| For the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms, HRT should only be initiated for symptoms that adversely affect quality of life. In all cases, a careful appraisal of the risks and benefits should be undertaken at least annually and HRT should only be continued as long as the benefit outweighs the risk.Evidence regarding the risks associated with HRT in the treatment of premature menopause is limited. Due to the low level of absolute risk in younger women, however, the balance of benefits and risks for these women may be more favourable than in older women. 1. Medical examination/Follow up Before initiating or reinstituting HRT, a complete personal and family medical history should be taken. Physical (including pelvic and breast) examination should be guided by this and by the contraindications and warnings for use. During treatment, periodic check-ups are recommended of a frequency and nature adapted to the individual women. Women should be advised what changes in their breasts should be reported to their doctor or nurse (see 'Breast Cancer' below). Investigations, including appropriate imaging tools, e.g. mammography, should be carried out in accordance with currently accepted screening practices, modified to the clinical needs of the individual. 2. Conditions that need supervision If any of the following conditions are present, have occurred previously, and/or have been aggravated during pregnancy or previous hormone treatment, the patient should be closely supervised. It should be taken into account that these conditions may recur or be aggravated during treatment with Premarin, in particular:− Leiomyoma (uterine fibroids) or endometriosis− Risk factors for thromboembolic disorders (see below)− Risk factors for estrogen dependent tumours (e.g. first degree heredity for breast cancer)− Hypertension− Liver disorders (e.g. liver adenoma)− Diabetes mellitus with or without vascular involvement− Cholelithiasis− Migraine or (severe) headaches− Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)− A history of endometrial hyperplasia (see below)− Epilepsy− Asthma− Otosclerosis3. Reasons for immediate withdrawal of therapy Therapy should be discontinued if a contra-indication is discovered and in the following situations:− Jaundice or deterioration in liver function− Significant increase in blood pressure− New onset of migraine-type headache− Pregnancy4. Endometrial Hyperplasia and Carcinoma In women with an intact uterus the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma is increased when estrogens are administered alone for prolonged periods. The reported increase in endometrial cancer risk among estrogen-only users varies from 2-to 12-fold greater compared with non-users, depending on the duration of treatment and estrogen dose (see section 4.8). After stopping treatment risk may remain elevated for at least 10 years. The addition of a progestogen for at least 12 days per month/28 day cycle or continuous combined estrogen-progestagen therapy in non-hysterectomised women prevents the excess risk associated with estrogen-only HRT. For oral doses of conjugated equine estrogens >0.625 mg the endometrial safety of added progestagens has not been demonstrated. The reduction in risk to the endometrium should be weighed against the increase in the risk of breast cancer of added progestogen (see 'Breast Cancer' below and section 4.8 Undesirable effects). Breakthrough bleeding and spotting may occur during the first months of treatment. If breakthrough bleeding or spotting appears after some time on therapy, or continues after treatment has been discontinued, the reason should be investigated, which may include endometrial biopsy to exclude endometrial malignancy.Unopposed estrogen stimulation may lead to pre-malignant or malignant transformation in the residual foci of endometriosis. Therefore, the addition of progestogens to estrogen replacement therapy should be considered in women who have undergone hysterectomy because of endometriosis, if they are known to have residual endometriosis (but see above).5. Breast Cancer The overall evidence suggests an increased risk of breast cancer in women taking combined estrogen-progestagen and possibly also estrogen-only HRT, that is dependent on the duration of taking HRT.A randomised placebo-controlled trial, The Women's Health Initiative Study (WHI) found no increase in the risk of breast cancer in hysterectomised women using estrogen-only HRT. Observational studies have mostly reported a small increase in risk of having breast cancer diagnosed that is substantially lower than that found in users of estrogen-progestagen combinations (see Section 4.8 Undesirable effects). For all HRT, an excess risk becomes apparent within a few years of use and increases with the duration of intake but returns to baseline within a few (at most five) years after stopping treatment. HRT, especially estrogen-progestogen combined treatment, increases the density of mammographic images which may adversely affect the radiological detection of breast cancer.6. Ovarian Cancer Ovarian cancer is much rarer than breast cancer. Long-term (at least 5-10 years) use of estrogen-only HRT products has been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer (see section 4.8). Some studies including the WHI trial suggest that the long-term use of combined HRTs may confer a similar, or slightly smaller, risk (see section 4.8). 