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PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

Femoston-conti 0.5 mg /2.5mg film-coated tablets

Active substances: estradiol/dydrogesterone

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

-    Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

-    If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

-    This medicine has been prescribed for you only.

Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.

-    If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or

pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet._

The full name of your medicine is Femoston-conti

0. 5.mg/2.5 mg. In this leaflet the shorter name Femoston-conti is used.

What is in this leaflet:

1.    What Femoston-conti is and what it is used for

2.    What you need to know before you take Femoston-conti

3.    How to take Femoston-conti

4.    Possible side effects

5.    How to store Femoston-conti

6.    Contents of the pack and other information

1.    WHAT FEMOSTON-CONTI IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

What Femoston-conti is

Femoston-conti is a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HFTT). It contains two types of female hormones, * an oestrogen called estradiol and a progestogen called dydrogesterone. Femoston-conti is used in postmenopausal women with at least 12 months since their last natural period.

Femoston-conti is used for

Relief of symptoms occurring after menopause

During the 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 flushes"). Femoston-conti alleviates these symptoms after menopause. You will only be prescribed Femoston-conti if your symptoms seriously hinder your daily life.

2.    WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE FEMOSTON-CONTI

Medical history and regular check-ups

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.

The experience in treating women with a premature menopause (due to ovarian failure or surgery) is limited. If you have a premature menopause the risks of using HRT may be different. Please talk to your doctor.

Before you start (or restart) HRT, your doctor will ask about your own and your family's medical history. Your

Estradiol - Dydrogesterone

SOLID 1000559015

or an internal examination, if necessary.

Once you have started on Femoston-conti you should see your doctor for regular check-ups (at least once a year). At these check-ups, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of continuing with Femoston-conti.

Go for regular breast screening, as recommended by your doctor.

DO NOT take Femoston-conti if any of the following applies to you. If you are not sure about any of the points below, talk to your doctor before taking Femoston-conti.

Do not take Femoston-conti if you

-    are allergic (hypersensitive) to estradiol, dydrogesterone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)

-    have or have ever had breast cancer, or if you are suspected of having it

-    have cancer which is sensitive to oestrogens,

such as cancer of the womb lining (endometrium), or if you are suspected of having it

-    have any unexplained vaginal bleeding

-    have excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated

-    have or have ever had a blood clot in a vein (thrombosis) such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)

-    have a blood clotting disorder (such as protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency)

-    have or recently have had a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries such as a heart attack, stroke or angina

-    have or have ever had a liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal

-    have a rare blood problem called “porphyria” which is passed down in families (inherited)

If any of the above conditions appear for the first time while taking Femoston-conti, stop taking it at once and consult your doctor immediately. '

Warnings and precautions

- Tell your doctor if you have ever had any of the following problems, before you start the treatment,

- as these may return or become worse during

treatment with Femoston-conti. If so, you should see your doctor more often for check-ups:

-    fibroids inside your womb

-    growth of womb lining outside your womb (endometriosis) or a history of excessive growth of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia)

-    a tumour of the brain that may be affected by the levels of progestogens (meningioma)

-    increased risk of developing blood clots (see “Blood clots in a vein (thrombosis)")

-    increased risk of getting an oestrogen-sensitive cancer (such as having a mother, sister or grandmother who has had breast cancer)

-    high blood pressure

-    a liver disorder such as a benign liver tumour

-    diabetes

-    gallstones

-    migraine or severe headaches

-    a disease of the immune system that affects many organs of the body (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE)

-    epilepsy

-    asthma

-    a disease affecting the eardrum and hearing

(otosclerosis)

-    a very high level of fat in your blood (triglycerides)

-    fluid retention due to cardiac or kidney problems

Stop taking Femoston-conti and see a doctor immediately

If you notice any of the following when taking HRT:

-    any of the conditions mentioned in the ‘DO NOT take Femoston-conti’ section

-    yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice). These may be signs of a liver disease

-    a large rise in your blood pressure (symptoms may be headache, tiredness, dizziness)

-    migraine-like headaches which happen for the first time

-    if you become pregnant

-    if you notice signs of a blood clot, such as:

painful swelling and redness of the legs sudden chest pain difficulty in breathing

For more information, see ‘Blood clots in a vein (thrombosis)’

Note: Femoston-conti is not a contraceptive. 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 doctor for advice.

