Elleste Duet 2mg Tablets

Elleste Duet tablets are a combined form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), used to treat symptoms of the menopause. It has two active ingredients, which emulate the two female sex hormones: a natural version of the oestrogen (estradiol) and a synthetic version of progestogen (norethisterone). Cyclical combined treatments like Elleste Duet are appropriate for women who have started suffering from menopausal symptoms but still have somewhat of a menstrual cycle. If you have not had a hysterectomy, you will likely be prescribed a combined treatment.

All women go through the menopause. This usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. As you approach this age, your ovaries will produce less and less oestrogen. This has the effect of stopping the menstrual cycle, but the change in hormone levels can lead to several symptoms which may have a substantial impact on day-to-day life. Physical symptoms include hot flushes (a spontaneous heat that spreads throughout the body, leading to blushing, sweating and an unusually strong heartbeat), night sweats, osteoporosis and dryness of the eyes or vagina. The hormonal change can also cause distressing psychological effects such as irritability, insomnia and depression. Experiences with menopausal symptoms vary significantly depending on the individual. They can begin multiple years prior to the menopause itself, and remain for many years. Women will, on average, experience symptoms for about four years.

Hormone Replacement Therapy eases the symptoms of menopause by supplementing the levels of hormones which the body can produce naturally. Some medicines are oestrogen-only. However, in women who still have a uterus, an uncontrolled increase in oestrogen levels will cause the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) to grow excessively. This will substantially increase your risk of complications such as endometrial cancer. Elleste Duet is a cyclical treatment – the first 16 tablets in a cycle contain estradiol only, and the final 12 tablets contain a combination of estradiol and norethisterone. This causes a regular period and reduces your risk of cancer.

Two strengths of Elleste Duet are available. In the 1mg pack, the 16 white tablets contain 1mg estradiol; the 12 green tablets contain 1mg norethisterone as well as 1mg estradiol. In the 2mg pack, the 16 orange tablets contain 2mg estradiol; the 12 grey tablets contain 2mg estradiol and 1mg norethisterone.

As your body adjusts to Elleste Duet, you may notice breakthrough bleeding or spotting. Talk to your GP if this continues after more than a few months of treatment HRT should only be necessary as a relatively short-term treatment as your body adjusts to the menopause. You should review your HRT with your GP at least once each year and have regular gynaecological checkups.

HRT will not prevent pregnancy in women who are otherwise fertile. Women under 50 are considered fertile until two years after their final menstrual cycle (for women over 50, this is reduced to one year). Do not use a hormonal contraceptive while undergoing HRT.

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• Fast - order before 4pm and receive your treatment as quickly as the next day
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• Discreet packaging & confidential service - we don't include any branding or pharmacy logo on our packaging meaning you can get your treatment delivered anywhere
• UK based and GMC UK registered Doctors
• Only proven prescription medication available
• Approved by the National Pharmacy Association and CareQuality Commission

Some Non-Medicinal Alternatives for the symptoms of Menopause are;

For Night Sweats and Hot Flushes

• Using A fan
• Cool Showers
• Wearing light clothing

Vaginal Dryness

• Lubricants

Other Alternatives

• Healthy diet and regular exercise
• Stopping Smoking

Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.

Elleste Duet is unsuitable for you if you:

• Have ever had breast cancer
• May have a cancer which is sensitive to oestrogen (including uterine cancer)
• Have untreated endometrial hyperplasia (an excessively thick womb lining)
• Suffer from a blood clotting disorder, or have ever had a blood clot
• Have recently had a heart attack or stroke
• Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Have a history of liver disease
• Suffer from porphyria (a rare hereditary blood disease)
• Are allergic to any of the ingredients in Elleste Duet
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Inform your GP if you plan on taking Elleste Duet and have ever had any of the following health complications:

• Fibroids
• Uterine problems including endometriosis or endometrial hyperplasia
• Otosclerosis (a hereditary ear disorder)
• High fat levels in the blood
• Fluid retention
• A history of severe allergic reactions

Tell your GP or pharmacist if you have taken or plan to take any of the following medicines:

• Epilepsy medicines (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine)
• Tuberculosis medicines (e.g. rifampicin)
• HIV medicines (e.g. nevirapine, ritonavir, nelfinavir)
• Anticoagulants (e.g. warafin)
• St Johns Wort

As your body adjusts to Elleste Duet, you may notice breakthrough bleeding or spotting. Talk to your GP if this continues after more than a few months of treatment.

HRT may increase your risk of breast cancer. The extent of this risk will vary depending on the length of your HRT treatment and whether you are taking combined or oestrogen-only HRT. Check your breasts regularly for changes to the skin or nipple, or for any noticeable lump. For women who use HRT for more than five years, there may also be a slight increase in the risk of ovarian cancer.

Stop taking Elleste Duet and seek medical attention immediately if you notice early signs of any of the following:

• Blood clots – pain and swelling of the legs, difficulty breathing
• Stroke – sudden migraines, blurred vision
• Heart disease – chest pain which extends to the neck or arm
• Liver disease – yellow colouration of the skin or eyes

Discuss with your doctor whether your personal benefits of HRT outweigh the risks mentioned above.

Please read all packaging and the Product Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.

Elleste Duet HRT follows a 28-day cycle. If possible, begin taking the tablets on the first day of your period. The pill strip will indicate which tablet you are supposed to take next. Once you finish a pack, start a new one the following day.

Elleste Duet should be taken at a similar time each day, according to the directions on the pack. Swallow the tablet whole with a sip of water. This can be done with or without food.

If, for any reason, you forget to take a tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is more than 12 hours late, skip the dose that you missed. Never double your dose to compensate for a dose that you have missed.

The active ingredients contained in Elleste Duet are:

Estradiol (as hemihydrate), norethisterone acetate (combined tablets only)

Elleste Duet tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients to make up the complete product:

Lactose monohydrate, maize starch, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate, macrogol 400 and hypromellose (E464).

1mg tablets – indigo carmine (E132), quinolone yellow (E104) and titanium dioxide (E171);
2mg tablets – sunset yellow (E110), titanium dioxide (E171), black iron oxide (E172)

Not everyone will experience side effects when they take Elleste Duet, however if you do they can include:

Nausea, headache, breast tenderness, change in libido, anxiety, dizziness, insomnia, stomach cramps, breakthrough bleeding, diarrhoea, indigestion, acne, skin irritation, rash, back pain, discharge from the vagina, fluid retention, weight gain, womb spasms, infection

If you are concerned about these effects, or if the product affects you in any other way, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.