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

Quick overview

Estrofem Tablet contains the hormone estradiol hemihydrate and belongs to the estrogen drug class. It is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used in postmenopausal women, especially those who have had their womb removed, to replace low estrogen levels in the body. It is used to relieve menopause symptoms, prevent osteoporosis in high-risk women, and treat low estrogen after a hysterectomy.

What is Estrofem Tablet

Estrofem is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that contains the female hormone estradiol. It is used in postmenopausal women, especially those who have had their womb removed, to replace low estrogen levels in the body.

Estrofem Tablet uses

• Relief of menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleeplessness, dry vagina, urinary problems, headaches, mood swings, lack of concentration, and loss of energy
• Prevention of osteoporosis (thinning of bones) in women at high risk of fractures who cannot take other medicines for this purpose
• Treatment of low estrogen levels in women who have had a hysterectomy

Benefits of Estrofem Tablet

• Relieves hot flushes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood swings, and fatigue caused by low estrogen
• Relieves vaginal dryness and irritation and related urinary discomfort
• Helps maintain bone density and reduces fracture risk in high-risk postmenopausal women
• Restores estrogen levels after natural menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries or uterus

How Estrofem Tablet works

Estrofem replaces the estrogen hormone that a woman's body stops making enough of after menopause, which helps relieve symptoms caused by this drop in estrogen.

Estrofem Tablet dosage

Take one tablet a day, at about the same time each day. Swallow each tablet with a glass of water. The tablets can be taken with or without food and drink. Once you finish all the tablets in a pack, start a new pack right away without stopping treatment.

If you still have your womb, your doctor may prescribe a separate progestogen medicine to take for part of each cycle, and it is important to take both medicines exactly as prescribed.

If you miss a dose, take it when you remember if it is within 12 hours of the usual time; if more than 12 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take the next one as scheduled; do not take a double dose.

There is only limited experience treating women older than 65 years with this medicine. This medicine should not be used in children or by males.

Available forms and strengths

• Film-coated tablet

Side effects of Estrofem Tablet

Common

• Breast pain, tenderness, or enlargement
• Headache or migraine
• Nausea, abdominal pain, indigestion, or bloating
• Fluid retention (swelling in hands, ankles, or feet) and weight gain
• Mood changes, depression, or trouble sleeping
• Leg cramps
• Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting, especially in the first few months
• Vaginal itching, irritation, or thrush (fungal infection)
• Back pain

Serious

• Blood clots in the veins, lungs, or brain (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke)
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) with hives, swelling of face/lips/tongue, difficulty breathing, fast pulse, or sweating
• Sudden severe headache or migraine that is new for you
• Breast changes such as a lump, dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipple, which may suggest breast cancer
• Unexpected or heavy vaginal bleeding
• Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Large rise in blood pressure (headache, tiredness, dizziness)
• Sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, or painful swelling and redness in the leg (signs of a blood clot)
• Sudden vision problems

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have or have had breast cancer, cancer of the womb lining, or any other estrogen-sensitive cancer.
• Do not use if you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding or untreated thickening of the womb lining.
• Do not use if you have or have had a blood clot in a vein, such as in the legs or lungs, or a blood clotting disorder.
• Do not use if you have or recently had a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries, such as a heart attack, stroke, or angina.
• Using this medicine over a long time can increase the risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks; this extra risk can continue even after stopping the medicine.
• If you still have your womb, taking estrogen alone without a progestogen increases the risk of cancer of the womb lining.
• This medicine may increase the risk of memory loss or dementia, especially in women who start it after age 65.
• Tell your surgeon or dentist you are taking this medicine before any surgery, as you may need to stop it several weeks beforehand to reduce blood clot risk.
• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly or change how you take it without talking to your doctor.
• Do not use Estrofem if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking it, stop the medicine and contact your doctor right away.
• Do not use Estrofem if you are breastfeeding.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or fluid retention due to kidney problems, as you should not use this medicine or may need extra monitoring.
• Do not use Estrofem if you have or have ever had liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal.
• There isn't specific information about drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, but you should tell your doctor if you drink alcohol, since alcohol can also raise the risk of stroke.
• This medicine has no known effect on your ability to drive or use machines, but be careful until you know how it affects you.

Storage

• Keep Estrofem in a cool, dark place where the temperature stays below 25°C
• Do not put Estrofem in the refrigerator
• Keep the calendar pack in the outer carton to protect it from light
• Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not use after the expiry date printed on the pack
• Do not use if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
• Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste; take unused or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you notice signs of a blood clot, such as chest pain that spreads to your arm or neck, trouble breathing, or severe pain and swelling in your calf.
• Call your doctor right away or go to the emergency department if you have a severe allergic reaction with rash, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, wheezing, fast pulse, or sweating.
• Seek medical attention right away if you get a sudden severe headache or migraine that you haven't had before, or sudden vision problems.
• Call your doctor immediately if you notice a breast lump, dimpling of the skin, or changes to the nipple.
• Call your doctor right away if you think you might be pregnant while taking this medicine.
• See your doctor as soon as possible if you have unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting that lasts more than the first six months, starts after six months of treatment, or continues after you stop the medicine.
• Seek medical help if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, which can be a sign of liver problems, or a large rise in blood pressure with headache, tiredness, or dizziness.
• If you think you or someone else has taken too much of this medicine, get medical attention even if there are no symptoms, by contacting your doctor, going to the nearest hospital emergency department, or calling your local poison control center.

Alternatives

• Bijuva
• Progynova
• Estradiol Tablets