Novofem film-coated tablets.

Read this entire leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Novofem^® is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Novofem^®
3. How to take Novofem^®
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Novofem^®
6. Contents of the pack and other information

Relief of symptoms occurring after menopause

During the menopause, the amount of the oestrogen produced by a woman’s body drops. This can cause symptoms such as hot face, neck and chest (‘hot flushes’). Novofem^® alleviates these symptoms after menopause. You will only be prescribed Novofem^® if your symptoms seriously hinder your daily life.

Prevention of osteoporosis

After the menopause some women may develop fragile bones (osteoporosis). You should discuss all available options with your doctor.

If you are at an increased risk of fractures due to osteoporosis and other medicines are not suitable for you, you can use Novofem^® to prevent osteoporosis after menopause.

The experience of treating women older than 65 years is limited.

Medical history and regular check-ups

The use of HRT carries risks which need to be considered when deciding whether to start taking it, or whether to carry on taking it.

The experience in treating women with a premature menopause (due to ovarian failure or surgery) is limited. If you have a premature menopause the risks of using HRT may be different. Please talk to your doctor.

Before you start (or restart) HRT, your doctor will ask about your own and your family’s medical history. Your doctor may decide to perform a physical examination. This may include an examination of your breasts and/or an internal examination, if necessary.

Once you have started on Novofem^®, you should see your doctor for regular check-ups (at least once a year). At these check-ups, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of continuing with Novofem^®.

Go for regular breast screening, as recommended by your doctor.

Do not take Novofem^®

If any of the following applies to you. If you are not sure about any of the points below, talk to your doctor before taking Novofem^®.

Do not take Novofem^®:

• If you have, have had or suspect having breast cancer.
• If you have, have had or suspect having cancer of the womb lining (endometrial cancer), or any other oestrogen dependent cancer.
• If you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding.
• If you have excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated.
• If you have or have ever had a blood clot in a vein (venous thromboembolism), such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
• If you have a blood clotting disorder (such as protein C, protein S or antithrombin deficiency).
• If you have or previously have had a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries, such as a heart attack, stroke or angina.
• If you have or have ever had a liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal.
• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to estradiol, norethisterone acetate or any of the other ingredients of Novofem^® (listed in section 6 ‘Contents of the pack and other information’).
• If you have a rare blood problem called ‘porphyria’ which is passed down in families (inherited).

If any of the above conditions appear for the first time while taking Novofem^®, stop taking it at once and consult your doctor immediately.

Warnings and precautions

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any of the following problems, before you start the treatment, as these may return or become worse during treatment with Novofem^®. If so, you should see your doctor more often for check-ups:

• fibroids inside your womb
• growth of womb lining outside your womb (endometriosis) or a history of excessive growth of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia)
• increased risk of developing blood clots (see ‘Blood clots in a vein (venous thromboembolism)’)
• increased risk of getting a oestrogen-sensitive cancer (such as having a mother, sister or grandmother who has had breast cancer)
• high blood pressure
• a liver disorder, such as a benign liver tumour
• diabetes
• gallstones
• migraine or severe headaches
• a disease of the immune system that affects many organs of the body (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE)
• epilepsy
• asthma
• a disease affecting the eardrum and hearing (otosclerosis)
• a very high level of fat in your blood (triglycerides)
• fluid retention due to cardiac or kidney problems
• a condition where your thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) and you are treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy
• a hereditary condition causing recurrent episodes of severe swelling (hereditary angioedema) or if you have had episodes of rapid swelling of the hands, face, feet, lips, eyes, tongue, throat (airway blockage) or digestive tract
• lactose intolerance.

Stop taking Novofem^® and see a doctor immediately

If you notice any of the following when taking HRT:

• any of the conditions mentioned in the ‘Do not take Novofem^®’ section.
• yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice). These may be signs of a liver disease.
• a large rise in your blood pressure (symptoms may be headache, tiredness and dizziness).
• migraine-like headaches which happen for the first time.
• if you become pregnant.
• if you notice signs of a blood clot, such as:
  • painful swelling and redness of the legs
  • sudden chest pain
  • difficulty in breathing.
    For more information, see ‘Blood clots in a vein (venous thromboembolism)’.

Note: Novofem^® is not a contraceptive. If it is less than 12 months since your last menstrual period or you are under 50 years old, you may still need to use additional contraception to prevent pregnancy. Speak to your doctor for advice.

