Drug name: Angeliq (Estradiol + Drospirenone)

Therapeutic effects:

Angeliq is the only combined estrogen-progestin drug intended for menopause symptoms relief with antihypertensive effect. It is intended for continuous hormone replacement therapy of menopause. Estradiol replenishes estrogen deficiency in the female body after menopause, and provides effective treatment for psycho-emotional and vegetative menopausal symptoms, and involution of the skin and mucous membranes, especially the mucous membranes of the genitourinary system. Estradiol prevents bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency.

Thanks to the antiandrogenic properties of drospirenone, Angeliq has a therapeutic effect on androgen-dependent diseases such as acne, seborrhea, androgenic alopecia. It has antimineralocorticoid properties, increases the excretion of sodium and water, which may prevent the raise in blood pressure, weight gain, edema, breast tenderness and other symptoms associated with fluid retention.

Angeliq leads to reduction of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. Adding drospirenone prevents the development of hyperplasia and endometrial cancer.

Indications:

Angeliq is intended for hormone replacement therapy of menopausal disorders in postmenopausal women with non-removed uterus (menopausal symptoms, including vasomotor), such as:

• Hot flashes
• excessive sweating
• insomnia
• Depression
• Irritability
• Involutional changes of the skin
• Symptoms of urogenital atrophy (involutional changes in the urinary tract)

Angeliq is also prescribed to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (postmenopausal osteoporosis).

Side-effects:

• reproductive system and breast: breakthrough uterine bleeding and spotting, changes in the character of vaginal discharge, increased size of the fibroids, a condition similar to premenstrual syndrome; pain, tension and / or enlargement of the breast, benign breast lumps
• digestive system: dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, recurrent cholestatic jaundice
• dermatological and allergic reactions: skin rash, itchy skin, chloasma, erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme
• CNS: headache, migraine, dizziness, emotional lability, anxiety, increased nervous irritability, fatigue, insomnia
• Other: rare - heart palpitations, edema, increased blood pressure, varicose veins, superficial thrombophlebitis, venous thrombosis and thromboembolism, muscle cramps, weight change, changes in libido, visual disturbances, intolerance to contact lenses

Drug interactions:

Angeliq may affect the action of the following drugs:

• drugs which induce liver enzymes
• certain antibiotics (eg. penicillins and tetracyclines)
• ethanol (large amounts)
• substances that are highly exposed to conjugation (eg. paracetamol)

Cautions and restrictions:

Angeliq should not be used in the following conditions:

• hypersensitivity to any component of the drug
• vaginal bleeding of unknown origin
• breast cancer
• hormone-dependent precancerous disease
• hormone-dependent tumors of the liver in the present or in history (benign or malignant)
• severe liver diseases
• severe kidney diseases
• acute arterial thrombosis or thromboembolism (including myocardial infarction, stroke)
• deep vein thrombosis in the acute stage
• venous thromboembolism (including history)
• severe hypertriglyceridemia
• pregnancy, breastfeeding

Angeliq should be prescribed with caution in presence of the following diseases:

• arterial hypertension
• hereditary hyperbilirubinemia (Gilbert's syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, Rotor syndrome)
• cholestatic jaundice or cholestatic pruritus during pregnancy
• endometriosis
• uterine fibroids
• diabetes

Additional information:

Store the drug at a room temperature (below 25 ° C). Shelf life - 5 years.