Kliogest

Kliogest general information

What is Kliogest used for?

Kliogest tablets are a combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women with an intact uterus, used to substitute for a lack of oestrogen production by the ovaries that happens during menopause. Kliogest tablets help relieve symptoms of menopause caused by oestrogen deficiency, such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, headaches, mood swings, lack of concentration and loss of energy; while at the same time protecting against endometrial (lining of the uterus) cancer. Kliogest tablets also are also used to help prevent postmenopausal bone loss (osteoporosis) and reduce risk of fracture.

How does Kliogest work?

Kliogest tablets contain a combination of two hormones: oestradiol, which is chemically and biologically identical to naturally produced oestrogen; and norethisterone, a synthetic derivative of the female sex hormone progesterone, which means that its chemical structure closely resembles that of naturally produced progesterone and it works in a similar way, but has very little androgenic effects. Oestrogen is the female steroid hormone produced by the ovaries that binds to specific receptors inside oestrogen-responsive cells and stimulates them to make proteins involved in several aspects of female secondary characteristics including regulating the menstrual cycle. Oestrogen also has several other actions in various metabolic processes including maintaining bone mass and lipid (fat) metabolism. Progesterone in pre-menopausal women acts on the endometrium (lining of the uterus) converting the proliferating phase to the secretory phase. This causes the endometrium, which has thickened in response to oestrogen during the first half of the cycle, to stop growing and start secreting hormones and other proteins needed to maintain a pregnancy, if conception occurs; if not, levels of oestrogen and progesterone fall and the endometrium is shed (menstruation). Norethisterone in Kliogest tablets works in the same way but in menopausal women, its role is to prevent excess growth of the endometrium in response to the oestradiol present in Kliogest tablets and this helps prevent endometrial cancer.

What does Kliogest contain?

Kliogest tablets contain two active ingredients: 2mg of oestradiol hemihydrate and 1mg norethisterone, a synthetic derivative of the female sex hormone progesterone. They also contain lactose, maize starch, gelatin, talc, magnesium stearate, hypromellose and glycerol triacetate.

Treating symptoms of menopause with Kliogest

Kliogest tablets contain a combination of two female hormones: oestradiol and norethisterone, which are used to relieve symptoms of menopause caused by oestrogen deficiency, such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, headaches, mood swings, lack of concentration and loss of energy. Combination HRT is used only for women with an intact uterus as the progesterone component prevents excess growth of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) in response to oestrogen and protects against endometrial cancer.

Kliogest for hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Kliogest tablets are used for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women with intact uterus and contain a combination of two female hormones. Oestrogen substitutes for a lack of oestrogen production by the ovaries that happens during menopause, to relieve moderate symptoms of menopause caused by oestrogen deficiency, such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, headaches, mood swings, lack of concentration and loss of energy. Oestrogen also has several other beneficial actions in various metabolic processes including bone turnover and helps prevent postmenopausal bone loss (osteoporosis) and reduce risk of fracture. Progesterone prevents excess growth of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) in response to oestrogen and protects against endometrial cancer.

What are the side effects of Kliogest?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Kliogest tablets include: breast tenderness and pain; abdominal bloating and pain; breakthrough bleeding or spotting with period-like pain or cramps (dysmenorrhoea), vaginal inflammation (vaginitis), increase in size of uterine fibroids, leg cramps, fluid retention, depression.

What are the health risks of Kliogest Continuous?

Long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with Kliogest does have associated health risks, particularly increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer compared with oestrogen alone HRT, but it does reduce risk of endometrial cancer. Combined HRT with oestrogen and progestogen therapy has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

When should Kliogest not be used?

You should not use Kliogest if you:

• are allergic to oestradiol, norethisterone or any ingredients in Kliogest tablets
• have a past or family history of carcinoma of the breast, endometrial carcinoma or liver disease
• have a history of thrombosis (blood clots) or stroke
• have abnormal vaginal bleeding of unknown cause
• have high blood pressure that is not well controlled
• are drinking large amounts of grapefruit juice
• are taking other medications that may interact with Kliogest, such as anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepin, anti-infectives like rifampicin, cimetidine, the antibiotic erythromycin, the immunosuppressant cyclosporin, and the antifungal ketoconazole, and herbal medicines containing St John's wort

How should Kliogest be taken?

You should take your Kliogest tablets with a glass of water, once daily, at the same time each day, and with or without food. Each pack contains 28 tablets for one month’s supply and when you have finished one pack you should start a new pack the next day. You should take your Kliogest tablets continuously until your symptoms improve or as long as your doctor recommends. Kliogest tablets should not be taken indefinitely, due to health risks.

How long should you take Kliogest?

You should take your Kliogest tablets continuously until your symptoms improve or as long as your doctor recommends. Kliogest tablets should not be taken indefinitely, due to health risks.

Missed dose of Kliogest

If less than 12 hours has passed from since you forgot to take your daily Kliogest, take the missed tablet, then take the next tablet at the usual time. If more than 12 hours has passed, discard the missed tablet and take the next tablet at the usual time; do not take a double dose.

How should Kliogest be stored?

You should keep your Kliogest tablets below 25°C in a cool dry place.