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Concomitant medication use in postmenopausal women using estrogen therapy
R Small1, G D Friedman, B Ettinger
1Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, California 94611-5714, USA.
Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
|March 21, 2001
Summary
Postmenopausal women using long-term estrogen therapy were more likely to use other prescription medications, particularly thyroid hormone and antimigraine drugs. This increased medication use should be considered when evaluating estrogen replacement therapy health effects.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Long-term postmenopausal estrogen therapy is a common treatment.
- Understanding associated medication use is crucial for comprehensive health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between long-term postmenopausal estrogen therapy and the use of other prescription medications.
Main Methods:
- Pharmacy records from 1969-1973 for Kaiser Permanente members in San Francisco were analyzed.
- Use of 215 common prescription medications was compared between 232 postmenopausal estrogen users and 222 age-matched nonusers.
- Medications were grouped into 39 therapeutic classes for comparison.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant differences in medication use were observed across 21 of the 39 therapeutic classes.
- Estrogen users showed higher frequency use in 20 of these 21 classes.
- The most pronounced differences were noted for thyroid hormone preparations (OR=25.6) and antimigraine preparations.
Conclusions:
- Postmenopausal women on long-term estrogen therapy tend to use a wider range of prescription medications compared to nonusers.
- This finding necessitates consideration of concurrent medication use when studying the health impacts of estrogen replacement therapy.