Progesterone (HRT)

You should not use HRT if you

• Think that you are pregnant
• Have problems with vaginal bleeding
• Have had certain kinds of cancers
• Have had a stroke or heart attack
• Have had blood clots
• Have liver disease

Talk to your doctor about drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication.

Before taking progesterone tell your doctor and pharmacist the following:

• If you are allergic to progesterone, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), hormone replacement therapy, any other medications, or peanuts.
• What other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral); cimetidine (Tagamet); clarithromycin (Biaxin); cyclosporine (Neoral, Samdimmune); danazol (Danocrine); delaviridine (Rescriptor); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); erythromycin (E.E.S, E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem); fluvoxamine (Luvox); HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Fortovase); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); lansoprazole (Prevacid, Prevpac); metronidazole (Flagyl); nefazodone (Serzone); omeprazole (Prilosec); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); ticlopidine (Ticlid); troleandomycin (TAO); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); and zafirlukast (Accolate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• Herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
• If you have or have ever had unexplained vaginal bleeding between periods; a miscarriage in which some tissue was left in the uterus; cancer of the breasts or female organs; seizures; migraine headaches; asthma; diabetes; depression; blood clots in the legs, lungs, eyes, brain, or anywhere in the body; stroke or mini stroke; vision problems; or liver, kidney, heart, or gallbladder disease.
• If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking pregnenolone, call your doctor.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking progesterone.

What side effects can this medication cause? Progesterone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Headache
• Breast tenderness or pain
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Muscle, joint, or bone pain
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Vaginal discharge