MENOSTAR | Bayer Corporation

INDICATIONS AND USAGE 

Menostar is indicated for the prevention of postmenopausal osteo- 

porosis. When prescribing solely for the prevention of post- 

menopausal osteoporosis, therapy should be considered only for 

women at significant risk of osteoporosis and non-estrogen 

medications should be carefully considered. 

The mainstays for decreasing the risk of postmenopausal osteoporo- 

sis are weight bearing exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D 

intake, and when indicated, pharmacologic therapy. Postmenopausal 

women require an average of 1500 mg/day of elemental calcium. 

Therefore, when not contraindicated, calcium supplementation may 

be helpful for women with suboptimal dietaryintake. Vitamin D 

supplementation of 400-800 IU/day may also be required to ensure 

adequate daily intake in postmenopausal women. 

Risk factors for osteoporosis include low bone mineral density, low 

estrogen levels, family history of osteoporosis, previous fracture, 

small frame (low BMI), light skin color,smoking, and alcohol intake. 

Response to therapy can be predicted by pre-treatment serum 

estradiol (see Table 3), and can be assessed during treatment by 

measuring biochemical markers of bone formation/resorption, 

and/or bone mineral density. 

CONTRAINDICATIONS 

Menostar should not be used in women with any of the following 

conditions: 

1. Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding. 

2. Known, suspected, or historyof cancer of the breast. 

3. Known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia. 

4. Active deep vein thrombosis, pulmonaryembolism or a history of 

these conditions. 

5. Active or recent (e.g. within the past year) arterial thrombo- 

embolic disease (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction). 

6. Liver dysfunction or disease. 

7. Menostar should not be used in patients with known hyper- 

sensitivity to its ingredients. 

8. Known or suspected pregnancy. There is no indication for 

Menostar in pregnancy.There appears to be little or no increased 

risk of birth defects in children born to women who have used 

estrogens and progestins from oral contraceptives inadvertently 

during early pregnancy