Estramustine

Estramustine is a prescription medication used to treat prostate cancer that has worsened or has spread to other parts of the body. Estramustine belongs to a group of drugs called antimicrotubule agents. It works by stopping the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Estramustine comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken with water 3 to 4 times a day at least one hour before or two hours after meals. Take estramustine at around the same times every day.

Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and leg cramps.

Estramustine is a prescription medication used to treat prostate cancer that has worsened or has spread to other parts of the body.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Estramustine may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Emcyt

Common side effects of this medication include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• breast tenderness and enlargement
• leg cramps
• tiredness
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• impotence (inability to have or maintain an erection)

This is not a complete list of this medication’s side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
 

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take calcium supplements or antacids that contain calcium such as Tums. 

This is not a complete list of all drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects of estramustine include the following:

• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• shortness of breath
• elevated blood pressure
• chest pain
• dizziness or faintness
• speech problems
• sudden, severe headache
• sudden partial or complete loss of vision
• weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg
• pain, redness or swelling of an arm or leg
• Decreased blood sugar tolerance. Especially if you are diabetic, be aware that estramustine may cause a decrease in blood sugar tolerance (cannot fully utilize blood sugar for energy)

Do not take estramustine if you

• have a known allergy to either estradiol or to nitrogen mustard
• have active thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders

Before taking estramustine,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to estramustine, estradiol, nitrogen mustard, or any other medications.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.
• if you are taking calcium supplements or antacids that contain calcium such as Tums, take them at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after estramustine.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a blood clot, diabetes, high blood pressure, a stroke, congestive heart disease, migraines, seizures, any conditions that affect the balance of calcium and phosphorous in your body such as parathyroid disorder, prostate cancer, or liver or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Estramustine is only for use in men. Estramustine may cause fetal harm. You should use effective birth control if there is a possibility that your partner could become pregnant while you are taking estramustine. Women who are or may become pregnant should not take estramustine. If you take estramustine while you are pregnant, call your doctor immediately.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Because of the potential that estramustine may cross into breast milk, and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using this medication.

Estramustine comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken with water 3 to 4 times a day at least one hour before or two hours after meals. Do not take estramustine with milk, milk products, or foods that contain large amounts of calcium. Take estramustine at around the same times every day.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.
The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

The recommended daily dose is 14 mg/kg of body weight, given in 3 or 4 divided doses.

If you take too much this medication, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if an overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.
• Store estramustine capsules in the refrigerator.
• Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
• Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.