Femoston

Leaflet accompanying the packaging: patient information

Warning! The leaflet should be kept. Information on the immediate packaging in a foreign language.

Femoston

2 mg (brick-red), 2 mg + 10 mg (yellow), film-coated tablets
Estradiol, Estradiol + Dydrogesterone

Before taking the medicine, you should carefully read the contents of the leaflet, as it contains important information for the patient.

• The leaflet should be kept so that it can be re-read if necessary.
• In case of any doubts, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed specifically for one person. It should not be given to others. The medicine may harm another person, even if the symptoms of their illness are the same.
• If the patient experiences any side effects, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, they should tell their doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. See section 4.

Table of contents of the leaflet

• 1. What is Femoston and what is it used for
• 2. Important information before taking Femoston
• 3. How to take Femoston
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store Femoston
• 6. Contents of the packaging and other information

1. What is Femoston and what is it used for

Femoston is a medicine used in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). It contains two types of female hormones, an estrogen called estradiol and a progestogen called dydrogesterone.
Femoston is indicated for use in women who have symptoms of a deficiency of female sex hormones (estrogens) and who have had their last menstrual period at least 6 months ago.

Femoston is used for the following purpose:

Treatment of postmenopausal symptoms

During menopause, the amount of estrogen produced in a woman's body decreases. This can cause symptoms such as hot flashes in the face, neck, and chest.
Femoston alleviates symptoms in postmenopausal women.
Femoston is prescribed if these symptoms significantly interfere with daily life.

Prevention of osteoporosis

In some postmenopausal women, bone fragility (osteoporosis) may occur. All available treatment methods should be discussed with a doctor.
In cases of increased risk of fractures due to osteoporosis and when the patient cannot take other medicines, Femoston can be used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

2. Important information before taking Femoston

Medical history and regular check-ups

Taking HRT involves risks that should be considered when deciding to start or continue treatment.
Experience in treating women with premature menopause (due to ovarian dysfunction or after ovarian surgery) is limited. In the case of premature menopause, the risk of taking HRT may be different. A doctor should be consulted.
Before starting (or re-initiating) HRT, the doctor should conduct a medical history with the patient, including a family history. The doctor may decide to perform additional tests, including a breast examination and/or gynecological examination, if deemed necessary.
After starting Femoston, you should visit your doctor for regular check-ups (at least once a year). During these check-ups, you should discuss the benefits and risks of continuing to take Femoston with your doctor.
Regular breast screening should be performed in accordance with the doctor's recommendations.
DO NOT TAKE FEMOSTONif you have or have had any of the following symptoms or medical conditions.
If you are unsure about any of the following symptoms or medical conditions before taking Femoston, you should consult a doctor.

When not to take Femoston

• if breast cancer has been diagnosed, has occurred in the past, or the doctor suspects the presence of breast cancer;
• if there is or the doctor suspects the presence of a tumor whose growth is dependent on estrogene.g. endometrial cancer (cancer of the endometrium);
• if there is or the doctor suspects the presence of a tumor whose growth is dependent on progestogens;
• if the patient has a meningioma or has ever been diagnosed with a meningioma (usually a benign tumor of the tissue layer between the brain and the skull;
• if there is bleeding from the genital tract of unknown cause;
• if there is untreated abnormal thickening of the endometrium(endometrial hyperplasia);
• if there are or have been blood clots in the veins(thrombosis), e.g. in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism);
• if there is a blood clotting disorder(such as protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency);
• if there is or has recently been a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries, e.g. heart attack, stroke, or coronary artery disease;
• if there is or has been liver disease, and liver function test results have not returned to normal;
• if there is a rare, inherited blood disorder called porphyria;
• if the patient is allergic(hypersensitive) to estradiol, dydrogesterone, or any of the other ingredients of Femoston (listed in section 6).

If any of the above conditions occur for the first time while taking Femoston, you should stop taking it and consult a doctor immediately.