HRT and cancer

Excessive thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasid) and cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial cancer)

Taking oestrogen-only HRT will increase the risk of excessive thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia) and cancer of the womb lining (endometrial cancer).

The progestogen in Femoston-conti protects you from this extra risk.

Irregular bleeding

You may have irregular bleeding or drops of blood (spotting) during the first 3-6 months of taking Femoston-conti. However, if the irregular bleeding:

•    carries on for more than the first 6 months

•    starts after you have been taking Femoston-conti for more than 6 months

•    carries on after you have stopped taking Femoston-conti

See your doctor as soon as possible.

Breast cancer

Evidence suggests that taking combined oestrogen-progestogen and possibly also oestrogen-only HRT increases the risk of breast cancer. The extra risk depends on how long you take HRT. The additional risk becomes clear within a few years. However, it returns to normal within a few years (at most 5) after stopping treatment.

Compare

Women aged 50 to 79 who are not taking HRT, on average, 9 to 14 in 1000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer over a 5-year period. For women aged 50 to 79 who are taking oestrogen-progestogen HRT over 5 years, there will be 13 to 20 cases in 1000 users (i.e. an extra 4 to 6 cases).

-    Regularly check your breasts. See your doctor if you notice any changes such as:

•    dimpling of the skin

•    changes in the nipple

•    any lumps you can see or feel Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is rare. A slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer has been reported in women taking HRT for at least 5 to 10 years.

Compare

Women aged 50 to 69 who are not taking HRT, on average about 2 women in 1000 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer over a 5-year period. For women who have been taking HRT for 5 years, there will be between 2 and 3 cases per 1000 users (i.e. up to 1 extra case).

Effects of HRT on heart and circulation Blood clots in a vein (thrombosid) _v 1.0 The risk of blood clots in the veins is about 1.3 to 3 times higher in HRT users than in non-users, especially during the first year of taking it.

Blood clots can be serious, and if one travels to the lungs, it can cause chest pain, breathlessness, fainting or even death.

You are more likely to get a blood clot in your veins as you get older and if any of the following applies to you. Inform your doctor if any of these situations applies to you:

•    you are unable to walk for a long time because of major surgery, injury or illness (see also section 3, If you need to have surgery)

•    you are seriously overweight (BMI >30 kg/m²)

•    you have any blood clotting problem that needs long-term treatment with a medicine used to prevent blood clots

•    if any of your close relatives has ever had a blood clot in the leg, lung or any other organ

•    you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

•    you have cancer

For signs of a blood clot, see “Stop taking Femoston-conti and see a doctor immediately”.

Compare

Looking at women in their 50s who are not taking HRT, on average, over a 5-year period, 4 to 7 in 1000 would be expected to get a blood clot in a vein.

For women in their 50s who have been taking oestrogen-progestogen HRT for over 5 years, there will be 9 to 12 cases in 1000 users (i.e. an extra 5 cases). Heart disease (heart attack)

There is no evidence that HRT will prevent a heart attack. Women over the age of 60 years who use oestrogen-progestogen HRT are slightly more likely to develop heart disease than those not taking any HRT. Stroke

The risk of getting a stroke is about 1.5 times higher in HRT users than in non-users. The number of extra cases of stroke due to use of HRT will increase with age.

Compare

Looking at women in their 50s who are not taking HRT, on average, 8 in 1000 would be expected to have a stroke over a 5-year period. For women in their 50s who are taking HRT, there will be 11 cases in 1000 users, over 5 years (i.e. 3 extra cases).

Other conditions

HRT will not prevent memory loss. There is some evidence of a higher risk of memory loss in women who start using HRT after the age of 65. Speak to your doctor for advice.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions since he will have to monitor you more closely: heart disease >■ kidney impairment

»- higher than normal levels of certain blood fats (hypertriglyceridemia)

Femoston-conti is not a contraceptive and is not intended to be used by women who could become pregnant.

