HRT - Combined

Take one tablet every day, without a break between packs. Swallow the tablet with water, with or without food. Your doctor will aim to give you the lowest dose for the shortest time to treat your symptoms. Speak to your doctor if you think this dose is too strong or not strong enough.

The usual starting dose is: During day 1 to 14 of the cycle, 1 tablet daily containing 1 or 2 mg oestradiol. During day 15 to 28 of the cycle, 1 tablet daily containing 1 or 2 mg oestradiol and 10 mg dydrogesterone. Immediately after the 28-day cycle you should begin the next treatment. The days of the week are printed on the back of the blister strips. The tablets from the part marked with arrow 1 should be taken first, then the tablets from the part marked with arrow 2 should be taken. If you are not having periods and are not taking any other Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) preparations, or you are switching from a combined continuous HRT product, you can start taking Femoston on any convenient day. If you are currently using a ‘cyclic’ or ‘sequential’ HRT preparation (which involves taking an oestrogen tablet or patch for part of the month, followed by both oestrogen and progestogen tablet or patch for up to 14 days) start taking Femoston the day after you finish the pack i.e. at the end of the progestogen phase. The doctor may increase the dose later, if necessary. The different tablet strengths are colour-coded for your convenience. If you are taking Femoston to treat symptoms of the menopause (change of life), your treatment should begin with the dosage Femoston 1/10. Your doctor will then increase this dose according to your symptoms. If you are taking Femoston to prevent osteoporosis, your doctor will adjust the dose individually according to your bone mass.

▪ Allergy to (hypersensitive) to conjugated oestrogens or any of the other ingredients of this medicine

▪ History of breast cancer

▪ Cancer which is sensitive to oestrogens such as cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrium) or if you are suspected of having it

▪ Any unexplained vaginal bleeding

▪ Excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated

▪ History of a blood clot in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism)

▪ A blood clotting disorder (such as protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency)

▪ History of a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries, such as a heart attack, stroke or angina

▪ History of liver disease

▪ History of a rare blood problem called “porphyria” which is passed down in families (inherited)

▪ Pregnancy

• Breast-feeding

Very common (in more than 1 in 10 patients treated):

• headache

• abdominal pain

• back pain

• breast pain or tenderness

Common (in less than 1 in 10, but more than 1 in 100 patients treated):

• vaginal thrush (a vaginal infection due to a fungus called Candida albicans)

• depression

• nervousness

• migraine

• dizziness

• feeling sick

• vomiting

• wind (flatulence)

• allergic skin reactions (including rash or itching)

• unscheduled bleeding or spotting, heavy, irregular

• or painful periods

• pelvic pain

• vaginal discharge

• generally feeling unwell, weak or tired

• swelling of the ankles, feet or fingers (peripheral oedema)

• increase in weight

See other combined HRT products 

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.3903.pdf