Warnings and precautions

Before starting treatment, you should inform your doctor if you have ever had any of the following problems, as they may recur or worsen while taking Femoston. If you have ever had any of the following problems, you should have more frequent medical check-ups:

• uterine fibroids;
• endometriosis or a history of abnormal thickening of the endometrium (endometrial hyperplasia);
• risk factors for blood clots (see "Blood clots in the veins (thrombosis)");
• increased risk of estrogen-dependent cancer (e.g. breast cancer in close relatives, mother, sister, grandmother);
• high blood pressure;
• liver disease, such as benign liver tumors;
• diabetes;
• gallstones;
• migraine or severe headaches;
• an immune system disease that affects many organs (systemic lupus erythematosus);
• epilepsy;
• asthma;
• a disease that damages the eardrum and impairs hearing (otosclerosis);
• very high levels of fats in the blood (triglycerides);
• fluid retention in the body due to heart or kidney problems;
• inherited and acquired angioedema.

Stop taking Femoston and consult a doctor immediately

if you notice any of the following symptoms while taking HRT:

• any of the conditions listed in "When not to take Femoston";
• yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) - these may be signs of liver disease;
• swelling of the face, tongue, and/or throat, and/or difficulty swallowing or hives, in combination with difficulty breathing - these may be signs of angioedema;
• significant increase in blood pressure (symptoms may include: headaches, fatigue, dizziness);
• migraine headaches that occur for the first time;
• pregnancy;
• symptoms of blood clots, such as painful swelling and redness of the legs, sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing; For more information, see "Blood clots in the veins (thrombosis)".

Warning:Femoston does not have a contraceptive effect. If it has been less than 12 months since your last menstrual period and you are under 50 years old, you may need to use additional contraception to prevent pregnancy. You should consult a doctor.

HRT and cancer

Excessive thickening of the endometrium (endometrial hyperplasia) and endometrial cancer (endometrial cancer)

Taking HRT with only estrogens increases the risk of abnormal thickening of the endometrium (endometrial hyperplasia) and endometrial cancer (endometrial cancer).
The progestogen in Femoston protects against this additional risk.

Unexpected bleeding

During treatment with Femoston, bleeding (so-called withdrawal bleeding) will occur once a month. However, if unexpected bleeding or spotting occurs, which:

• lasts longer than the first 6 months of treatment,
• starts after 6 months of taking Femoston,
• continues after stopping Femoston, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Breast cancer

Data confirm that taking HRT in the form of a combination of estrogen and progestogen, or only estrogen, increases the risk of breast cancer. The additional risk depends on how long the patient takes HRT. This additional risk becomes apparent after 3 years of HRT. After stopping HRT, the additional risk will decrease over time, but the risk may persist for 10 years or longer if HRT lasted more than 5 years.
Comparison
In women aged 50-54 who do not take HRT, breast cancer will be diagnosed in approximately 13-17 out of 1000 women over a 5-year period.
In women aged 50 who start 5-year estrogen-only HRT, the number of cases will be 16-17 per 1000 patients (i.e. 0-3 additional cases).
In women aged 50 who start 5-year combined estrogen-progestogen HRT, the number of cases will be 21 per 1000 patients (i.e. 4-8 additional cases).
In women aged 50-59 who do not take HRT, breast cancer will be diagnosed in approximately 27 out of 1000 women over a 10-year period.
In women aged 50 who start 10-year estrogen-only HRT, the number of cases will be 34 per 1000 patients (i.e. 7 additional cases).
In women aged 50 who start 10-year combined estrogen-progestogen HRT, the number of cases will be 48 per 1000 patients (i.e. 21 additional cases).

• You should have regular breast exams. You should consult a doctor if you notice any changes, such as:
• indentation of the breast skin,
• changes in the nipple area,
• any visible or palpable lumps.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is rare - much rarer than breast cancer. Taking HRT that includes only estrogens or a combination of estrogens and progestogens is associated with a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer.
The risk of ovarian cancer depends on age. For example, in women aged 50-54 who do not take HRT, ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in approximately 2 out of 2000 women over a 5-year period.
In women who have taken HRT for 5 years, it will occur in approximately 3 out of 2000 women (i.e. approximately 1 additional case).