>- Please ask your doctor for advice Other medicines and Femoston-conti

»- Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Some medicines may interfere with the effect of Femoston-conti. This might lead to irregular bleeding. This applies to the following medicines:

-    medicines for epilepsy (such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin)

-    medicines for tuberculosis (such as rifampicin, rifabutin)

-    medicines for HIV infection [AIDS] (such as ritonavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, efavirenz)

-    herbal remedies containing St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) '

Laboratory tests

If you need a blood test, tell your doctor or the laboratory staff that you are taking Femoston-conti, because this medicine can affect the results of some tests.

1095048

Taking Femoston-conti with food and drink

Femoston-conti can be taken with or without food.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Femoston-conti is for use in postmenopausal women

only.

If you become pregnant

>• stop taking Femoston-conti and contact your doctor.

Driving and using machines

The effect of Femoston-conti on driving or using machinery has not been studied. An effect is unlikely.

Femoston-conti tablets contain lactose.

If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

3.    HOW TO TAKE FEMOSTON-CONTI

Always take Femoston-conti exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

When to start taking Femoston-conti

Do not start taking Femoston-conti until at least 12 months after your last natural period.

You can start taking Femoston-conti on any convenient day if:

•    you are currently not taking any HFTT product

•    you are switching from a “continuous combined” HFtT product. This is where you take a tablet or use a patch every day that contains both, an oestrogen and a progestogen.

You start taking Femoston-conti the day after you finish the 28 day cycle if:

•    you are switching from a ‘cyclic’ or 'sequential' HRT product. This is where you take an oestrogen tablet or use a patch that contains estrogen for the first part of your cycle. Afterwards you take a tablet or use a patch containing both an oestrogen and a progestogen for up to 14 days.

Taking this medicine

•    Swallow the tablet with water.

•    You can take your tablet with or without food.

•    Try to take your tablet at the same time each day. This will make sure that there is a constant amount of the product in your body. This will also help you remember to take your tablets.

•    Take one tablet every day, without a break between packs. The blisters are marked with the days of the week. This makes it easier for you to remember when to take your tablets.

How much to take

•    Your doctor will aim to give you the lowest dose for as short as necessary. Speak to your doctor if you think this dose is too strong or not strong enough.

-    Take one yellow-coloured tablet every day for a 28 day cycle.

If you need to have surgery

Estradiol - Dydrogesterone sot    femoston-conti. You may need to

™ stoptawngFemoston-conti about 4 to 6 weeks before the operation to reduce the risk of a blood clot (see section 2, Blood clots in a vein). Ask your doctor when you can start taking Femoston-conti again.

If you take more Femoston-conti than you should If you (or someone else) take too many Femoston-conti tablets, they are unlikely to come to any harm. You may feel sick (nauseous), sleepy or dizzy or be sick (vomit). No treatment is necessary; but if you are worried contact your doctor for advice.

If you forget to take Femoston-conti

Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember. If it is more than 12 hours after you should have taken the tablet, take the next dose at the regular time. Do not take the forgotten tablet. Do not take a double dose. Bleeding or spotting may occur if you miss a dose.

If you stop taking Femoston-conti

Do not stop taking Femoston-conti without first talking

to your doctor.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4.    POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, Femoston-conti 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 Section 2.

The following side effects may happen with this medicine: '

Common (likely to affect between 1 and 10 in every 100 patients):

-    migraine, headache. If you have a migraine-like headache for the first time, stop taking Femoston-conti and see a doctor immediately "

-    feeling sick (nausea), abdominal pain, wind (flatulence)

-    leg cramps

-    tender or painful breasts, irregular bleeds or spotting, pelvic pain

-    feeling weak (asthenia)

-    weight changes (up or down)

Uncommon (likely to affect between 1 and 10 in every 1,000 patients):

-    cystitis-like symptoms

-    vaginal thrush (a vaginal infection due to a fungus called Candida albicans)

