Crinone

Crinone is a prescription medication used to treat the absence of menstrual periods in women and is also used as part of certain fertility treatments to help women become pregnant.

Crinone belongs to a group of drugs called progestins. These work to promote pregnancy by preparing the lining of the uterus such that it is ready to receive and nourish a fertilized egg and continue a pregnancy. Crinone contains progesterone, which is a hormone that also allows women to have regular menstrual periods.

This medication comes in gel form and is applied to the vagina twice a day, every day, or every other day, depending on the condition being treated. 

Common side effects of Crinone include breast enlargement, nausea, and constipation.

Crinone can also cause drowsiness and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Crinone affects you.

Crinone 4% and Crinone 8% are prescription medications used to treat the absence of menstrual periods in women who have previously had normal menstrual periods. Crinone 8% is also used as part of a fertility treatment program for women who are unable to become pregnant.

Progesterone is one of several hormones that help to prepare the lining of the uterus such that it is ready to receive and nourish a fertilized egg and to continue a pregnancy. Progesterone is also one of several hormones that allow women to have regular menstrual periods. When the body does not produce enough progesterone, menstrual irregularities can occur. Crinone may be prescribed to increase your progesterone.

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

• Actavis Pharma, Inc.

Serious side effects have been reported with Crinone. See the “Crinone Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Crinone include the following:

No drug interactions have been assessed by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with Crinone including the following:

Blood clots. Fertility drug products may increase your chance of having blood clots. Blood clots can cause:

• blood vessel problems (thrombophlebitis)
• stroke
• loss of your arm or leg
• blood clot in your lungs (pulmonary embolus)
• heart attack
• death
• Birth defects. Abdominal wall defect and cleft palate have been reported with Crinone use in early pregnancy. It is not known if these defects were caused by Crinone

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following warning signs or any other unusual symptoms that concern you:

• Pains in the calves or chest, a sudden shortness of breath or coughing blood indicating possible clots in the legs, heart, or lungs
• Severe headache or vomiting, dizziness, faintness, or changes in vision or speech, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg indicating possible clots in the brain or eye

Do not take Crinone if you:

• are allergic to Crinone or any of its ingredients
• have unusual vaginal bleeding which has not been evaluated by a doctor
• have or have had a liver disease
• have or have had cancer of the breast or genital organs
• have had a miscarriage and your physician suspects some tissue is still in the uterus
• have or have had blood clots in the legs, lungs, eyes, or elsewhere.

Crinone can also cause drowsiness and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Crinone affects you.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Crinone, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before using Crinone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Crinone or any of its ingredients
• If you plan to become pregnant
• If you are breastfeeding
• have unusual vaginal bleeding which has not been evaluated by a doctor.
• have or have had a liver disease.
• have or have had cancer of the breast or genital organs.
• have had a miscarriage and your physician suspects some tissue is still in the uterus.
• have or have had blood clots in the legs, lungs, eyes, or elsewhere.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy. Crinone, however, has not yet been classified in this way by the FDA.

Crinone 8% has been used to support embryo implantation and maintain pregnancies through its use as part of fertility treatment regimens. 

Abdominal wall defects and cleft palates have been reported with Crinone use in early pregnancy. It is not known if these defects were caused by Crinone.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. The hormone in Crinone can pass into your breast milk.

Crinone has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Crinone, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Use Crinone exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in gel form and is typically applied to the vagina twice a day, every day or every other day, depending on the condition being treated. 

To use Crinone:

1. Open the sealed wrapper and remove the applicator. Do not remove the twist-off cap at this time. 
2. Insert the plunger into the open end of the applicator.  Hold the applicator on each side and push the plunger into the applicator until the plunger snaps into place. You will see about 1 inch of the plunger outside of the applicator.
3. Remove the cap. Remove the cap from the tip of the applicator by twisting it counterclockwise. Do not push the plunger while you are removing the cap. This could cause some gel to come out.
4. Prepare to insert the applicator. Choose the position that is most comfortable for you. For example, lying down on your back with your knees bent.
5. Insert the applicator. After you are in a comfortable position, gently insert the rounded tip of the applicator into your vagina.
6. Push the plunger. While the applicator is inserted in your vagina, push the plunger to release the gel into your vagina.
7. Remove the applicator from your vagina and throw it away in your household trash. It is normal for a small amount of gel to be left in the applicator. You will still get the right dose of medicine.

You may see a small amount of white discharge that may look like a vaginal discharge. This discharge may be caused by gel that can remain in your vagina, even several days after use. Gel discharge from your vagina is normal, but if you are concerned, talk to your healthcare provider.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Crinone at the same time.

Talk to your healthcare provider about whether it is safe to use other vaginal medicines when you are using Crinone.

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

• Store at 20-25ºC (68-77ºF)
• Keep out of reach of children