Effect of HRT on the heart and circulation

Blood clots in the veins (thrombosis)

The risk of blood clots in the veins is 1.3-3 times higher in women taking HRT than in those not taking it, especially during the first year of treatment.
The formation of blood clots can have serious consequences. If they move to the lungs, they can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or even death.
The risk of blood clots in the veins increases with age and if the patient has any of the following conditions. You should inform your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

• inability to walk for a long period due to serious surgery, injury, or illness (see also section 3 "Planned surgery"),
• the patient is significantly overweight (BMI > 30 kg/m²),
• there are any problems related to blood clotting that require long-term treatment with anticoagulant medications,
• any of the patient's close relatives have had blood clots in the veins of the legs, lungs, or other organs,
• the patient has systemic lupus erythematosus,
• the patient has cancer.

Symptoms of blood clots, see "Stop taking Femoston and consult a doctor immediately".
Comparative data
In women aged 50-60 who do not take HRT, it is expected that blood clots in the veins will occur in approximately 4-7 out of 1000 women over a 5-year period.
In women aged 50-60 who take combined estrogen-progestogen HRT for more than 5 years, there will be 9-12 cases per 1000 women (i.e. 5 additional cases).

Heart disease (heart attack)

There is no evidence that HRT prevents heart attacks.
In women over 60 years old taking combined estrogen-progestogen HRT, there is a slightly increased tendency to develop heart disease compared to women not taking HRT.

Stroke

The risk of stroke is approximately 1.5 times higher in women taking HRT than in those not taking it.
The number of additional cases of stroke due to HRT increases with age.
Comparison
In women aged 50-60 who do not take HRT, it is expected that a stroke will occur in approximately 8 out of 1000 women over a 5-year period.
In women aged 50-60 who take HRT for more than 5 years, there will be 11 cases per 1000 women (i.e. 3 additional cases).

Meningioma

Taking Femoston is associated with the development of a usually benign tumor of the tissue layer between the brain and the skull (meningioma). If a meningioma is diagnosed in a patient, the doctor will stop treatment with Femoston (see "When not to take Femoston"). If the patient notices any symptoms such as vision disturbances (e.g. double vision or blurred vision), hearing loss or ringing in the ears, loss of smell, worsening headaches, memory loss, seizures, weakness in the arms or legs, they should immediately inform their doctor.

Other conditions

HRT does not prevent memory loss. There is evidence of an increased risk of memory loss in women who start HRT at the age of 65 or older.
You should consult a doctor.

Children

Femoston is indicated only for women with symptoms of a deficiency of female sex hormones (estrogens), who have had their last menstrual period at least 6 months ago.

Femoston and other medicines

Some medicines may affect the action of Femoston.
This may cause irregular bleeding. This applies to the following medicines:

• antiepileptic drugs (such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin),
• antituberculosis drugs (such as rifampicin, rifabutin),
• drugs used in HIV infection (AIDS) (such as nevirapine, efavirenz, ritonavir, and nelfinavir),
• herbal remedies containing St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). HRT may affect the action of other medicines:
• antiepileptic drug (lamotrigine), as it may increase the frequency of seizures,
• a combination treatment regimen for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (e.g. using ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir with dasabuvir or without dasabuvir, and a treatment regimen using glecaprevir/pibrentasvir) may increase liver function test results in the blood (increased activity of the liver enzyme ALT) in women taking combined hormonal contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol. Femoston contains estradiol instead of ethinyl estradiol. It is not known whether increased liver enzyme activity (ALT) may occur when taking Femoston with this type of combination treatment regimen for HCV.

The doctor will provide the patient with appropriate instructions.
During treatment with Femoston, a dangerously high level of the following medicines may occur in the blood:

• tacrolimus, cyclosporin - used, for example, after organ transplantation,
• fentanyl - a pain reliever,
• theophylline - used in asthma and other breathing problems.

Therefore, careful monitoring of the drug level may be necessary for a period of time, and it may be necessary to reduce the dose of the drug.
You should tell your doctor or pharmacist about all other medicines you are currently taking or have recently taken, including those available without a prescription, herbal remedies, or other natural medicinal products (e.g. dietary supplements).

Blood tests

Before a planned blood test, you should inform your doctor or laboratory staff that you are taking Femoston, as this medicine may affect the results of some laboratory tests.

Femoston with food and drink

Femoston can be taken with or without food.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Femoston is indicated only for women with symptoms of a deficiency of female sex hormones (estrogens), who have had their last menstrual period at least 6 months ago.

• In case of pregnancy, you should stop taking Femoston and consult a doctor. Femoston is not indicated during breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

No studies have been conducted on the effect of Femoston on driving and using machines. Such an effect is unlikely.

Femoston contains lactose monohydrate

If you have been diagnosed with intolerance to some sugars, you should consult a doctor before taking Femoston.

3. How to take Femoston

This medicine should always be taken according to the doctor's instructions. In case of doubts, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.

When to start taking Femoston

You should not start treatment with Femoston before at least 6 months have passed since your last natural menstrual period.
Treatment with Femoston can be started on any day if:

• you are not currently taking hormone replacement therapy,
• you are switching from another HRT medication to a continuous combined regimen. This regimen involves taking a tablet or applying a patch that contains both estrogen and progestogen every day.

Treatment with Femoston can be started after completing a 28-day menstrual cycle if:

• you are switching from a cyclic or sequential HRT regimen. This regimen involves taking a tablet or applying a patch that contains estrogen only during the first part of the cycle, and then taking a tablet or applying a patch that contains both estrogen and progestogen for the next 14 days.

Taking Femoston

• Swallow the tablet and drink water.
• Tablets can be taken with or without food.
• You should try to take the tablet at the same time every day. This will help keep a constant amount of medicine in your body. It will also help you remember to take the tablet.
• You should take 1 tablet every day, without interruption between packs. The blister pack is marked with the days of the week to help you remember when to take the tablet.

How much to take

• Your doctor will prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary time to treat your symptoms. You should consult your doctor if the dose seems too strong or too weak for you.
• When taking Femoston to prevent osteoporosis, your doctor will adjust the dose individually according to your needs, depending on your bone mass.
• You should take 1 brick-red tablet every day for the first 14 days, and then 1 yellow tablet once a day for the remaining 14 days. The 28-day treatment cycle is marked on the calendar included in the packaging.

Planned surgery

• In case of planned surgery, you should inform the surgeon that you are taking Femoston. It may be necessary to stop taking Femoston about 4-6 weeks before the planned surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots (see section 2 "Blood clots in the veins (thrombosis)"). You should ask your doctor when you can start taking Femoston again.

Taking more Femoston than prescribed

If you (or someone else) take too many Femoston tablets, it is unlikely to cause harm. You may experience nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness or pain, dizziness, abdominal pain, drowsiness/fatigue, or withdrawal bleeding. No additional treatment is necessary, but if you are unsure, you should consult a doctor.

Missing a dose of Femoston

You should take the missed tablet as soon as possible.
If more than 12 hours have passed since the time the tablet should have been taken, you should take the next tablet at the scheduled time without taking the missed tablet. You should not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. You may experience bleeding or spotting.

Stopping Femoston

You should not stop taking Femoston without consulting a doctor.

If you have any further doubts about taking this medicine, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Femoston can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following diseases have been reported to occur more frequently in women taking HRT than in women not taking HRT:

• breast cancer,
• abnormal thickening or cancer of the endometrium (endometrial hyperplasiaor endometrial cancer),
• ovarian cancer,
• blood clots in the veins of the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism or pulmonary embolism),
• heart disease,
• stroke,
• possible memory loss, if HRT is started at the age of 65 or older.

For more information on these side effects, see section 2.
The following side effects may occur during treatment with Femoston:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

• headaches;
• abdominal pain;
• back pain;
• breast tenderness or pain.

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

• vaginal thrush (infection of the vagina with Candida albicansfungi);
• depression, nervousness;
• migraine. If migraine headaches occur for the first time, you should stop taking Femoston and consult a doctor immediately;
• dizziness;
• nausea (nausea), vomiting, gas (bloating);
• skin allergic reactions (such as rash, severe itching, hives);
• bleeding disorders, such as irregular bleeding or spotting, painful periods, heavy or light bleeding;
• pelvic pain;
• discharge;
• feeling of weakness, fatigue, and general malaise;
• swelling of the ankles, feet, or fingers (peripheral edema);
• weight gain.

