Femoston

What is Femoston?

Femoston is a form of treatment known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This therapy is very common for the treatment of menopause.

The medicine contains the hormones dydrogesterone and estradiol and is used to relieve the discomfort a lot of women experience during and after menopause.

You can only buy Femoston on prescription.

What is Femoston used to treat?

Femoston is a combined HRT medicine, containing an oestrogen and a progestogen, and is used to ease the symptoms associated with menopause.

Menopause is a natural part of the ageing process for women, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55 and lasting for around four years. Although it is a natural process, menopause can lead to a number of uncomfortable symptoms including:

• Hot flushes
• Mood swings
• Headaches
• Memory and concentration problems
• Vaginal dryness
• Reduced libido

As well as easing this discomfort, it is also used to prevent the thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), which can lead to fractures. Femoston is sometimes prescribed to treat this issue in post-menopausal women.

Why is Femoston recommended for menopause symptoms?

Studies have shown that Femoston is an effective HRT medicine for restoring hormones and alleviating the symptoms of menopause. 

How does Femoston work?

As women age, their bodies gradually start to produce less oestrogen, which triggers the symptoms of menopause. HRT medicines like Femoston work to supplement these declining oestrogen levels, which works to relieve uncomfortable symptoms.

Combined HRT medications like Femoston also contain a progestogen medicine, which is required as part of hormone replacement therapy for women who still have a womb. This is because oestrogen works to stimulate the growth of the womb lining, which can cause endometrial cancer if the growth is not stopped.

Who can take Femoston?

Femoston is an effective hormone replacement therapy, but it is not suitable for everyone.

If any of these conditions apply to you, you should speak to your doctor before you take Femoston:

• You have a tumour that is sensitive to progestogen
• You have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• You are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or think you might be pregnant
• You are breastfeeding
• You have or have ever had breast cancer, or you are suspected of having it
• You have cancer that is sensitive to oestrogens
• You have excessive thickening of the womb lining that has not been treated
• You have a blood clotting disorder
• You have or have recently had a disease caused by any blood clots
• You have ever had a blood clot in a vein
• You have or have recently had any disease caused by blood clots (e.g. heart attack, stroke or angina)
• You are allergic to oestradiol, dydrogesterone or any of the ingredients in Femoston
• You have or have had a liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal
• You have porphyria

Femoston is a medicine for women going through menopause and post-menopausal women. It should not be taken by pregnant women. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and speak to your doctor.

Can you buy Femoston over the counter?

No, Femoston tablets are only available on prescription. They cannot be bought over the counter.

Can you buy Femoston online in the UK?

You can buy Femoston online from regulated pharmacies like Medicine Direct. Nonetheless, as this is a prescription-only medicine (POM), you will first need to have an online consultation with a registered prescriber. This involves filling out a confidential questionnaire, where you will answer some questions about your condition and medical history. One of our prescribers will review your answers to make sure Femoston is suitable for you to take.

Next day delivery is available if you order by 2pm.

Medicine Direct is a fully regulated UK pharmacy, ensuring we sell only approved and safe medication. You should never order any type of medicine online unless it is from a regulated pharmacy. More information can be found on our About Us page.

Femoston alternatives

Hormone replacement therapy is a very beneficial treatment for women going through menopause. However, certain types of HRT may be more suitable than others depending on your unique circumstances.

Medicine Direct stocks a wide range of different HRT medications, allowing us to meet the needs of as many women as possible.

Other HRT medicines available from our pharmacy include:

• Zumenon
• Estradot patches
• Elleste Solo
• Elleste Duet
• Evorel Conti patches
• Premique

Femoston Dosage

Our pharmacists and prescribers follow NICE guidelines when prescribing Femoston.

You should take one tablet every day. You will usually be given a pack of 84 tablets and you should not take a break between packs.

Your doctor will always look to prescribe you the lowest dose possible for the shortest time to treat your problem. If you think this dose is too strong or not strong enough, you should speak to your doctor, who may alter this dose; do not alter the dose yourself without consulting your doctor.

How to take Femoston

• Swallow Femoston tablets whole with a drink of water.
• Take one tablet each day without a break. Femoston can be taken with or without food.
• Femoston tablets are contained in blister packs, which are marked with days of the week on the back of the strip.
• Start by taking the tablets marked under arrow 1, then take those marked under arrow 2 once these are all gone.
• Start taking the tablets from the next pack the day after you have finished the previous one.

Read the patient information leaflet for full details on how to take Femoston.

Femoston Side Effects

You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:

• A change in your sex drive
• High blood pressure
• Varicose veins
• Cystitis symptoms
• Fibroids grow in size
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Indigestion
• Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
• Asthenia (feeling weak)
• Gall bladder disorder

Please note, this list is not exhaustive. You should refer to the patient information leaflet for the full list of reactions you may experience.

Femoston Warnings and Drug Interactions

Femoston may not react well with other medicines and medications.

You should always inform your doctor of any other medicines you are currently taking before you start using this treatment. This includes prescription and non-prescription medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements.

Please, refer to the patient information leaflet for full information on all the medicines which impede the effectiveness of Femoston.

Speak to your doctor before you use Femoston if you are already taking any of these medicines:

• Rifampicin or rifabutin (medicines for tuberculosis)
• Phenobarbital, phenytoin or carbamazepine (medicines for epilepsy)
• Any herbal remedies or medicines that contain St John's Wort
• Nevirapine, nelfinavir, ritonavir or efavirenz (medicines to treat HIV)

Some medicines may lead to irregular bleeding. 

Please see the NICE website for more information on medicines that interact with Femoston.

It should also be noted that HRT can increase your risk of developing breast cancer when taken for a prolonged period. For more information on this, please speak to your doctor about the risks involved before you start taking this medication.

Femoston Ingredients

The main active ingredients within this medicine are: Dydrogesterone and Estradiol hemihydrate

For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the Summary of Product Characteristics.