-    growths in the womb (fibroids) get bigger

-    abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)

-    feeling depressed, change in your sex drive, nervousness

-    dizziness

-    blood clots in the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism or pulmonary embolism)

-    high blood pressure (hypertension)

-    problems with your circulation (peripheral vascular disease)

-    enlarged and tortuos (varicose) vein

-    indigestion

-    gall bladder disease

-    allergic skin reactions (such as rash, severe itching (pniritus) or hives (urticaria))

-    back pain

-    erosion of the neck of the womb (uterine cervical erosion), discharge from the neck of the womb (cervical discharge), painful periods (dysmenonhoea)

-    swelling of your ankles, feet or fingers (peripheral oedema) ‘

Rare (likely to affect less than 1 in every 1,000 patients):

-    change in the surface of the eye (steepening of comeal curvature), not being able to wear your contact lenses (contact lenses intolerance)

-    liver disorders, sometimes with yellowing of the skin |jaundice), feeling weak (asthenia) or generally feeling unwell (pialaise), and abdominal pain. If you notice yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes, stop taking Femoston-conti and see a doctor immediately

-    swelling of the breasts, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)

Very rare (likely to affect less than 1 in 10,000 patients):

-    illness resulting from the destruction of red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia)

-    hypersensitivity reactions such as allergic asthma

-    muscle twitches you can’t control (chorea)

-    heart attack (myocardial infarction)

-    a tumour of the brain that may be affected by the levels of progestogens (jmeningioma)

-    stroke

-    vomiting

-    swelling of the skin around the face and throat this may cause difficulty breathing (angioedema), rash with target-shaped reddening or sores, painful reddish skin nodules, (erythema multiforme/ nodosum), purplish patches or spots on the skin (vascular purpura), discolouration of the skin especially of the face or neck known as “pregnancy patches”, which may persist when drug is discontinued (chloasma or melasma)

-    worsening of a rare blood pigment disorder (porphyria)

The following side effects have been reported with other HRTs:

-    benign or malignant tumours which may be affected by the levels of oestrogens, such as cancer of the womb lining, ovarian cancer (see section 2 “Do not take Femoston-conti if you” for more information)

-    increased size of tumours that may be affected by the levels of progestogens (such as meningioma)

-    a disease where the immune system abnormally attacks many organs of the body (systemic lupus erythematosus)

-    loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering and reasoning (dementia)

-    worsening of fits (epilepsy)

-    blood clots in the arteries (arterial thromboembolism)

-    urinary incontinence

-    inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) in women with pre-existing high levels of certain blood fats (hypertriglyceridemia)

-    increased total thyroid hormones

-    painful/lumpy breasts (fibrocystic breast changes)

-    high levels of certain blood fats (hypertriglyceridemia)

>- If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any side effects not listed in this leaflet.

5.    HOW TO STORE FEMOSTON-CONTI

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and the carton. Thevip0y date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6.    CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION

What Femoston-conti contains

•    The active substances are estradiol as estradiol hemihydrate and dydrogesterone.

•    each tablet contains 0.5 mg estradiol and 2.5 mg dydrogesterone.

•    The other ingredients in the tablet core are lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, maize starch, colloidal anhydrous silica and magnesium stearate.

•    The other ingredients in the coating are:

-    Titanium Dioxide (E171), Iron oxide yellow (E172), Polyvinyl alcohol, Macrogol 3350, Talc.

What Femoston-conti looks like and contents of the pack

•    This medicinal product is a film-coated tablet.

The tablet is round, biconvex and marked 379 on one side (7mm). Yellow 0.5/2.5 mg tablets.

•    Each blister contains 28 tablets.

•    The tablets are yellow coloured.

•    The tablets are packed in PVC film with a covering aluminum foil.

•    The blister packs contain 28, 84 or 280 (10 x 28) film-coated tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott House, Vanwall Business Park, Vanwall Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4XE, UK.

Manufacturer

Abbott Biologicals B.V., Veerweg 12, 8121 AA Olst,

The Netherlands

This information is confidential