UPDATE 1-Chattem Q2 EPS beats Street, backs FY profit view

* Q2 EPS $1.26 vs est $1.21

* Q2 revenue $121.8 mln vs est of $123.6 mln

* Shares rise 4 pct in pre-market trade

July 9 (Reuters) - Chattem Inc (CHTT.O) posted a 17 percent rise in quarterly profit that beat market estimates, helped by strong sales in the United States, and backed its full-year adjusted earnings forecast, sending its shares up 4 percent in trading before the bell.

The company, which makes and sells household and personal-care products like over-the-counter drugs, toiletries, cosmetics and dietary supplements, posted net income of $24.2 million, or $1.26 a share, compared with $20.7 million, or $1.06 a share, in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue at the company rose 4 percent to $121.8 million for the quarter ended May 31.

Domestic revenue increased 7 percent to $116 million, led by sales of skin care powder Gold Bond and pain relief product Icy Hot, among others.

Analysts on average expected earnings of $1.21 a share, before special items, on revenue of $123.6 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

Chattem reiterated its full-year earnings view of $4.80 a share to $4.90 a share, excluding items.

Analysts were expecting the company to earn $4.51 a share, before items.

Shares of the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based company were up $2.56 at $65.50 in trading before the bell. They closed at $62.94 Wednesday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bangalore; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal)