Elleste Solo

Elleste Solo is a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for oestrogen deficiency symptoms in post- and peri-menopausal women. Elleste Solo contains a single female hormone called estradiol which is an oestrogen and comes in a oral tablet form with two strengths: 1mg and 2mg. This kind of treatment is beneficial for patients without a womb/uterus (following hysterectomy) who have had no bleed for over 12m or experiencing long intervals between spontaneous bleeds.

Elleste Solo is used for relief of symptoms occurring after menopause. During the menopause, the amount of oestrogen produced by a woman’s body drops. This can cause symptoms such as hot face, neck and chest (“hot flushes”). Elleste Solo alleviates these symptoms after menopause.

Please Note: Elleste 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. Do not use a hormonal contraceptive while using HRT.

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 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. If you are changing from another type of HRT, start taking Elleste Solo when you finish the pack of HRT you are taking at the moment.

Will I have periods?

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.

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 breakthrough bleeding or spotting

Like all medicines, Elleste Solo can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects are reported more often in women using HRT compared to women not using HRT:

Common: feeling sick, abdominal pain, headache, an increase in size of leiomyoma (benign tumor of the womb), breakthrough bleeding, disturbed menstruation period (metrorrhagia), irregular cycles, Uterine/vaginal bleeding including spotting, changes in weight, oedema (swelling) of legs, breast tenderness and enlargement, mood alterations including anxiety and depressed mood, changes in sex drive, rash, itching.

The list above isn’t exhaustive. If you experience serious side effects or side effects lasting longer than 3 months then you should consult your doctor immediately.

Make sure you read the patient information leaflet for a full list of side effects, cautions and contraindications. You should only take HRT once you have understood all the warnings and precautions as HRT may increase your chances of getting certain cancers or cardiovascular disease. If you are concerned discuss this with your doctor or The Family Chemist clinician.

Do not take Elleste Solo 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 Elleste Solo,

Do not take Elleste Solo

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

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.

When to take special care with Elleste Solo

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 Elleste Solo. 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)
  • 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
  • hereditary and acquired angioedema

Stop taking Elleste Solo 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 Elleste Solo’ section
• yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice). These may be signs of a liver

• disease
  • swollen face, tongue and/or throat and/or difficulty swallowing or hives, together with
• difficulty breathing which are suggestive of an angioedema
  • 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

• https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.9512.pdf
• https://www.womens-health-concern.org/
• https://patient.info/medicine/oestrogen-and-progestogen-for-hrt
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/