Elestrin and Ergotamine Tartrate

• Generic Name: estradiol
• Dosage Forms: gel, metered
• Other Brand Names:

  Elestrin Pump, Alora, Climara, Estradiol Patch, Menostar, Minivelle, Vivelle-Dot, Estraderm, Vivelle, Delestrogen, Depo-Estradiol, Divigel, Estrasorb, EstroGel Pump, Evamist, Estrace, DepoEstradiol, Elestrin, Estradot, Estrogel, Femtrace, Femring, Gynodiol

Elestrin is estradiol 0.06% in a colorless, non-staining gel supplied in a non-aerosol, metered-dose pump container. Estradiol is a form of estrogen, a female sex hormone made in the ovaries that regulates many processes in the body.

Elestrin is used after menopause to reduce moderate to severe hot flashes.

Ovaries normally stop making estrogens when a woman is between 45 to 55 years old. This drop in body estrogen levels causes the “change of life” or menopause (the end of monthly menstrual periods). When estrogen levels begin dropping, some women develop very uncomfortable symptoms, such as feelings of warmth in the face, neck, and chest, or sudden strong feelings of heat and sweating (“hot flashes”). In some women, the symptoms are mild, and they will not need estrogens. In other women, symptoms can be more severe and treatment with products such as Elestrin may help.

• Generic Name: ergotamine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Ergomar

Prevention or abortion of vascular headaches (e.g., migraine, cluster headaches), when used alone or in fixed combination with caffeine. Should not be used for chronic daily management of vascular headaches.

Generally not preferred for terminating acute cluster headaches; onset of action is slower than that of other therapies (e.g., sumatriptan, oxygen).

Has been used for short-term (e.g., up to 3 weeks) prophylaxis of episodic cluster headaches to suppress a series of attacks and reduce duration of cluster period. Prophylactic administration at bedtime may be particularly useful in selected patients with nocturnal cluster attacks.

Ineffective in the treatment of muscle contraction headaches.