ACTIVELLA®—Prescription hormone therapy with an estrogen just like your own. Now you can replace what your body is missing with what you want in a hormone therapy.
ACTIVELLA® FAQs
What is hormone therapy (HT)?
Hormone therapy consists of the use of prescription drugs most often used when treating menopause symptoms. It encompasses both estrogen therapy (ET) and estrogen plus progestin therapy (EPT). HT replaces the more dated term hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
What is ACTIVELLA® used for?
ACTIVELLA® is used after menopause to:
- Reduce moderate to severe hot flashes
- Help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones)
- If you use ACTIVELLA® only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your doctor about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
ACTIVELLA® 1.0 mg/0.5 mg is also used after menopause to:
- Treat moderate to severe dryness, itching, and burning in and around the vagina
Who should not take ACTIVELLA®?
Do Not Take ACTIVELLA® If You Have Had Your Uterus Removed (Hysterectomy).
ACTIVELLA® contains a progestin to decrease the chances of getting cancer of the uterus. If you do not have a uterus, you do not need a progestin and you should not take ACTIVELLA®.
Do not start taking ACTIVELLA® if you:
- Have unusual vaginal bleeding
- Currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus
- Had a stroke or heart attack in the past year
- Currently have or have had blood clots
- Currently have or have had liver problems
- Are allergic to ACTIVELLA® 1.0 mg/0.5 mg or ACTIVELLA® 0.5 mg/0.1 mg or any of their ingredients
- Think you may be pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Are going to have surgery or will be on bed rest
Please be sure to speak to your health care professional before starting any drug regimen, including ACTIVELLA®.
What are the possible side effects of estrogens?
Less common but serious side effects include:
- Breast cancer
- Cancer of the uterus
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Blood clots
- Dementia
- Gallbladder disease
- Ovarian cancer
Some of the warning signs of serious side effects include:
- Breast lumps
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Dizziness and faintness
- Changes in speech
- Severe headaches
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Pains in your legs
- Changes in vision
- Vomiting
Call your health care provider right away if you get any of these warning signs, or any other unusual symptom that concerns you.
Common side effects include:
- Headache
- Breast pain
- Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Stomach/abdominal cramps, bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mental depression
- Back pain
- Weight increase
- Hair loss
Other side effects include:
- High blood pressure
- Liver problems
- High blood sugar
- Fluid retention
- Enlargement of benign tumors of the uterus (“fibroids”)
- Vaginal yeast infection
- Hirsutism
- Acne
- Weight decrease
- Sleep disturbances
- Allergic reactions
- Nervousness
What can I do to lower my chances of a serious side effect with ACTIVELLA®?
- Talk with your health care provider regularly about whether you should continue taking ACTIVELLA®.
- See your health care provider right away if you get vaginal bleeding while taking ACTIVELLA®.
- Have a breast exam and mammogram (breast x-ray) every year unless your health care provider tells you otherwise. If members of your family have had breast cancer or if you have ever had breast lumps or an abnormal mammogram, you may need to have breast exams more often.
- If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol (fat in the blood), diabetes, are overweight, or if you use tobacco, you may have higher chances for getting heart disease. Ask your health care provider for ways to lower your chances for getting heart disease.
- Have an annual gynecologic exam.
How should I take ACTIVELLA®?
- Take one ACTIVELLA® 1.0 mg/0.5 mg or ACTIVELLA® 0.5 mg/0.1 mg tablet once a day.
- Estrogens should be used at the lowest dose possible for your treatment only as long as needed. You and your health care provider should talk regularly (eg, every 3 to 6 months) about the dose you are taking and whether you still need treatment with ACTIVELLA®.
