New Drug for Vaginal Atrophy

[AlaskaAngel]

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-15/lifestyle/sns-rt-us-health-estrogenbre91e13x-20130215_1_vaginal-atrophy-oral-estrogen-estrogen-alternative

[karen z]

Thanks for posting.

[AlaskaAngel]

What I don't quite understand about ospemifene is whether or not it is so different in some way from tamoxifen (which is also a SERM where the estrogen receptors bind to the drug) that it either does or doesn't offer the same benefit as tamoxifen (PLUS help with VVA).

Lani, can you help with this question?

A.A.

[AlaskaAngel]

Testing of ospemiphene and 4-hydroxyospemifene in mice:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246110/

[pbixler@gtcom.net]

What can you safely take if you have vaginal atrophy and you are ER+. I can't take my Estreace any more and I will have UTIs now.

[Hopeful]

pbixler, I am ER+ PR+, and my breast surgeon prescribes Vagifem tablets for me, they are ultra low dose and work very well. Here is a link to a research paper on it: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3234898/

I have used very small amounts of Estrace in the past, and found that I had some systemic side effects from it. I have no side effects at all from the Vagifem.

I asked my gynecologist about ospemifene when I saw her last month, as she participated in a research study on it. She said it was not on the market yet, but if I was interested in switching to it when it came available, she would write for it. I am contemplating that. She expected it to be available sometime this summer.

Hopeful

[pbixler@gtcom.net]

I visited my gyno today. And she prescribed ospemifene. I will let you know how is goes. It has now been approved.

[Hopeful]

Ospemifene is marketed as Osphena. Here is a link to their website: http://www.osphena.com/

pbixler, please let us know how you do on this drug. Best of luck with your treatment.

Hopeful