HRT and cancer

Excessive thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia) and cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial cancer)

Taking oestrogen-only HRT will increase the risk of excessive thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia) and cancer of the womb lining (endometrial cancer).

The progestagen in Novofem^® protects you from this extra risk.

Compare

In women who still have a womb and who are not taking HRT, on average, 5 in 1,000 will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer between the ages of 50 and 65.

For women aged 50 to 65 who still have a womb and who take oestrogen-only HRT, between 10 and 60 women in 1,000 will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer (i.e. between 5 and 55 extra cases), depending on the dose and for how long it is taken.

Unexpected bleeding

You will have a bleed once a month (so-called withdrawal bleed) while taking Novofem^®. But, if you have unexpected bleeding or drops of blood (spotting) besides your monthly bleeding, which:

• carries on for more than the first 6 months
• starts after you have been taking Novofem^® more than 6 months
• carries on after you have stopped taking Novofem^®

see your doctor as soon as possible.

Breast cancer

Evidence suggests that taking combined oestrogen-progestagen and possibly also oestrogen-only HRT increases the risk of breast cancer. The extra risk depends on how long you take HRT. The additional risk becomes clear within a few years. However, it returns to normal within a few years (at most 5) after stopping treatment.

Compare

Women aged 50 to 79 who are not taking HRT, on average, 9 to 17 in 1,000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer over a 5-year period.

For women aged 50 to 79 who are taking oestrogen-progestagen HRT over 5 years, there will be 13 to 23 cases in 1,000 users (i.e. an extra 4 to 6 cases).

Regularly check your breasts. See your doctor if you notice any changes such as:

• dimpling of the skin
• changes in the nipple
• any lumps you can see or feel.

Additionally, you are advised to join mammography screening programs when offered to you. For mammogram screening, it is important that you inform the nurse/healthcare professional who is actually taking the x-ray that you use HRT, as this medication may increase the density of your breasts which may affect the outcome of the mammogram. Where the density of the breast is increased, mammography may not detect all lumps.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is rare - much rarer than breast cancer. The use of oestrogen-only or combined oestrogen-progestagen HRT has been associated with a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The risk of ovarian cancer varies with age. For example, in women aged 50 to 54 who are not taking HRT, about 2 women in 2,000 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer over a 5-year period. For women who have been taking HRT for 5 years, there will be about 3 cases per 2,000 users (i.e. about 1 extra case).

Effect of HRT on heart and circulation

Blood clots in a vein (venous thromboembolism)

The risk of blood clots in the veins is about 1.3 to 3 times higher in HRT users than in non-users, especially during the first year of taking it.

Blood clots can be serious, and if one travels to the lungs, it can cause chest pain, breathlessness, fainting or even death.

You are more likely to get a blood clot in your veins as you get older and if any of the following applies to you. Inform your doctor if any of these situations applies to you:

• you are unable to walk for a long time because of major surgery, injury or illness (see also section 3, ‘If you need to have surgery’).
• you are seriously overweight (BMI >30 kg/m²).
• you have any blood clotting problem that needs long-term treatment with a medicine used to prevent blood clots.
• if any of your close relatives has ever had a blood clot in the leg, lung or another organ.
• you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
• you have cancer.

For signs of a blood clot, see ‘Stop taking Novofem^® and see a doctor immediately’.

Compare

Looking at women in their 50s who are not taking HRT, on average, over a 5-year period, 4 to 7 in 1,000 would be expected to get a blood clot in a vein.

For women in their 50s who have been taking oestrogen-progestagen HRT for over 5 years, there will be 9 to 12 cases in 1,000 users (i.e. an extra 5 cases).

Heart disease (heart attack)

There is no evidence that HRT will prevent a heart attack. Women over the age of 60 years who use oestrogen-progestagen HRT are slightly more likely to develop heart disease than those not taking any HRT.

Stroke

The risk of getting stroke is about 1.5 times higher in HRT users than in non-users. The number of extra cases of stroke due to use of HRT will increase with age.

Compare

Looking at women in their 50s who are not taking HRT, on average, 8 in 1,000 would be expected to have a stroke over a 5-year period.

For women in their 50s who are taking HRT, there will be 11 cases in 1,000 users over 5 years (i.e. an extra 3 cases).

