IF YOU spray on your medicine, be careful who you cuddle. The US Food and Drug Administration has warned that a spray-on treatment for hot flushes may cause premature puberty in young children inadvertently exposed to it.
Evamist is an oestrogen spray applied to the inside of the forearm. Its maker, Ther-Rx Corporation, says it is typically absorbed within a minute and advises users to wait 30 minutes before allowing the area to come in contact with other people.
Since the drug was approved in the US in 2007, eight cases have been reported of children aged between 3 and 5 developing breast mass, according to the FDA. Both boys and girls have been affected. Symptoms appeared several weeks or even months after related adults starting using the drug.
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Effects have also been reported in pets. The FDA last week warned users to take precautions to protect children and animals. A study last year found no significant transfer of the drug to men who had contact with women using the treatment, based on their blood estradiol levels (Menopause, vol 16, p 177). The drug has no license for use in the UK or Canada.
