Angeliq

Generic Name: drospirenone and estradiol (Oral route)

droe-SPYE-re-none, es-tra-DYE-ol

Oral route(Tablet)

Estrogens with or without progestins should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia. Increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis in postmenopausal women (50 to 79 years of age) have been reported. An increased risk of developing probable dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older has also been reported .

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Angeliq

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Estrogen/Progestin Combination

Pharmacologic Class: Progestin

Uses For Angeliq

Drospirenone and estradiol are female hormones called progestins and estrogens that make up this combination medicine. These female hormones are produced by the body and are necessary for the normal sexual development of the female and for the regulation of the menstrual cycle during the childbearing years.

The ovaries begin to produce less estrogen after menopause (the change of life). This medicine is prescribed to make up for the lower amount of estrogen in postmenopausal women who still have a uterus. Estrogen helps relieve signs of menopause, such as hot flashes and unusual sweating, chills, faintness, or dizziness. Estrogen can also help to relieve a genital skin condition called vaginal or vulvar atrophy. Progestin helps to regulate the effects of estradiol.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using Angeliq

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. However, use of drospirenone/estradiol by postmenopausal women 65 years of age and older may increase the chances of dementia.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	X	Studies in animals or pregnant women have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities. This drug should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant because the risk clearly outweighs any possible benefit.

Breast Feeding

Drospirenone

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Estradiol

Studies suggest that this medication may alter milk production or composition. If an alternative to this medication is not prescribed, you should monitor the infant for side effects and adequate milk intake.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Boceprevir

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Isotretinoin


• Theophylline


• Tizanidine


• Tranexamic Acid

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alprazolam


• Amoxicillin


• Ampicillin


• Amprenavir


• Aprepitant


• Atazanavir


• Bacampicillin


• Betamethasone


• Bexarotene


• Bosentan


• Carbamazepine


• Clarithromycin


• Colesevelam


• Cyclosporine


• Darunavir


• Delavirdine


• Doxycycline


• Efavirenz


• Etravirine


• Fosamprenavir


• Fosaprepitant


• Fosphenytoin


• Ginseng


• Griseofulvin


• Itraconazole


• Ketoconazole


• Lamotrigine


• Levothyroxine


• Licorice


• Minocycline


• Modafinil


• Mycophenolate Mofetil


• Mycophenolic Acid


• Nelfinavir


• Nevirapine


• Oxcarbazepine


• Oxytetracycline


• Phenobarbital


• Phenytoin


• Pioglitazone


• Prednisolone


• Primidone


• Rifabutin


• Rifampin


• Rifapentine


• Ritonavir


• Rosuvastatin


• Rufinamide


• Selegiline


• St John's Wort


• Tacrine


• Telaprevir


• Tetracycline


• Tipranavir


• Topiramate


• Troglitazone


• Troleandomycin


• Voriconazole


• Warfarin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Caffeine


• Grapefruit Juice

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Abnormal genital or vaginal bleeding of unknown causes or


• Adrenal gland problems or


• Breast cancer, known, suspected or history of, or


• Cancer of the uterus or


• Liver problems or disease—This medicine should NOT be used.

• Asthma or


• Diabetes or


• Endometriosis or


• Epilepsy (seizures) or


• High cholesterol or triglycerides (or history of) or


• Hypocalcemia (too little calcium in the blood) or


• Hyponatremia (too little sodium in the blood) or


• Liver tumor, benign, or


• Lupus or


• Migraine or


• Porphyria (problem with metabolism causing stomach pain and mental confusion)—This medicine should be used with caution. It can cause these conditions to become worse.

• Blood clots in deep veins or the pulmonary artery or


• Heart attack, active or recent (within the past year) or


• Stroke, active or recent—This medicine should NOT be used.

• Blood clot risk factors (e.g., obesity, personal or family history of blood clots, or lupus) or


• Heart disease risk factors (e.g., diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, tobacco use)—Your doctor will help you lower your chances of having heart disease.

