If you are looking for information on other Femston products, please see below:
Femoston-conti
First of all, thank you for choosing Numan. If your prescription request for Femoston 1mg/10mg or 2mg/10mg Tablets has been accepted, or if you considering whether this treatment may be suitable for you, we'd like to help you learn how to use it to its best effect, and give you some important information before you start taking it.
What is it?
Femoston is a sequential combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that comes in two different strengths. Each 28-day pack contains two types of tablets:
In Femoston 1mg/10mg, this pack contains 14 white tablets containing 1mg of estradiol (an oestrogen), and 14 grey tablets containing both 1mg of estradiol and 10mg of dydrogesterone (a progestogen).
In Femoston 2mg/10mg, this pack contains 14 brick-red tablets with 2mg of estradiol, and 14 yellow tablets with 2mg of estradiol plus 10mg of dydrogesterone (a progestogen).
What is it used for?
Femoston is used to relieve the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, such as hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. It is also licensed for the prevention of osteoporosis after menopause in women who are at a high risk of future fractures, and for whom other preventative treatments are not suitable.
How long does it take to work?
Many women notice an improvement in their symptoms within a few weeks of starting treatment. However, it can sometimes take up to three months for your body to adjust and for you to feel the full benefits.
How do I use it?
For menopausal symptoms in women with a uterus: You should take one tablet orally each day, starting within 5 days of your period (or at any time if you no longer have periods), without a break between packs, at about the same time each day. The days of the week are printed on the back of the blister strips.
For Femoston 1mg/10mg:
Firstly, the tablets from the part marked with arrow 1 should be taken, then all the tablets from the part marked with arrow 2 should be taken.
You take one white tablet (estradiol only) daily for the first 14 days of the cycle, followed by one grey tablet (estradiol and dydrogesterone) daily for the next 14 days.
This completes a 28-day cycle, after which you start the next pack immediately. A monthly withdrawal bleed, similar to a period, is expected to occur during the second half of the cycle or after you finish the pack.
For Femoston 2mg/10mg:
Firstly, the tablets from the part marked with arrow 1 should be taken, then all the tablets from the part marked with arrow 2 should be taken.
You take one brick-red tablet (estradiol only) daily for the first 14 days of the cycle, followed by one yellow tablet (estradiol and dydrogesterone) daily for the next 14 days.
This completes a 28-day cycle, after which you start the next pack immediately. A monthly withdrawal bleed, similar to a period, is expected to occur during the second half of the cycle or after you finish the pack.
Missed dose: If you forget to take a dose, you should take the dose as soon as possible. If more than 12 hours have elapsed since your dose was due, it is recommended to continue with the next dose without taking the forgotten tablet. The likelihood of breakthrough bleeding or spotting may be increased with missed doses, however. Always take this medicine exactly as instructed, and check with your healthcare provider if you are not sure.
Special dosing requirements
The 1mg/10mg tablet dose of Femoston is a common starting dose for this form of sequential HRT, though your dose may be increased by your clinician prescriber depending on your symptoms and response to treatment. The goal of HRT is always to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to manage your symptoms.
There are no special dosage requirements for elderly patients, though experience in treating women over 65 years is limited. This medicine is not for use in children.
Information on fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy: Femoston is not a contraceptive and is intended for use only in post-menopausal women. If it is less than 12 months since your last menstrual period or you are under 50 years old, you may still need to use additional contraception to prevent pregnancy. Speak to your healthcare provider for advice on this. If you become pregnant while taking it, you must stop treatment immediately and contact your healthcare provider.
Breastfeeding: Femoston is not indicated during breastfeeding.
Other important safety information
The progestogen (dydrogesterone) in Femoston is included to protect the womb lining from the effects of oestrogen, which is important if you have not had a hysterectomy or are taking any other progesterone treatment.
What are the associated risks with treatment?
Common side effects of treatment with Femoston include headache, abdominal pain, back pain, and breast tenderness or pain. Irregular bleeding or spotting can occur, especially in the first few months. As an oral (systemic) form of HRT, Femoston is associated with a small increased risk of blood clots (venous thromboembolism), stroke, and breast cancer. The risk of ovarian cancer may also be slightly increased. These risks are generally small and depend on factors like your age, medical history, and how long you take HRT for. For a full list of side effects, please see the Patient Information Leaflet provided with your medication and also linked at the bottom of this page.
What monitoring or follow-up is needed to continue taking treatment safely?
Your clinician will review your treatment after three months to check how you’re responding. After that, you should have a check-up at least once a year. These reviews will assess whether HRT is still right for you, make sure your symptoms are under control, ask about any side effects and vaginal bleeding, request a check of your weight and your blood pressure, and decide if you need further tests such as a bone density scan. You should also examine your breasts regularly, and make sure to attend all routine screening appointments such as mammograms and cervical screening, if applicable to you. If you have a premature menopause, the risks of using HRT may be different, which you should discuss with your clinician.
When to stop treatment
You should stop using Femoston immediately and consult your doctor if you experience any of the following: signs of a blood clot (e.g. painful swelling in the leg), a swollen face, tongue and/or throat and/or difficulty swallowing or hives, together with difficulty breathing which are suggestive of an angioedema, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), a significant increase in your blood pressure, the new onset of a migraine-type headache, or if you become pregnant. When you and your clinician decide it is time to stop HRT, the dose is often reduced gradually to help prevent your menopausal symptoms from returning suddenly.
Conditions which need supervision
Meningioma: The occurrence of meningiomas (single and multiple) has been reported in association with use of Femoston. Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of meningiomas in accordance with clinical practice. If a patient is diagnosed with meningioma, any oestradiol/dydrogesterone containing treatment must be stopped. Tumour shrinkage has been observed after treatment discontinuation.
If any of the following conditions are present, have occurred previously, and/or have been aggravated during pregnancy or previous hormone treatment, you should be closely supervised, as these conditions may recur or be aggravated during treatment with Femoston 1mg/10mg and 2mg/10mg Tablets, in particular:
Leiomyoma (uterine fibroids) or endometriosis
Risk factors for thromboembolic disorders
Risk factors for oestrogen dependent tumours, e.g. 1st degree heredity for breast cancer
Hypertension
Liver disorders (e.g. liver adenoma)
Diabetes mellitus with or without vascular involvement
Cholelithiasis
Migraine or (severe) headache
Systemic lupus erythematosus
A history of endometrial hyperplasia
Epilepsy
Asthma
Otosclerosis
Storage instructions
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions. Keep out of reach of children.
Further information:
If you have questions about your medication, wish to discuss alternative treatment plans, or need reassurance, our clinicians are available to provide expert advice and support. Just email us at [email protected].
Lastly, please read the Patient Information Leaflet linked below and included with your treatment for a full list of side effects, contraindications, and precautions.
