Zumenon

What is Zumenon HRT?

Zumenon is a powerful form of HRT that contains a synthetic form of oestrogen called estradiol.

During menopause, the levels of oestrogen in the body begin to drop, leading to symptoms such as hot flushes, thinning hair, night sweats and a disrupted menstrual cycle. There are lots of different menopause symptoms that women can experience before, during and after menopause.

Zumenon tops up oestrogen levels at this time, alleviating distressing or frustrating symptoms so that you can feel more comfortable and able to get on with daily life.

You will be prescribed either 1 mg or 2 mg of Zumenon. This dose will be regularly reviewed to ensure this is the correct strength for you. Because HRT can increase the risk of developing certain cancers and blood clots, it is advised that women only take the lowest possible dose for the shortest amount of time to manage their symptoms.

Zumenon tablets are manufactured by Mylan and come in packs of 84.

What is Zumenon used for?

Zumenon is used to alleviate menopause symptoms. When taken correctly and at the optimum dose, Zumenon tablets can help significantly improve some women’s quality of life during or after menopause.

Zumenon can reduce the following symptoms of menopause:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Difficulty sleeping
• Vaginal dryness and irritation
• Reduced sex drive
• Headaches
• Low mood or mood changes
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Bloating
• Digestive problems
• Thinning hair
• Joint pain
• Weight gain

Zumenon can help to treat these symptoms, providing relief during menopause.

How does Zumenon work?

During menopause, a woman’s ovaries naturally reduce the production of the hormone oestrogen.

Zumenon is an HRT — hormone replacement therapy. HRT is designed to replace the hormones oestrogen and progesterone that decrease during menopause.

In particular, decreasing oestrogen levels are responsible for most menopause symptoms that are experienced, ranging from physical symptoms such as hot flushes to psychological effects such as low mood or irritability.

Zumenon tablets contain either 1 mg or 2 mg of the active ingredient estradiol (or estradiol hemihydrate), which copies how oestrogen works and increases oestrogen levels in the body.

By taking this extra oestrogen every day, women can ease the symptoms they experience at this time.

Zumenon and weight gain

Weight changes (either loss or gain) are listed as a side effect of Zumenon because some users have reported it.

However, it is difficult to say whether Zumenon and weight gain are truly linked, and there is currently little clinical evidence to suggest weight changes are a result of using Zumenon. There is currently no research that concludes that any form of HRT genuinely causes weight gain.

Women of menopausal age tend to notice an increase in their weight, regardless of whether they are using any form of HRT or not. This is because of the decrease in hormones — low oestrogen levels have recently been linked to weight gain, causing a lower metabolic rate, an increase in appetite, and a build-up of fat.

Ageing is also a factor to consider, with the loss of muscle mass, a naturally slowing metabolism and reduced activity levels all contributing to weight gain around this time.

It is therefore recommended that you should continue to get regular exercise and eat a balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight.

Weight gain may also be due to fluid retention and digestive issues, making women feel bloated. This will usually resolve within the first three months of use.

How long does Zumenon take to work?

You should notice a significant improvement in menopausal symptoms during the first few weeks of starting to take Zumenon.

You may experience some side effects during these first few weeks or months of treatment, while your body gets used to the new hormone levels. You can read more about Zumenon side effects here.

It can take up to three or four months for some users to see the full benefit of HRTs like Zumenon.

If you don’t think that Zumenon is helping to alleviate your symptoms within this time — or it is making you feel worse — then it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor and review your HRT treatment. They may suggest changing your dose (either increasing or decreasing) or trying another type of HRT. Your GP will probably start you off on the Zumenon 1mg strength tablets before changing to a stronger dose if your symptoms do not improve in time.

Other hormone replacement therapy options

There are multiple HRT options available on prescription, including those containing just oestrogen, or combined HRT containing both oestrogen and progesterone. The right treatment for you will depend on a few different things.

Zumenon alternatives: oestrogen-only HRTs

Elleste Solo and Progynova are different brands of HRT which contain the same active ingredient as Zumenon — estradiol (a version of oestrogen).

Because these HRTs are so similar, your GP may prescribe any of them for you, and you are unlikely to encounter any unexpected side effects or have a different experience. However, if you are concerned about this, you can speak to your doctor for assurance.

Like Zumenon, both Progynova and Elleste Solo are only recommended for people who have had a hysterectomy, unless taken alongside progesterone. This is because it carries an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer when taken alone.

For more information about which HRTs you can buy from The Independent Pharmacy, visit our dedicated menopause advice and treatment page.

If you are looking to start HRT or would like to change to a different treatment, you should discuss your options with your doctor or specialist.

Zumenon dosage

Before taking Zumenon, you must ensure that you have read and understood how to take it. Your doctor or pharmacist will give you this information with your prescription, or you can find it detailed in the Patient Information Leaflet.

Please note:

• Zumenon is for oral use only, to prevent menopause symptoms
• Zumenon tablets should be taken once a day at the dose prescribed for you
• Tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water
• Each strip contains 28 tablets. Once you finish the strip, start your next strip the following day without a break
• If you are prescribed Zumenon and you have a womb, you should also be prescribed a form of HRT that contains a form of progesterone to take at the same time as Zumenon for the first 12-14 days of each new strip
• You can start taking Zumenon on any suitable day if you aren’t using HRT, or if you are switching from a combined continuous drug or you don’t have any periods
• If you currently use cyclic or sequential HRT medicine, you should start Zumenon when you have finished your current prescription

Please make sure you read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before taking Zumenon.

