Angeliq Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Angeliq Tablet contains estradiol and drospirenone, a combination of an estrogen and a progestin used as hormone replacement therapy. It is taken once daily by mouth and is intended only for postmenopausal women who still have their uterus. Angeliq treats hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness related to menopause, while the progestin component helps protect the uterine lining from estrogen's effects.

What is Angeliq Tablet

Angeliq is a prescription hormone replacement therapy tablet that contains two hormones, estradiol (an estrogen) and drospirenone (a progestin). It is taken by mouth once a day and is only for women who still have their uterus.

Angeliq Tablet uses

• Treats moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats caused by menopause
• Treats moderate to severe vaginal dryness, itching, and burning caused by menopause
• Treats moderate-to-severe menopausal hot flashes
• Treats night sweats associated with menopause
• Treats moderate-to-severe vulvar and vaginal atrophy symptoms

Benefits of Angeliq Tablet

• Reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes
• Relieves vaginal dryness, itching, and burning
• The progestin component helps protect the lining of the uterus from the effects of estrogen

How Angeliq Tablet works

Angeliq replaces estrogen and progesterone hormones that the ovaries make less of after menopause. The estradiol replaces lost estrogen to ease hot flashes and vaginal dryness, while the drospirenone acts like progesterone to balance estrogen's effect on the growth of the uterine lining.

Angeliq Tablet dosage

Take one tablet at the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole; do not break, crush, dissolve, or chew it. Treatment is continuous, meaning you start a new pack right after finishing the last one without a break. If you cannot swallow the tablet whole, tell your healthcare provider since you may need a different medicine. Angeliq can be taken without regard to food. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible, but skip it if it has been too long since the missed dose. Talk with your healthcare provider regularly, such as every 3 to 6 months, about whether you still need this treatment. If you are having surgery or will be on bed rest for a long time, your doctor may tell you to stop taking this medicine for a short time.

Available forms and strengths

Angeliq is available as a tablet.

Side effects of Angeliq Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
• Stomach or abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vaginal yeast infection or itching
• Fluid retention (swelling, rapid weight gain)
• Mood changes
• Changes in menstrual periods

Serious

• Heart attack (chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating)
• Stroke (sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache, slurred speech, vision or balance problems)
• Blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (leg pain/swelling, sudden vision loss, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood)
• Breast cancer
• Cancer of the uterus (womb) lining
• Cancer of the ovary
• Probable dementia
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar
• Gallbladder disease
• Liver problems, including jaundice
• Enlargement of uterine fibroids
• High potassium levels in the blood
• Severe allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat)

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use estrogen plus progestin, or estrogen alone, to try to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or dementia — these medicines may actually raise that risk.
• Taking estrogen with progestin may raise your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, or blood clots.
• Taking estrogen with progestin may increase the chance of dementia, based on a study of women 65 and older.
• Do not start this medicine if you have had your uterus removed, since the progestin is meant to protect the uterine lining and isn't needed without a uterus.
• Do not start this medicine if you have unusual vaginal bleeding that hasn't been checked by a doctor, since it could be a sign of uterine cancer.
• Do not use this medicine if you currently have or have had certain cancers, since estrogens may increase the chance of some cancers.
• Avoid smoking while on this medicine, as it greatly increases the risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack.
• Avoid grapefruit products, as grapefruit may interact with this medicine and cause unwanted side effects.
• If you need major surgery or will be on long-term bed rest, you may need to stop taking this medicine for a while because of a higher blood clot risk.
• Do not take Angeliq if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking it.
• Angeliq should not be used while breastfeeding, as it can reduce the amount of breast milk you make and the hormone can pass into your milk.
• Angeliq should not be used if you have kidney disease, because of the risk of increased potassium levels in the blood.
• Angeliq should not be used if you have liver disease or impairment, due to increased drug levels and the risk of high potassium.
• Drinking alcohol while using this hormone therapy may raise the amount of estradiol in your blood.
• Angeliq usually does not directly impair driving, but dizziness or other individual effects should be considered.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C)
• Keep Angeliq and all medicines out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away for signs of an allergic reaction: hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder, nausea, or sweating.
• Call your doctor right away if you have signs of a stroke, such as sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache, slurred speech, or vision/balance problems.
• Call your doctor right away if you have signs of a blood clot, such as sudden vision loss, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or leg pain or warmth.
• Call your doctor if you notice sudden loss of vision, swelling with rapid weight gain, yellowing of skin or eyes, memory problems or confusion, unusual vaginal bleeding, a breast lump, or signs of high blood sugar.
• Report any unusual vaginal bleeding to your healthcare provider as soon as possible, since it may need to be checked out.

Alternatives

• Estradiol + progesterone
• Estradiol + norethindrone
• Estradiol + levonorgestrel
• Conjugated estrogens + medroxyprogesterone