Crinone

Crinone is used as part of fertility treatments in women and also in the treatment of women who have not had normal periods for more than 6 months. Do not use Crinone if you have liver disease.

Crinone Overview

Updated: 

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.

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What are you taking Crinone for?

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  • Other
  • Amenorrhea
  • Endometrial Hyperplasia
  • Infertility, Female
  • Uterine Hemorrhage

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
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Crinone Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautions

Uses of Crinone

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.

Manufacturer

Crinone Drug Class

Crinone is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Crinone

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

Common side effects of Crinone include the following:

  • abdominal pain
  • perineal pain (the perineum is the area between the vagina and the rectum)
  • cramps
  • bloating
  • headache
  • fatigue
  • increased appetite
  • constipation
  • diarrhea
  • nausea
  • joint pain
  • depression
  • mood swings
  • sleep disorder
  • nervousness
  • decreased libido
  • breast enlargement
  • excessive urination at night
  • vaginal discharge
  • upper respiratory tract infection

This is not a complete list of Crinone 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.

 

Crinone Interactions

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.

Crinone Precautions

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.

Crinone Food Interactions

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.

Inform MD

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.

 

Crinone and Pregnancy

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.

Crinone and Lactation

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.

Crinone Usage

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.

Crinone Dosage

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 age

The recommended dose of Crinone 8% for use in fertility treatments is 90 mg administered vaginally once daily in women who require progesterone supplementation. Crinone 8% is administered vaginally at a dose of 90 mg twice daily in women with partial or complete ovarian failure who require progesterone replacement. If pregnancy occurs, treatment may be continued for up to 10 or 12 weeks.

The recommended dose of Crinone 4% for use in the treatment of secondary amenorrhea is 45 mg administered vaginally every other day up to a total of six doses. For women who fail to respond, a trial of Crinone 8% 90 mg every other day up to a total of six doses may be prescribed.

 

 

Crinone Overdose

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

Other Requirements

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