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

• uterine fibroids may increase in size;
• allergic reactions, such as shortness of breath (asthmatic allergic reaction) or other whole-body reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or low blood pressure;
• change in libido;
• blood clots causing blockages in the veins of the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism or pulmonary embolism);
• liver function disorders, sometimes with jaundice, feeling of weakness, or general malaise, and abdominal pain. If you experience yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, you should stop taking Femoston and consult a doctor immediately;
• gallbladder disease;
• breast swelling;
• premenstrual syndrome;
• weight loss.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people):

• heart attack;
• swelling of the face, tongue, and/or throat, making it difficult to breathe (angioedema);
• purple spots and patches on the skin (purpura).

Other side effects reported during treatment with HRT, including Femoston, with an unknown frequency:

• benign or malignant tumors that may be dependent on estrogen levels, such as endometrial cancer (endometrial cancer), ovarian cancer (see section 2 for more information);
• increased size of tumors that may be dependent on progestogen levels (such as meningioma);
• a disease in which red blood cells are broken down (hemolytic anemia);
• an immune system disease that affects many organs (systemic lupus erythematosus);
• worsening of epileptic seizures;
• involuntary muscle contractions (chorea);
• blood clots in the arteries (arterial thrombosis);
• pancreatitis, in women with previously elevated levels of certain fats in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia);
• various skin disorders: skin discoloration, especially on the face and neck, known as "pregnancy spots" (chloasma), painful red skin nodules (erythema nodosum), rash in the shape of red rings or blisters (erythema multiforme);
• leg cramps;
• urinary incontinence;
• painful/lumpy breasts (fibrocystic breast changes);
• cervical erosion;
• worsening of symptoms of a rare disease affecting the blood pigment (porphyria);
• high levels of certain fats in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia);
• changes in the cornea of the eye (corneal edema), inability to wear contact lenses (intolerance to contact lenses);
• increased total levels of thyroid hormones.

Reporting side effects

If you experience any side effects, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Drug Safety Monitoring of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products
Al. Jerozolimskie 181C
02-222 Warsaw
tel.: +48 (22) 49 21 301
fax: +48 (22) 49 21 309
Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Femoston

The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
There are no special storage instructions.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month stated.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. You should ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the packaging and other information

What Femoston contains

• The active substances of Femoston are estradiol (in the form of estradiol hemihydrate) and dydrogesterone:
• each brick-red tablet contains 2 mg of estradiol;
• each yellow tablet contains 2 mg of estradiol and 10 mg of dydrogesterone.
• Other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, cornstarch, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate. Coating: brick-red tablets: titanium dioxide (E 171), iron oxide red (E 172), iron oxide black (E 172), iron oxide yellow (E 172), hypromellose, macrogol 400, talc; yellow tablets: titanium dioxide (E 171), iron oxide yellow (E 172), hypromellose, macrogol 400, talc.

What Femoston looks like and contents of the pack

• The film-coated tablets are round, biconvex, with "379" embossed on one side. Each pack contains 28 tablets.
• Femoston contains tablets in two colors. Each pack contains 14 brick-red tablets (for the first 14 days of the cycle) and 14 yellow tablets (for the next 14 days of the cycle).
• The tablets are packaged in PVC/Al blisters.
• The pack contains 28 film-coated tablets.

A cardboard wallet is attached to the packaging, in which the blister pack should be placed.
For more detailed information, you should consult the marketing authorization holder or parallel importer.

Marketing authorization holder in Ireland, the country of export:

Theramex Ireland Limited
3rd Floor, Kilmore House, Park Lane, Spencer Dock
Dublin, D01 YE64
Ireland

Manufacturer:

Abbott Biologicals BV
Veerweg 12
8121 AA Olst
Netherlands

Parallel importer:

Delfarma Sp. z o.o.
ul. Św. Teresy od Dzieciątka Jezus 111
91-222 Łódź

Repackaged by:

Delfarma Sp. z o.o.
ul. Św. Teresy od Dzieciątka Jezus 111
91-222 Łódź
Irish export license number: PA 22668/014/002

Parallel import license number: 348/22

Translation of day of the week symbols on the packaging:

MON -
Monday
TUE

• Tuesday WED - Wednesday THU
• Thursday FRI
• Friday SAT
• Saturday SUN
• Sunday

Date of leaflet approval: 16.07.2025

[Information about the trademark]