Elleste Duet Conti Tablets

Elleste duet conti tablets are taken once a day and should always be taken at the same time each day. The tablets should be taken whole, with a glass of water. You do not need to eat when taking the tablet. Each day will be marked on the strip of tablets included in the tablet pack, to help you to remember. If you have been taking a different form of HRT before taking Elleste duet conti tablets, follow any instructions from your doctor.

If you are due to have surgery, you must stop taking Elleste duet conti tablets around 4 to 6 weeks before. This is to reduce the chance of blood clots. Speak to your doctor to see when it is safe to take your treatment again. If you forget a dose, take your dose when you remember and the dose at your usual time. If your dose is over 12 hours late, take the next dose at your usual time and discard the previous tablet. Never double dose to make up for the missed dose, as this could cause breakthrough bleeding.

There are many other forms of HRT treatments, including:

• vaginal rings, such as ESTRING
• vaginal gels or creams, such as Estriol
• skin patches, such as Estradot and Evorel Conti
• vaginal pessaries, such as Vagifem

For some women, tablets like Elleste duet conti may not be suitable, so vaginal treatments or skin patches may be a better option. If you have vaginal dryness, a vaginal cream, tablet, or pessary can be used to treat this.

There are some things you can do at home to help with postmenopausal symptoms, such as:

• avoiding triggers to hot flushes, such as caffeine, alcohol, smoking, and spicy foods
• wearing light clothing
• cooling down with a cold shower, a cold drink, or using air conditioning
• reducing your stress levels through yoga, or therapy, especially if you have mood swings
• losing weight if you are overweight
• taking vitamins and supplements such as vitamin D if you are at risk of osteoporosis

Before taking Elleste duet conti tablets, speak to your doctor if you have:

• high blood pressure
• gallstones
• diabetes
• an increased risk of cancer sensitive to oestrogen, such as breast cancer
• a liver disorder
• fibroids, which are growths inside the womb
• excessive growth of the lining of the womb
• an increased risk of blood clots
• severe headaches, or migraines
• an immune system disease
• asthma
• epilepsy
• otosclerosis, a disease that affects hearing
• triglycerides, a high level of fat in the blood
• fluid retention, especially if this is caused by kidney or heart problems

You may still be able to use Elleste duet conti tablets if your doctor has said it's safe to do so, but you must have regular checkups.

You should stop taking your tablets and see a doctor straight away if you notice:

• jaundice symptoms, such as yellow skin
• a rise in blood pressure, such as dizziness and headaches
• signs of a blood clot, such as sudden chest pain and redness or swelling in the legs
• migraines, if you do not usually get them

If you become pregnant, stop treatment, and speak with your doctor.

There are some medications that interact with Elleste duet conti tablets, such as medications for:

• HIV
• tuberculosis
• epilepsy

If you take any other medication, speak with your doctor to make sure you are safe to take Elleste duet conti tablets. You should also speak to your doctor if you take any herbal remedies, especially any containing St John’s wort.

You may get some side effects from taking Elleste duet conti tablets but many of these will get better as your body gets used to the treatment.

The most common side effects are:

• headaches
• pain or tenderness in the breasts
• vaginal discharge
• breakthrough bleeding
• high blood pressure
• nausea (feeling sick)
• low mood
• increase in weight
• swelling around the ankles

Speak to your doctor if these symptoms do not go away, or do not get better after taking the treatment for a few weeks.

Uncommon side effects include:

• migraines
• vomiting (being sick)
• muscle cramps
• breast cancer
• high blood pressure

Rare side effects include:

• growths in the womb, such as cysts
• numbness
• muscle weakness
• blood clots
• inflammation in a vein
• hypersensitivity

If you get any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor straight away or visit A&E if it is an emergency. For a further list of side effects and contraindications, please see the patient leaflet.

Elleste duet conti tablets are not suitable for women who have or have had breast cancer, thickening of the womb lining, unexplained vaginal bleeding, liver disease, blood clotting disorders, a blood clot in a vein, heart attack, or stroke. You should also avoid taking these tablets if you are allergic to either of the 2 active ingredients. HRT is not a contraceptive. If you become pregnant whilst taking HRT, stop use and speak to your doctor straight away.