The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medications listed below. Only the most general side effects are included, so ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Use each of these medications as recommended by your doctor, or according to the instructions provided. If you have further questions about usage or side effects, contact your doctor.
Direct treatment of uterine fibroids attempts either to shrink them or to reduce the bleeding they cause. These drug therapies are used to treat the symptoms without eliminating the cause.
Common names include:
Progestins are one of the active ingredients in birth control pills. They reduce menstrual blood flow by altering the hormonal balance in the body. Possible side effects include:
Birth control pills may be used to control bleeding symptoms and menstrual cramps caused by uterine fibroids. They work by decreasing female hormones and preventing ovulation.
Possible side effects include:
Raloxifene is an estrogen-blocking agent. Because fibroids sometimes depend on the presence of estrogen to help grow or maintain themselves, blocking estrogen may stop growth or even shrink fibroid tumors.
Possible side effects include:
Tranexamic acid pills may be used to control bleeding symptoms.
Possible side effects include:
Danazol is a synthetic male hormone. It can suppress fibroid growth. But there are also a lot of side effects, such as:
Common names include:
These drugs can reduce the size of fibroids and may be prescribed several months before surgery. GnRH agonists are given by injection, insertion under the skin, or nasal spray.
Possible side effects include:
Common names include:
In addition to pain relief, NSAIDs may also reduce menstrual flow.
Possible side effects include:
Common names include:
If you have severe pain, your doctor may prescribe narcotics.
Most important side effects include:
Common names include:
Possible side effects include:
Common name: Tylenol
Possible side effects include:
Whenever you are taking a prescription medication, take the following precautions:
Call your doctor if:
Uterine fibroids. The National Uterine Fibroids Foundation website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed December 7, 2017.
Uterine fibroids fact sheet. Women's Health—US Department of Health and Human Services website. Available at: https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/uterine-fibroids. Updated February 6, 2017. Accessed December 7, 2017.
Uterine leiomyoma. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115612/Uterine-leiomyoma . Updated April 15, 2016. Accessed December 7, 2017.
Last reviewed November 2018 by Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG