Elleste Solo

Elleste Solo is an oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescribed for the relief of menopausal symptoms in women who have had a hysterectomy.

It contains estradiol, a form of oestrogen identical to that produced naturally by the ovaries.

As ovarian function declines during the menopause, falling oestrogen levels give rise to symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood disturbance.

Estradiol in Elleste Solo restores circulating oestrogen to levels sufficient to control these symptoms.

The tablets are taken once daily and are available in 1 mg and 2 mg strengths, allowing your prescriber to tailor the dose to your needs.

Because Elleste Solo contains oestrogen alone, it is suitable only for women without a uterus; women with an intact uterus require additional progestogen to protect the womb lining.

Many women find that HRT significantly improves their quality of life during the menopausal transition.

Elleste Solo may also help to maintain bone density, reducing the long-term risk of osteoporotic fractures associated with oestrogen deficiency.

Take one Elleste Solo tablet by mouth each day, with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with water. Try to take it at roughly the same time every day to maintain stable hormone levels.

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for the next one; do not double up.

Continue taking the tablets without a break unless your prescriber advises otherwise.

Your doctor will review your treatment at least once a year. At each review, the benefits of continued therapy will be weighed against the risks, and your dose may be adjusted accordingly.

The usual starting dose is one 1 mg tablet daily. If symptoms are not adequately controlled after four to six weeks, the dose may be increased to 2 mg daily.

The lowest effective dose should always be used.

Your prescriber will reassess the need for treatment at least annually and may suggest stepping down or stopping to see whether symptoms have resolved.

Common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 women) include breast tenderness, headache, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and irregular vaginal bleeding during the first few months.

Uncommon effects (up to 1 in 100) include weight changes, mood alterations, bloating, and leg cramps.

Rare but serious risks include venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the legs or lungs), stroke, and a small increase in the risk of breast cancer with long-term use.

Report any sudden chest pain, leg swelling, visual disturbance, or severe headache to a doctor immediately.

Elleste Solo should not be started if there is undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, as this must be investigated first.

Women with a personal history of breast cancer, active or recent arterial thromboembolic disease, or untreated endometrial hyperplasia should not take this medication.

Regular mammographic screening is recommended while on HRT.

Discuss your personal and family medical history with your prescriber before starting treatment, including any history of blood clots, liver disease, or hormone-sensitive conditions.

Elleste Solo is contraindicated in women with known or suspected breast cancer, other oestrogen-dependent neoplasms, undiagnosed genital bleeding, untreated endometrial hyperplasia, active or recent venous or arterial thromboembolism, known thrombophilic disorders, active liver disease, porphyria, or hypersensitivity to estradiol or any excipient.

It must not be used in women with an intact uterus unless combined with a progestogen.