Elleste Duet Conti Tablets

Elleste Duet Conti 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). Elleste Duet Conti is a continuous combined treatment, meaning that each tablet contains a dose of both estradiol and norethisterone. This form of HRT does not involve a regular period. For this reason, Elleste Duet Conti is suited for women who have already reached the menopause but still suffer from distressing symptoms.

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. So, each Elleste Duet Conti tablet also contains 1mg of norethisterone, a synthetic version of progesterone. Because the doses are constant, this medicine will not produce a monthly bleed; however, the norethisterone will balance the effect of the extra oestrogen on the endometrium.

As your body adjusts to Elleste Duet Conti, 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.

Why choose The Independent Pharmacy?

• Fast - order before 4pm and receive your treatment as quickly as the next day
• Free online consultation service with one of our registered GMC doctors
• 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 Conti 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 Conti
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

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

• Fibroids
• Impaired liver function
• Uterine problems including endometriosis or endometrial hyperplasia
• Circulation problems (e.g. angina, heart attack)
• High risk of blood clots
• Diabetes
• Migraine
• Gallstones
• An autoimmune disorder
• Asthma
• Epilepsy
• Fluid retention
• High blood pressure
• High fat levels in the blood
• Obesity
• Otosclerosis (a hereditary ear disorder)
• A history of severe allergic reactions
• A family history of breast cancer or another oestrogen-sensitive cancer

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 Conti, 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 Conti 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.

Each blister pack of Elleste Duet Conti contains 28 daily tablets. After 28 days, start a new pack the next day without an interval.

Elleste Duet Conti 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 Conti are:

Estradiol (as hemihydrate), norethisterone acetate

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

Lactose monohydrate, maize starch, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate, macrogol 400, titanium dioxide (E171), black iron oxide (E172), hypromellose (E464)

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

Anxiety, change in libido, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, diarrhoea, indigestion, bloating, acne, skin irritation, back pain, discharge from the vagina, fluid retention, womb spasms, infection, pain, weight gain, breast enlargement

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.