Elleste Solo tablets

Elleste Solo is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It contains the female hormone

oestrogen (estradiol hemihydrate). Elleste Solo is used for:

Relief of symptoms occurring after menopause

In the years leading up to menopause, the amount of the oestrogen produced by a woman’s body drops. This can cause symptoms such as hot face, neck and chest (‘hot flashes’). Elleste Solo alleviates these symptoms after menopause. You will only be prescribed Elleste Solo if your symptoms seriously hinder your daily life.

Prevention of osteoporosis

After menopause some women may develop fragile bones (osteoporosis). Elleste Solo can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. This medicine is sometimes also used to treat women whose periods have stopped.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.

If you are still having regular periods, take your first tablet on the first day of bleeding.

If you are not having regular periods, you can start straight away.

• Take one tablet each day. You can take the tablet at a time of the day that suits you. But it is best to take it about the same time each day.
• Swallow the tablets whole, with some water.
• Follow the direction of the arrows on the pack and take a tablet each day until the pack is empty. All the tablets are the same.
• The days of the week are marked on the strip to help you to remember to take one each day.
• When you finish a foil strip, start a new strip on the next day.

If you have not had a hysterectomy, and you are also taking a progestogen, you will probably have a monthly bleed. In the first few months you may get irregular bleeding. However, if this carries on you should tell your doctor.

For more information about the use of Elleste Solo, see the package leaflet.

If you forget to take Elleste Solo

Take the tablet as soon as you remember and take the next one at the normal time.

If you have missed your tablet by more than 12 hours, dispose of this tablet safely and take the next one at the normal time. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten tablet. If you have not had a hysterectomy, you may experience some breakthrough bleeding or spotting.

If you take more Elleste Solo than you should

There should be no problems, but you may feel sick or actually be sick. If you are worried contact your doctor. Take the usual tablet the following day.

The use of HRT carries risks which need to be considered when deciding whether to start taking it, or whether to carry on taking it. More information about these risks can be found in the package leaflet.

Do not take Elleste Solo if any of the following applies to you.

• You have or have ever had breast cancer, or if you are suspected of having it.
• You have cancer which is sensitive to oestrogens, such as cancer of the womb lining (endometrium), or if you are suspected of having it.
• You have any unexplained vaginal bleeding.
• You have excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated.
• You have or have ever had a blood clot in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
• You have a blood clotting disorder (such as protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency).
• You have or recently have had a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries, such as a heart attack, stroke or angina.
• You have or have ever had a liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal.
• You have a rare blood problem called ‘porphyria' which is passed down in families (inherited).
• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to estradiol hemihydrate or any of the other ingredients of Elleste Solo.

If any of the above conditions appear for the first time while taking Elleste Solo, stop taking it at once and consult your doctor immediately.

Note: There are more warnings associated with Elleste Solo. For a complete list of warnings and precautions, please see the package leaflet.

• Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines. Some medicines may interfere with the effect of Elleste Solo (see the package leaflet for more information).
• If you are going to have surgery, you may need to stop taking Elleste Solo. Tell the surgeon that you are taking Elleste Solo or talk to your doctor.
• Elleste Solo is for use in postmenopausal women only. If you become pregnant, stop taking Elleste Solo and contact your doctor.

Elleste Solo is only available on prescription. If you are a candidate for this medicine, the doctor can write a prescription for Elleste Solo after an online consultation.

If you would like to know what Elleste Solo tablets cost, please check our order page for the current price. The price listed includes the cost for the consultation and a service fee.

Like all medicines, Elleste Solo can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The following diseases are reported more often in women using HRT compared to women not using HRT:

• Breast cancer.
• Abnormal growth or cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia or cancer).
• Ovarian cancer.
• Blood clots in the veins of the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism).
• Heart disease.
• Stroke.
• Probable memory loss if HRT is started over the age of 65.

For more information about these side effects, see the package leaflet.

The following side effects have been associated with Elleste Solo:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): 

Feeling sick, stomach cramps, headache, an increase in size of fibroids in the womb,

breakthrough bleeding, changes in weight, oedema (swelling) of legs, breast tenderness and enlargement, mood changes, changes in sex drive.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): 

Indigestion, being sick, flatulence, gallstones and gallbladder disease, feeling

dizzy, migraine, vaginal thrush, increase in blood pressure, leg cramps.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): 

Loss of hair from the scalp, increase in body and facial hair, itchiness, rashes.

This list is not exhaustive. See the package leaflet for a list of all possible side effects. If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the leaflet.

• Elleste Solo 1-mg tablets contain the active substance one milligram estradiol (as hemihydrate).
• Elleste Solo 2-mg tablets contain the active substance two milligrams estradiol (as hemihydrate).

(The estradiol hemihydrate used to make Elleste Solo does not come from animals).

• The tablets also contain: lactose monohydrate, maize starch, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate, macrogol 400, titanium dioxide (E171), and hypromellose (E464).
• Elleste Solo 2 mg has the extra ingredient sunset yellow (E110).