condition. Do not adjust your dosage without first talking with your doctor.
Estradiol’s dosage
Below is a summary of estradiol oral tablet’s recommended dosage in adults. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg).
Esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone’s dosage
Below is a summary of esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet’s recommended dosage in adults. Strength is measured in mg of esterified estrogens followed by mg of methyltestosterone.
Side effects of estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone
Estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common mild side effects of each drug are listed below. Serious side effects of both drugs are also listed.
Keep in mind that your side effects may differ from those listed below. They can vary based on your overall health, any other medications you take, and your age.
This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of these medications. To find more information, you can view the prescribing information for estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of these drugs.
Mild side effects
Below are some of the mild side effects reported with estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet:
Serious side effects
Below are serious side effects reported with estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet:
* For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet” section below.
With a lot of drugs, serious side effects are possible, but they’re not common. If you have serious side effects from estradiol oral tablet or esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Questions about estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet
Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions about estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet.
Between estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone, is one a better treatment for symptoms related to menopause?
Doctors may prescribe either estradiol oral tablet or esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause. In studies, estradiol was effective for this purpose.
However, details on how effective esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone is for this purpose weren’t collected in studies. This is because the drug was available before the FDA required studies for approval. But doctors can still prescribe the drug off-label. (With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.)
Your doctor can help determine whether one option is better for your condition. They’ll recommend this based on your specific needs and health factors.
Talk with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about which drug is right for you.
Can estradiol or esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone be used in females who are not in menopause?
Estradiol oral tablet may be prescribed for other conditions unrelated to menopause, including conditions that affect both males* and females.*
Esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet has not been approved for any use, but it may be prescribed off-label for certain uses. Your doctor can advise whether the drug may be used in females who are not in menopause.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about the uses for estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
Warnings for estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone
Some medications may not be recommended for you if you have certain factors affecting your health. These are referred to as a drug’s warnings.
Certain people should not take estradiol oral tablet or esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet, and others should use either medication with caution.
Warnings for estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet are summarized below. Before taking either medication, talk with your doctor about your health conditions, past surgeries, and any medications you take. Your doctor can recommend whether either drug is safe for you.
Boxed warnings for estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone
Estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet have boxed warnings about the risk of certain types of cancer, risk of dementia, and risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
These warnings weren’t specifically reported* in studies of estradiol or esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone. However, these are known risks of estrogen treatment. Both estradiol and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone contain a form of estrogen.
To learn more about these warnings, read below. You can also talk with your doctor if you have concerns about these risks. They can discuss the risks and benefits of estrogen treatment with you.
Risk of certain types of cancer: According to the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study,* Estrogen treatment can increase the risk of certain cancers. These include endometrial (uterine), breast, and ovarian cancers. This risk varies depending on factors such as your health history, and it may increase with long-term use of estrogen. Specifically:
- Females† with a uterus who take estrogen without progestin have an increased risk of endometrial cancer.(Progestin is a chemical that acts like the progesterone hormone.)
- Females in postmenopause who take estrogen and progestin have an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Females who use hormonal therapy to treat menopause symptoms have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about the risks of taking estrogen. They’ll help determine your risk based on your health history and other factors specific to you.
Risk of dementia: Treatment with estrogens can increase the risk of dementia in females who are in postmenopause. With dementia, you have problems with thinking, memory, and communication. This effect was reported* in people who used estrogen with medroxyprogesterone acetate, a progestin drug. It’s not known if this risk applies to people who use estrogens alone. It’s also not known if this risk applies when people other than females in postmenopause use estrogens.
Risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems: Treatment with estrogens can increase the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems. Because of this risk, estrogens should not be used to help prevent heart disease.
Serious heart and blood vessel problems that can occur include heart attack, stroke, and blood clots. Immediately seek emergency medical treatment or call 911 (or a local emergency number) if you have symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot.
* For more information, see the prescribing information for estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet.
† Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
Other warnings
In addition to the boxed warnings above, estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet have other warnings. These are summarized in the table below.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to know more about warnings for these drugs. You can also view the prescribing information for estradiol oral tablet and esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet.
What to ask a doctor
If you’re trying to decide whether estradiol oral tablet or esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone oral tablet is better for you, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best option.
Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- If I’m a good candidate for both drugs, are there reasons why one would be prescribed over the other?
- Is there a reason why esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone might be better for my condition than estradiol?
- How does adding methyltestosterone affect esterified estrogens? Does it work differently compared with estradiol alone?
- How long should it take before I feel a difference from either drug?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