7. Venous thromboembolism Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with a 1.3-3 fold risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) i.e. deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. The occurrence of such an event is more likely in the first year of HRT than later (see section 4.8). Patients with a history of VTE or known thrombophilic states have an increased risk of VTE. HRT may add to this risk. HRT is therefore contraindicated in these patients (see section 4.3). Personal or strong family history of thromboembolism or recurrent spontaneous abortion should be investigated in order to exclude a thrombophilic predisposition. Generally recognised risk factors for VTE include, use of estrogens, older age, major surgery, prolonged immobilisation, obesity (Body Mass Index >30kg/m2), pregnancy/postpartum period, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cancer. There is no consensus about the possible role of varicose veins in VTE. As in all postoperative patients scrupulous attention should be given to prophylactic measures to prevent VTE following surgery. If prolonged immobilisation is liable to follow elective surgery, particularly abdominal or orthopaedic surgery to the lower limbs temporarily stopping HRT 4 to 6 weeks earlier is recommended. Treatment should not be restarted until the woman is completely mobilised.In women with no personal history of VTE but with a first degree relative with a history of thrombosis at young age, screening may be offered after careful counselling regarding its limitations (only a proportion of thrombophilic defects are identified by screening). If a thrombophilic defect is identified which segregates with thrombosis in family members or if the defect is 'severe' (e.g, antithrombin, protein S, or protein C deficiencies or a combination of defects) HRT is contraindicated.Women already on chronic anticoagulant treatment require careful consideration of the benefit-risk of use of HRT.If VTE develops after initiating therapy, the drug should be discontinued. Patients should be told to contact their doctors immediately when they are aware of potential thromboembolic symptoms (e.g. painful swelling of a leg, sudden pain in the chest, dyspnoea).8. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)There is no evidence from randomised controlled trials of protection against myocardial infarction in women with or without existing CAD who received combined estrogen-progestagen or estrogen-only HRT. Randomised controlled data found no increased risk of CAD in hysterectomised women using estrogen-only therapy.9. Ischaemic Stroke Combined estrogen-progestagen and estrogen-only therapy are associated with an up to 1.5-fold increase in risk of ischaemic stroke. The relative risk does not change with age or time since menopause. However, as the baseline risk of stroke is strongly age-dependent, the overall risk of stroke in women who use HRT will increase with age (see section 4.8). Other Conditions 10. Estrogens may cause fluid retention and therefore patients with cardiac or renal dysfunction should be carefully observed.11. The use of estrogen may influence the laboratory results of certain endocrine tests and liver enzymes.Estrogens increase thyroid binding globulin (TBG), leading to increased circulating total thyroid hormone, as measured by protein-bound iodine (PBI), T4 levels (by column or by radio-immunoassay) or T3 levels (by radio-immunoassay). T3 resin uptake is decreased, reflecting the elevated TBG. Free T4 and free T3 concentrations are unaltered. Other binding proteins may be elevated in serum, i.e. corticoid binding globulin (CBG), sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) leading to increased circulating corticosteroids and sex steroids, respectively. Free or biologically active hormone concentrations are unchanged. Other plasma proteins may be increased (angiotensinogen/renin substrate, alpha-I-antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin).Some patients dependent on thyroid hormone replacement therapy may require increased doses in order to maintain their free thyroid hormone levels in an acceptable range. Therefore, patients should have their thyroid function monitored more frequently when commencing concurrent treatment in order to maintain their free thyroid hormone levels in an acceptable range.12. A worsening of glucose tolerance may occur in patients taking estrogens and therefore diabetic patients should be carefully observed while receiving hormone replacement therapy. This product contains lactose and sucrose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.13. There is an increase in the risk of gallbladder disease in women receiving HRT (see conditions that need supervision).14. Women with pre-existing hypertriglyceridemia should be followed closely during estrogen replacement or hormone replacement therapy, since rare cases of large increases of plasma triglycerides leading to pancreatitis have been reported with estrogen therapy in this condition.15. Estrogens should be used with caution in individuals with severe hypocalcaemia.16. HRT use does not improve cognitive function. There is some evidence from the WHI trial of increased risk of probable dementia in women who start using continuous combined or estrogen-only HRT after the age of 65. 17. Exogenous estrogens may induce or exacerbate symptoms of angioedema, particularly in women with hereditary angioedema. | |