• Heart problems or


• Liver problems—These conditions could be affected by fluid retention (e.g., water weight gain). The patient should be observed when taking this medicine because estradiol may cause some fluid retention.

• Hypothyroid (too little thyroid hormone)—Dose of thyroid medicine may need to be increased.

Proper Use of Angeliq

Read the enclosed patient leaflet carefully before taking this medicine.

You should not take this medicine if you have had a hysterectomy.

You should not take this medicine to prevent heart disease or dementia.

Tell your doctor if you take any medicine or supplement that increases potassium levels. Your doctor may want to prescribe a different medicine for you or have your blood tested to check potassium levels.

Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush or chew.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (tablets):
  
  • For treating a genital skin condition (vaginal or vulvar atrophy), or vasomotor symptoms of menopause:
    
    • Adults—Oral, 1 tablet (drospirenone 0.5 milligram (mg)/estradiol 1 mg) once a day.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Precautions While Using Angeliq

It is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits every 3 to 6 months to discuss whether you need to continue taking this medicine.

If you are going to have surgery or will be on bed rest, you need to inform your doctor. You may need to stop taking drospirenone/estradiol during this time.

Check with your doctor immediately if vaginal bleeding occurs.

It is important that you check your breasts by self-examination regularly and have clinical examinations and mammography as required by your doctor. Report unusual breast lumps or discharge right away.

If you are scheduled for any lab tests, tell your doctor or lab technician that you are taking this medicine. Certain blood tests are affected by estradiol.

Tell your doctor about any risk factors for heart disease that you may have, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, tobacco use, high cholesterol, and obesity. It is important that you work with your doctor to lower these risk factors.

Angeliq Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Breast pain


• full or bloated feeling


• heavy nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding


• pressure in the stomach


• surgery


• swelling of abdominal or stomach area

Less common

• Bloating or swelling of face, arms, hands, legs, or feet


• change in vaginal discharge


• increased clear or white vaginal discharge


• pain or feeling of pressure in pelvis


• rapid weight gain


• tingling of hands or feet


• unusual weight gain or loss


• vaginal bleeding

Incidence not known

• Abdominal pain


• anxiety


• blurred vision


• change in vision


• chest pain or discomfort


• clear or bloody discharge from nipple


• confusion


• constipation


• cough


• coughing up blood


• depression


• difficulty in speaking


• dimpling of breast skin


• dizziness or lightheadedness


• double vision


• dry mouth


• fainting


• fast heartbeat


• headache


• headache, severe and throbbing


• inability to move arms, legs, or facial muscles


• inability to speak


• incoherent speech


• increased urination


• inverted nipple


• loss of appetite


• lump in breast or under the arm


• metallic taste


• muscle weakness


• nausea and vomiting


• numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, or on one side of your body


• pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back, or neck


• pain or redness in your lower leg (calf)


• persistent crusting or scaling of nipple


• poor insight and judgment


• problems with memory, vision, speech, or walking


• redness or swelling of breast


• seeing double


• shortness of breath


• slow speech


• sore on the skin of the breast that does not heal


• sudden or severe headache


• sudden shortness of breath or troubled breathing


• sweating


• thirst


• trouble recognizing objects


• trouble thinking and planning


• trouble walking


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• weight loss

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Accidental injury


• back pain


• body aches or pain


• chills


• diarrhea


• difficulty in breathing


• ear congestion


• fever, sneezing, or sore throat


• general feeling of discomfort or illness


• joint pain


• loss of voice


• muscle aches and pains


• nasal congestion


• pain in arms or legs


• pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones


• runny nose


• shivering


• stuffy or runny nose


• sweating


• tightness of chest or wheezing


• trouble sleeping

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Angeliq side effects (in more detail)

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More Angeliq resources

• Angeliq Side Effects (in more detail)
• Angeliq Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Angeliq Drug Interactions
• Angeliq Support Group
• 6 Reviews for Angeliq - Add your own review/rating

Compare Angeliq with other medications

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