Other conditions

HRT will not prevent memory loss. There is some evidence of a higher risk of memory loss in women who start using HRT after the age of 65. Speak to your doctor for advice.

Using other medicines

Some medicines may interfere with the effect of Novofem^®. This might lead to irregular bleeding. This applies to the following medicines:

• Medicines for epilepsy (such as phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine)
• Medicines for tuberculosis (such as rifampicin and rifabutin)
• Medicines for HIV infection (such as nevirapine, efavirenz, ritonavir and nelfinavir)
• Medicines for hepatitis C infections (such as telaprevir)
• Herbal remedies containing St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum).

Other medicines may increase the effects of Novofem^®:

• Medicines containing ketoconazole (a fungicide).

Novofem^® may have an impact on a concomitant treatment with cyclosporine.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines including medicines obtained without a prescription, herbal medicines or other natural products.

Laboratory tests

If you need a blood test, tell your doctor or the laboratory staff that you are taking Novofem^®, because this medicine can affect the results of some tests.

Taking Novofem^® with food and drink

The tablets can be taken with or without food and drink.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Pregnancy: Novofem^® is for use in postmenopausal women only. If you become pregnant, stop taking Novofem^® and contact your doctor.

Breast-feeding: You should not take Novofem^® if you are breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines

Novofem^® has no known effect on the ability to drive or use machines.

Important information about some of the ingredients in Novofem^®

Novofem^® contains lactose monohydrate. If you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking Novofem^®.

If you take more Novofem^® than you should

If you have taken more Novofem^® than you should, talk to a doctor or pharmacist. An overdose of oestrogens may cause breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting and/or irregular vaginal bleeding (metrorrhagia). Overdosage of progestagens may lead to depressive mood, fatigue, acne and growth of body or facial hair (hirsutism).

If you forget to take Novofem^®

If you forget to take your tablet at the usual time, take it within the next 12 hours. If more than 12 hours have gone by, start again as normal the next day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.

Forgetting a dose may increase the likelihood of breakthrough bleeding and spotting.

If you stop taking Novofem^®

If you would like to stop taking Novofem^®, talk to your doctor first. Your doctor will explain the effects of stopping treatment and discuss other possibilities with you.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you need to have surgery

If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon that you are taking Novofem^®. You may need to stop taking Novofem^® about 4 to 6 weeks before the operation to reduce the risk of a blood clot (see section 2, ‘Blood clots in a vein (venous thromboembolism)’). Ask your doctor when you can start taking Novofem^® again.

Other side effects of combined HRT

The following side effects have been reported with other HRTs:

• Various skin disorders:
  • discolouration of the skin especially of the face or neck known as ‘pregnancy patches’ (chloasma)
  • painful reddish skin nodules (erythema nodosum)
  • rash with target-shaped reddening or sores (erythema multiforme)
  • red or purple discolourations of the skin and/or mucous membranes (vascular purpura)
• Dry eyes
• Tear film composition changes.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

What Novofem^® contains

• The active substances are estradiol and norethisterone acetate.
  The red film-coated tablets contain: estradiol 1 mg (as estradiol hemihydrate).
  The white film-coated tablets contain: estradiol 1 mg (as estradiol hemihydrate) and norethisterone acetate 1 mg.
• The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, maize starch, hydroxypropylcellulose, talc and magnesium stearate.
  Film-coating (red tablets) contains: hypromellose, talc, titanium dioxide (E171), propylene glycol and red iron oxide (E172).
  Film-coating (white tablets) contains: hypromellose, triacetin and talc.

What Novofem^® looks like and contents of the pack

The film-coated tablets are round with a diameter of 6 mm. The red tablets are engraved with NOVO 282. The white tablets are engraved with NOVO 283.

Each pack of 28 tablets contains 16 red tablets and 12 white tablets.

Pack sizes available:

1 x 28 film-coated tablets

3 x 28 film-coated tablets

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder:

Manufacturer:

How to use the calendar pack

1. Set the day reminder

Turn the inner disc to set the day of the week opposite the little plastic tab.

2. Take the first day’s tablet

Break the plastic tab and tip out the first tablet.

3. Move the dial every day

On the next day simply move the transparent dial clockwise 1 space as indicated by the arrow. Tip out the next tablet. Remember to take only 1 tablet once a day.

You can only turn the transparent dial after the tablet in the opening has been removed.