About estradiol valerate + norgestrel
Sequential estrogen-progestogen hormone therapy
Used for
- Hormone replacement for estrogen-deficiency symptoms after menopause
- Prevention of bone loss after menopause in selected patients
Usual adult dose
One tablet daily, following the pack sequence; treatment is usually continuous.
Common side effects
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea or abdominal discomfort
- Irregular bleeding or spotting
Important warnings
- Not a contraceptive; pregnancy must be excluded before starting.
- Avoid with breast or other estrogen-sensitive cancer, unexplained bleeding, or active blood clots.
- Seek urgent care for chest pain, sudden breathlessness, severe headache, or one-sided leg swelling.
- Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate duration; monitor regularly.
Pregnancy
Do not use during pregnancy. Stop if pregnancy occurs; it is not a contraceptive.
Breastfeeding
Generally not recommended while breastfeeding; estrogen may reduce milk supply.
Interactions
- Some seizure medicines, rifampicin, and St John’s wort can reduce hormone levels.
- Some HIV or hepatitis C medicines can alter hormone levels.
- Hormone therapy can affect blood clotting medicines such as warfarin; monitoring may be needed.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.