Kliovance Tablets

Kliovance are branded tablets and are a common HRT treatment that relieves symptoms that occur after the menopause.

These include:

• hot flushes (sudden feeling of heat to the face, chest, and neck)
• night sweats
• mood changes
• reduced sex drive
• sleeping difficulties

Kliovance tablets are recommended for women who are having menopause symptoms and have not had a period in the last 12 months.

Like with most HRT treatments, it may take a few weeks to feel the effects of Kliovance. If you do not notice a significant improvement in your symptoms by then, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice. You should take your tablet at the same time each day for the best effect.

You should take one Kliovance tablet each day, at roughly the same time. Once you have taken all 28 tablets in the pack, you should continue onto the next without any interruptions. You can start treatment on any day that suits you. However, if you are changing from an HRT product that caused monthly bleeding symptoms, you should begin Kliovance treatment immediately after the bleeding has stopped. Kliovance tablets can be taken with or without food.

Should you take more Kliovance tablets than instructed, this can make you feel or be sick. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist who can give advice. If you forget to take a tablet, aim to take the next within 12 hours. Forgetting a dose may increase the chance of breakthrough bleeding and spotting.

If you would like to stop Kliovance treatment, it is best to consult with your doctor first. They will explain the effects of stopping and discuss other options with you.

If you are postmenopausal and have your womb, there are other combined HRT treatments you can use, other than Kliovance.

These include:

• Elleste Duet Conti
• Estradot and Utrogestan
• Evorel Conti
• Femoston-conti
• Kliofem
• Tibolone

If you no longer have your womb then you should use oestrogen-only HRT treatments instead.

These include:

• Estriol
• Oestrogel
• Ovestin
• Vagifem
• Vagirux

Combined HRT treatments are usually provided in tablet form, or as a skin patch. Tablets are taken once a day without interruption. Skin patches are applied to the skin and can be replaced every few days. Oestrogen-only HRT treatments can be provided in tablet or patch form, but also as a gel or cream too.

If you cannot take HRT, or choose not to, you may wish to consider alternative ways of managing postmenopausal symptoms. Certain lifestyle measures may help in reducing some postmenopausal symptoms.

These include:

• avoiding smoking
• following a balanced diet
• exercising daily
• staying cool at night
• reducing stress levels

Like with all HRTs, Kliovance tablets can have side effects. However, not everyone will get them.

Common side effects of Kliovance tablets include:

• vaginal bleeding
• breast pain or tenderness
• headache
• nausea
• back pain
• swelling of legs and arms

Uncommon side effects of Kliovance tablets include:

• hair loss (alopecia)
• bloating, discomfort, swelling, abdominal pain
• acne
• leg cramps
• hives or itching (urticaria)

Although rare, there are serious side effects of Kliovance tablets, such as:

• blood clots in the lungs (lung embolism)
• blood clots in the blood vessels of the legs (deep vein thrombosis)
• cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial cancer)
• increase in blood pressure
• heartburn
• dizziness, insomnia, anxiety

Although it is uncommon, some women may get an allergic reaction to Kliovance tablets.

Signs to look out for include:

• difficulty breathing
• low blood pressure
• itching or hives
• rapid heartbeat

If you get any of the symptoms above, you must stop taking Kliovance tablets straight away and visit A&E. Do not delay in seeking treatment as they could be signs of anaphylactic shock.

There are certain medicines which may interfere with how well Kliovance tablets work. This could also lead to irregular bleeding.

This applies to medicines for:

• tuberculosis (like rifabutin)
• epilepsy (like phenytoin, and phenobarbital)
• HIV infections (like ritonavir, and nevirapine)
• hepatitis C infections (like telaprevir)

Before you take Kliovance tablets, your doctor or pharmacist will ask about your own family’s medical history. You may have a physical examination carried out too to ensure you are suitable for treatment.

You should not take Kliovance tablets if you:

• have or have had breast cancer
• have or have had cancer that is sensitive to oestrogens
• have any unexplained vaginal bleeding
• have or have had a blood clot in the vein (thrombosis)
• are allergic to estradiol or norethisterone acetate

Before you begin treatment, you should tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• high blood pressure
• increased risk of getting blood clots
• fibroids inside your womb
• lactose intolerance
• liver disorder (like a benign liver tumour)

This is because they could return or get worse while you take Kliovance tablets.

As you start taking Kliovance tablets, you may get irregular bleeding or drops of blood (spotting) in the first 3 to 6 months.

You should see your doctor straight away if the irregular bleeding:

• continues after the first 6 months
• begins after you have been taking Kliovance for over 6 months
• remains after you have finished taking Kliovance

Although weight gain caused by fluid retention is classed as a common side effect of Kliovance tablets, no evidence supports this claim. You may gain some weight during and after the menopause, but this normally happens regardless of whether you use HRT or not. Regular exercise and eating healthily should help you avoid putting on any unwanted weight.