Tace

Chlorotrianisene is a form of estrogen. Estrogen is a female sex hormone necessary for many processes in the body.

Chlorotrianisene is used to treat symptoms of menopause, deficiencies in ovary function (including underdevelopment of female sexual characteristics and some types of infertility), and prostate cancer.

Chlorotrianisene may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Have yearly physical exams and examine your breasts for lumps on a monthly basis while taking chlorotrianisene.

Take chlorotrianisene with food or milk to lessen stomach upset. Do not take chlorotrianisene if you are pregnant.

Do not take chlorotrianisene if you

have breast cancer. Tell your doctor if you have (or have ever had) breast cancer.

have vaginal bleeding that has not been diagnosed. It will be necessary to determine if any abnormal bleeding has a hormonal cause.

have a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder. Chlorotrianisene may increase the risk that a blood clot will form.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you

* have any type of liver or gallbladder disease,

are diabetic,

* suffer from migraines,

have epilepsy or seizures,

have heart disease, or

have kidney disease.

You may need a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Chlorotrianisene is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that chlortrianisene will cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not take this medication if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy. Chlorotrianisene may decrease milk flow and have other effects on milk composition. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Take chlorotrianisene with food or milk to lessen stomach upset.

Try to take each dose at the same time each day, preferably in the morning. You may be taking it every day, or you may be taking it every day for 3 weeks with 1 week off each month to mimic your body's natural cycle. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

If you are taking chlorotrianisene to treat cancer, you may be taking it several times a day in very large doses.

Store chlorotrianisene at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Chlorotrianisene may increase the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking chlorotrianisene and seek emergency medical attention:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

a blood clot (pain, redness, and swelling in an arm or leg, shortness of breath, chest pain, headache, blurred vision, or confusion);

a lump in a breast; or

liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take chlorotrianisene and talk to your doctor if you experience

decreased appetite, nausea, or vomiting;

swollen breasts;

acné or skin color changes;

decreased sex drive;

migraine headaches or dizziness;

water retention (swollen hands, feet, or ankles);

depression; or

changes in your menstrual cycle or breakthrough bleeding.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Chlorotrianisene may decrease the effects of the following drugs:

anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin). This could lead to blood clots. Your doctor will want to monitor your anticoagulant therapy.

thyroid medications. A larger dose of thyroid medication may be needed.

insulin. Monitor your blood sugar levels and discuss any unusual changes with your doctor.

tamoxifen. Chlorotrianisene should not be taken during therapy with tamoxifen.

Chlorotrianisene may also increase the effects of some medications. The following drugs may have increased or dangerous side effects if taken with chlorotrianisene:

* tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and doxepin (Sinequan);

* other commonly used tricyclic antidepressants, including amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and protriptyline (Vivactil); and

didanosine (Videx).

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Other drugs may also affect chlorotrianisene. The effects of chlorotrianisene are decreased by

phenytoin (Dilantin) and ethotoin (Peganone),

carbamazepine (Tegretol),

phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal),

primidone (Mysoline), and

rifampin (Rifadin).

You may need larger doses of chlorotrianisene if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with chlorotrianisene. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Chlorotrianisene is available with a prescription under the brand name Tace. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Tace 12 mg--green, hard-gelatin capsules