Uses
What is Duavee used for?
Duavee (conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene) is commonly used in people with a uterus after menopause to help reduce hot flashes and night sweats (vasomotor menopause symptoms) and prevent bone loss and weak bones (osteoporosis).
Duavee may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
How does Duavee work (mechanism of action)?
Duavee works to help reduce hot flashes and night sweats by connecting with estrogen receptors in the temperature control center of the brain. It connects with other estrogen receptors in the body to slow the natural breakdown of bone.
How is Duavee supplied (dosage forms)?
Brands and other names
- Duavee
Dosage forms and strengths
- 0.45 mg/20 mg oral tablets
How should I store Duavee?
Duavee should be stored in the original packaging at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not remove tablets from blister packs until ready to take. Throw away any unused tablets 60 days after opening the foil pouch. You can write the date on the foil pouch when you open it for the first time to help you keep track of this.
Side Effects
What are the most common side effects of Duavee?
The most common side effects of Duavee are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach (indigestion), stomach pain
- Mouth, throat, or neck pain
- Dizziness
There may be other side effects of Duavee that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.
What are the serious side effects of Duavee?
While less common, the most serious side effects of Duavee are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Severe Allergic Reactions. Duavee may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking Duavee and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- Breathing problems or wheezing
- Racing heart
- Fever or general ill feeling
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
- Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
Gallbladder Problems. Taking Duavee can cause gallbladder problems, including cholecystitis and cholelithiasis (also known as gallstones). Stop taking Duavee and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)
- Fever
- Pain in your upper stomach area
- Stool (poop) that is clay-colored
Endometrial Cancer. You may be at higher risk for cancer in the lining of your uterus (endometrial cancer) if you take Duavee. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Breast Cancer. You may be at higher risk for breast cancer if you take Duavee. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.
- New lump in your breast or armpit
- Changes in the size, shape, texture, or temperature of your breast
- Nipple changes
Ovarian Cancer. You may be at higher risk for cancer in your ovaries (ovarian cancer) if you take Duavee. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Belly or back pain
- Need to pee more often or urgently
Dementia. Duavee may increase your risk of a slowing of your brain function, especially if you are 65 or older. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you or your friends or family notice that you have any of the following.
- Memory problems, such as asking the same question over and over
- Confusion or disorientation
- Trouble with complex but familiar tasks, such as cooking a meal or paying your bills
- Personality changes, such as depression, agitation, paranoia, and mood swings
Blood Clots. Duavee may cause blood clots in your arteries or veins and could cause a stroke, heart attack, or venous thromboembolism, including a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), in the back of your eye (retinal vein occlusion), or deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Stop taking Duavee and get emergency help if you have any of the following signs of blood clots.
- Chest pain or pressure
- Fast or abnormal heartbeat
- Trouble breathing
- Pain in your back, jaw, throat, or arm
- Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness
- Sudden weakness on one side of your body
- Sudden and severe headache
- Slurred speech or trouble understanding speech
- Pain, swelling, or tenderness in your arm or leg
- Vision loss
- Bulging eyes
- Double vision
Warnings & Precautions
Who should not use Duavee?
Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take Duavee.
- Duavee
- Bazedoxifene
- Conjugated estrogens
- Any other medicine that contains estrogen
- Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Duavee.
Pregnancy. Do not take Duavee if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare professional right away. See the Pregnancy section for more details.
Liver Problems. Duavee should not be taken if your liver is not working as well as it should be. If there is a concern about the health of your liver, your healthcare provider may do tests to determine if it is working well enough to take this medicine.
Unusual Vaginal Bleeding. Duavee should not be taken if you have abnormal bleeding from your vagina that has not been diagnosed by a healthcare provider.
Breast Cancer. Duavee should not be taken if you have, are being evaluated to see if you have, or have previously had breast cancer.
Ovarian or Endometrial Cancer. Duavee should not be taken if you have or have previously had cancer in one or both of your ovaries or in the lining of your uterus.
Blood Clots. Duavee should not be taken if you have or have a history of blood clots in your veins (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or your lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE).
Heart Attack or Stroke. Duavee should not be taken if you have or have a history of heart attack or stroke.
Thrombophilia. Duavee should not be taken if you have low blood levels of protein C, protein S, or antithrombin, or if you have a condition that increases your risk of developing a blood clot.
What should I know about Duavee before using it?
Do not take Duavee unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.
Do not share Duavee with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
Keep Duavee out of the reach of children.
Do not place Duavee tablets in pill boxes or other storage containers. Tablets should only be removed from the packaging just before you take them.
Duavee can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how Duavee affects you.
Take Duavee once a day at about the same time. You can take it with or without food.
Swallow Duavee tablets whole.
People who are 65 or older can be at greater risk for some side effects from Duavee. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.
You should perform monthly self-breast exams and have regular pelvic exams (female exam), breast exams (done by a healthcare provider) and mammograms (x-ray to look closely at breast tissue) before taking Duavee and during treatment with it.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Duavee?
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are taking. This will help them determine if Duavee is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.
- High triglyceride levels
- Heart failure
- Thyroid problems
- Parathyroid problems
- Hereditary angioedema
- Asthma
- Endometriosis
- Diabetes
- Seizures
- Migraines
- Liver hemangioma (non-cancerous mass of enlarged blood vessels on the liver)
- Kidney problems
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Porphyria, a rare genetic problem when natural chemicals called porphyrins build up in the body
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
Other Medicines and Supplements. Duavee may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using/taking Duavee, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.
Upcoming Surgery or Bed Rest. You may be at increased risk for some side effects of Duavee if you do not move around normally for an extended period of time. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any upcoming surgeries or need to be on bed rest. Your healthcare provider can tell you if or when you need to stop taking Duavee.
Pregnancy. Do not take Duavee and tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Duavee may cause harm to an unborn baby.
Breastfeeding. People who can breastfeed are not usually prescribed Duavee. Do not take Duavee while you are breastfeeding. It can reduce the amount of milk your body makes. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
How can I get more information about Duavee?
For more information about Duavee, you can visit the manufacturer’s website at https://www.duavee.com/ or call them at 800-879-3477.
Interactions
Does Duavee interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions between Duavee and foods or drinks.
It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Duavee. Alcohol can trigger hot flashes, and this may be one of the reasons you are taking it. Your healthcare provider may advise you to limit the amount of alcohol you drink as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is a risk factor for osteoporosis, another reason you may be taking Duavee.
Does Duavee interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are taking.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Duavee.
- Estrogen, such as certain birth control pills or estrogen patches, creams, rings, or vaginal suppositories
- Progesterone or progestins, such as certain birth control pills, injections or progesterone capsules, creams, sprays, gels, or vaginal inserts
- Ospemifene (Osphena), raloxifene (Evista), tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox), or toremifene (Fareston), which is a medicine commonly used for bone loss or weak bones (osteoporosis), symptoms of menopause, or to treat or prevent certain types of breast cancer
- St. John’s wort, which is a supplement that may be used to treat depression
- Rifampin, which is a medicine commonly used to treat an infection called tuberculosis
- Any medicine for seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital
- Itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), which is a medicine used for fungal infections
Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of Duavee. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Duavee. Always check with your healthcare provider.
Overdose/Missed Dose
What should I do if I accidentally use too much Duavee?
If you or someone else has taken too much Duavee, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Duavee?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
Are you currently using Duavee (conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene)?
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