Oestrogel is a hormone replacement therapy meant for postmenopausal women, who have not experienced natural period in the past six months at least. It contains estradiol, which is a man-made form of the female hormone oestrogen. It is mainly used to reduce the symptoms and problems that occur after menopause, such as hot flushes and osteoporosis. It is a gel for transdermal use in 80 g bottle with metered-dose pump. The chief active ingredient present in the medicine is 17ß-estradiol. Each dose of 1.25g of Oestrogel contains 0.75mg of estradiol. The other ingredients include carbomer, triethanolamine, ethanol and purified water. It is a non-greasy, non-staining and odourless transdermal gel. Oestrogel is not a contraceptive. If it is less than twelve months since your last menstrual period (if you are under 50 years of age), you may still need to use additional contraception to prevent pregnancy. Speak to your GP for further advice. If you had breast cancer or any other oestrogen-dependent cancer, unexplained vaginal bleeding, endometrial hyperplasia, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, antithrombin deficiency, heart diseases, liver disease, porphyria, then you should stop using the medicines and consult your GP immediately. Tell the doctor up front if you are allergic to oestrogen or any other ingredients contained in the medicine. Go to the GP for regular breast screening and check up during the course of the treatment with Oestrogel. The doctor might want to assess the risks and benefits associated with the medicine.
Taking Oestrogel can lead to some common side effects. However, not all women face them. Some of the common side effects include headache, nausea, abdominal pain, weight change, water retention, breast swelling or pain, unexpected vaginal bleeding, menstrual cramps, vaginal discharge, heavy menstrual bleeding or breast enlargement. In case you experience depression, mood swings, vertigo, migraine, flatulence, pruritus, uterine neoplasm, vaginal candidiosis, asthenia, glucose intolerance, change in libido, aggravation of epilepsy, hypertension, liver function tests abnormalities, skin discoloration acne, galactorrhea or an anaphylactic reaction, seek immediate medical attention. Oestrogel may aggravate the condition or worsen the symptoms if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, a liver disorder, migraine, asthma, epilepsy, fluid retention, thrombosis, any form of cancer or endometriosis. Therefore, it is important to give prior information to the GP to avoid any chances of complications.
Oestrogel should be used exactly as per GP’s instructions. Do not increase or decrease the dose without consulting the doctor or a pharmacist. If you have never used any other HRT medicines or you are switching to Oestrogel from a period-free HRT product, you can start using Oestrogel on any day. If you are currently using another type of HRT where you have a period, finish your current medicine pack before you start using Oestrogel. Before using your new Pump Pack for the first time, you need to remove the cap from the canister, and then remove the stopper from the spout. Press the plunger down a few times until the gel comes out. Do not use the first dose of gel from your Pump Pack. It should be discarded. Apply the gel once a day, either in the morning or evening. Try to use the gel at about the same time each day. Spread the gel on a large area of skin on each shoulder, outer arm, or each mid-inner thigh. Make sure that your hands and the skin where you are going to apply the gel are clean, dry and unbroken. After applying the gel leave for five minutes to dry before covering with clothes. Do not apply on or near the breasts or near the genital area. Do not use the medicine when the plunger does not go back to its original position. Start using a new Pump Pack. Applying more dose than recommended may result in breast tension, pelvic swelling, vaginal bleeding or nausea. Tell your GP immediately if that happens. If you forget to apply a dose, apply it as soon as you remember. If it is less than 12 hours until your next dose, skip the forgotten dose and apply the next dose at the usual time. Forgetting a dose might result in breakthrough bleeding or spotting.
Oestrogel works by replacing the oestrogen in the body. Its chief active ingredient, estradiol, helps replenish the levels of oestrogen, production of which starts to decline after menopause. The decreased production of oestrogen by the ovaries result in a series of symptoms in the women going through menopause. Some of these symptoms include hot flushes around the neck and face, irritability, mood swings, vaginal dryness and changes in sexual desire. Drop in the levels of oestrogen also results in bone thinning or osteoporosis, which put the menopausal women at an increases risk of fractures. Sometimes, the symptoms are painful and serious enough to interfere with the daily routine activities. That is when Oestrogel is prescribed by the doctors. Oestrogel supplies the required oestrogen to boost the levels of the hormone in the body. It thus helps alleviate the symptoms that appear because of hormonal changes during menopause. If you ever had fibrosis inside your womb, endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, thrombosis, increased risk of getting an oestrogen-sensitive cancer, high blood pressure, liver disorder, diabetes, gallstones, migraine, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, epilepsy, asthma, otosclerosis, triglycerides, fluid retention due to cardiac or kidney problems, then you should consult your GP before starting with Oestrogel. Tell the doctor if you have been using medicine containing benzalkonium chloride or sodium lauryl sulphate, other skin products containing alcohol, products to treat warts, acne, dandruff, anti-cancer products, medicines for epilepsy, medicines for tuberculosis, medicines for HIV infection or herbal products containing St Johns wort. These medicines might interfere with the effectiveness of Oestrogel. Please tell your GP if you are using or have recently used any other medicines obtained without a prescription, herbal medicines or other natural products. Keep the medicine out of reach and sight of children and do not use it after the date of expiry. Do not store Oestrogel above 25°C. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Consult your pharmacist how to dispose the medicine.