What if I miss a Zumenon pill?

If you forget to take a Zumenon tablet (or miss your dose for whatever reason) and you notice within 12 hours, then you should take the missed dose straight away. After this, you should continue to take your normal dose as prescribed.

If you forget your dose and it’s more than 12 hours late, then do not take the forgotten pill. Instead, take your next pill when you normally would and then continue your course of treatment from there. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

This is the same for both Zumenon 1mg and Zumenon 2mg tablets.

Zumenon ingredients

It is a good idea to know what is in any medication before you start taking it — especially if you have any known allergies.

Below is a list of the active and inactive ingredients in Zumenon. You can find the full ingredients list in the Patient Information Leaflet.

Each Zumenon tablet contains the active ingredient estradiol hemihydrate.

The Zumenon 1mg tablets contain 1mg of the active ingredient, estradiol hemihydrate. In Zumenon 2mg tablets, there are 2mg of estradiol hemihydrate.

Each Zumenon tablet contains the inactive ingredients:

• Lactose
• Hypromellose
• Maize starch
• Magnesium stearate
• Titanium dioxide (E171)
• Colloidal anhydrous silica
• Macrogol 400

Please make sure you read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before taking Zumenon tablets.

Zumenon side effects

As with any medicine, people taking Zumenon may experience some side effects.

This doesn’t mean that you will experience side effects — many people take this HRT and have a very positive experience with few or no side effects. However, there is a risk that you may encounter adverse effects.

The most common Zumenon side effects (found in less than 1 in 10, but more than 1 in 100 patients) include:

• Headaches (some severe headaches)
• Nausea
• Leg cramps
• Stomach or pelvic pain
• Irregular bleeding or spotting
• Flatulence/wind
• Weight gain or loss
• Rashes or itching

If you experience any side effects that do not go away within the first few months of using Zumenon, or if they worsen, speak to your doctor immediately.

If you develop severe side effects or an allergic reaction while using Zumenon, stop taking your tablets straight away and seek medical attention by calling 999 or attending your nearest emergency department.

Please make sure you read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before taking Zumenon.

Zumenon warnings

Before taking any new medicine, familiarise yourself with the possible health risks and side effects. Carefully reading the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your Zumenon prescription will help.

Taking any HRT treatment, including Zumenon tablets, increases the risk of you developing several health conditions.

If you have any questions or concerns you should discuss these with your GP or specialist.

You will only be able to continue purchasing Zumenon tablets online as a repeat prescription from The Independent Pharmacy if you stay up-to-date with your annual check-up with your GP.

Here are a few important points to note about taking Zumenon:

• Zumenon tablets are not suitable for use by everyone, and should not be used if you have ever had or are at risk of oestrogen-sensitive cancer, blood clots, have a blood clotting disorder or have liver disease
• You should discuss with your doctor or specialist before taking Zumenon tablets if you have or ever have had uterine fibroids, endometriosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallstones, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), epilepsy, asthma, kidney problems, or suffer from migraines as HRT can make these conditions worse
• Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking Zumenon if you are currently taking or have recently stopped taking any other prescribed or non-prescribed medicine including herbal remedies such as St John’s Wort or drinking grapefruit juice

Your doctor will be able to advise you on how to proceed if you suffer from any of the above health conditions, take prescribed or non-prescribed medicine which may not react well with Zumenon, or if you are at risk in any other way.

They may suggest alternative treatment options if appropriate.

Zumenon tablets and cancer (including breast cancer & endometrial cancer)

Zumenon, similarly to other oestrogen-only HRT, can lead to an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer (cancer of the womb or uterus) or ovarian cancer.

Zumenon should therefore only be used by women who do not have a uterus (who have had a hysterectomy). If you’ve had a hysterectomy, Zumenon no longer posts this risk for you. If you do have a uterus and you are prescribed Zumenon, you would also be prescribed a progesterone HRT to reduce these risks.

Oestrogen-only medication can also lead to an increased breast cancer risk. Taking Zumenon tablets may also increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer.

It is important to regularly check your breasts for any variations including lumps and dimples at least monthly. If you notice any irregularities, breast pain, or anything that doesn’t feel right, you should get these checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

It’s important that you see your GP if you have any symptoms. For many people, breast cancer (especially invasive breast cancer, the most common type) is found during screening. For lots of people, the earlier you are diagnosed, the more likely it is that treatment will be successful.

Zumenon and blood clots

While using any form of HRT (hormone replacement therapy), you are up to three times more likely to develop either a venous or arterial blood clot.

Developing blood clots can be very dangerous — leading to heart attacks and strokes. They may even be life-threatening.

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of a blood clot or developing blood clots, you must either call 111 or see a doctor straight away.

Zumenon & pregnancy

Zumenon is a hormone replacement therapy used to treat menopause symptoms. It will not protect against pregnancy and should only be taken by women experiencing menopause or postmenopausal women.

It should not be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because the active ingredient, estradiol hemihydrate, can be passed to the baby.

If you think you have become pregnant while using Zumenon, speak to a doctor immediately for advice.