Many women have questions when they begin using Divigel®—that’s to be expected!
Here are some of the most common questions about starting and staying on Divigel®.
Because every woman is different, one dose will not fit all. Divigel® has five FDA-approved dosing options, so your healthcare professional can choose the one that's right for you. Generally, women should be started at 0.25 mg/day, and increase the dose strength as needed to relieve hot flashes and night sweats.
Your doctor will recommend the appropriate starting dose for you, and he or she may adjust the dose depending on your response.
Divigel® should be applied to the skin once a day, around the same time each day. You can choose to apply it at the time that is most convenient for you.
Because Divigel® should be applied to clean and dry skin, many women choose to apply it after their daily bath or shower or at night before bed. The application site should be completely dry before dressing.
Common side effects that may occur with Divigel® include irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting, breast tenderness, vaginal yeast infection, cold, and upper respiratory tract infection.
These are not all the potential side effects. For more information, please read the Full Prescribing Information, or speak with your healthcare professional.
About all of your medical conditions. Your healthcare provider may need to check you more carefully if you have certain conditions, such as asthma (wheezing), diabetes, epilepsy (seizures), migraine; endometriosis, lupus, angioedema (swelling of face and tongue), problems with your heart, liver, thyroid, kidneys, or have high calcium levels in your blood.
If you are breastfeeding, the hormone in Divigel® can pass into your breast milk.
Studies conducted using other approved topical estrogen gel products have shown that sunscreens could change the amount of estrogen that is absorbed through the skin into the body.
The effect of applying sunscreen and Divigel® to the same application site has not been clinically evaluated.
However, remember that Divigel® is applied to a discreet area of the upper thigh. Using creams or lotions on other parts of the body should not change the absorption of Divigel® at the application site.
To ensure that Divigel® is absorbed through the skin properly, do not wash your thigh for at least 1 hour after application.
If you apply Divigel® after a shower or bath as part of a daily routine, just make sure that your upper thigh is thoroughly dry before applying the gel.
Speak with your healthcare professional about all medications you are taking if you are considering surgery.
That’s because blood clots may be more likely to occur following some types of surgery. And estrogen may increase your chances of blood clots.
If possible, you should stop taking all estrogen-based medications, such as Divigel®, at least 4 to 6 weeks before you undergo a surgical procedure associated with an increased risk of blood clots or during periods of prolonged immobilization.
The duration of menopause symptoms is different for each woman and can last for years.
Talk with your healthcare professional periodically about whether you still need treatment with Divigel®.
Concerned about how menopause will affect your lifestyle? Read on for more information to ease your worries.
Be sure to call your doctor if you still have questions or concerns.