Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop using the gel and see your doctor straight away, if you notice any of the following serious side effects:
your blood pressure rises
your skin or the whites of your eyes go yellow (jaundice)
you suddenly have migraine-type headaches (see section 2)
you have signs of a blood clot (see section 2)
you get any of the problems listed in section 2.
The following diseases are reported more often in women using HRT compared to women not using HRT:
breast cancer
abnormal growth or cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia or cancer)
ovarian cancer
blood clots in the veins of the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism)
heart disease
stroke
probable memory loss if HRT is started over the age of 65.
For more information about these side effects, see section 2.
During the first few months of treatment, breakthrough bleeding, spotting and breast tenderness or enlargement can occur. These are usually temporary and normally disappear after continued treatment.
Other side effects
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
itching of the skin, rash, pain, increased sweating, swollen feet and lower legs
breasts become tender or painful
increase or decrease in your weight
headache, dizziness
tummy pains, feeling sick or being sick, flatulence
bleeding or spotting, menstrual disorder
depression, nervousness, lethargy
hot flushes.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
changes to sex drive and mood, anxiety, sleeplessness, apathy, emotional instability, impaired concentration,euphoria, agitation
migraine, delusion, trembling
visual impairment, dry eye
hypertension, superficial phlebitis, purpura
shortness of breath, rhinitis
benign breast or endometrial tumour
increased appetite, high level of cholesterol in the blood
increased heart rate
constipation, digestive disturbance, diarrhoea, rectal disorder
acne, alopecia, dry skin, nail disorder, skin nodule, excessive growth of hair, urticaria (a raised, itchy rash that appears on the skin), painful reddish skin nodules (erythema nodosum)
joint disorders, muscle cramps
increased urinary frequency/urgency, loss of bladder control, urinary tract infection, urine discoloration, haematuria
tender or swollen breast, abnormal growth of the lining of the womb, uterine disorder
tiredness, abnormal laboratory test, weakness, fever, flu syndrome, general feeling of ill health
allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
venous thromboembolism
alterations in liver function and biliary flow
contact lense intolerance
menstrual pain
pre-menstrual like syndrome.
Adverse events reported post marketing with frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data):
uterine fibroids
hereditary angioedema
cerebral circulatory disorder
, bloating
liver disease causing yellowing of the skin
contact rash, eczema
If you have any of these side effects tell your doctor. The doctor may decide to stop your treatment for a while.
Dementia
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.
The following side effects have been reported with other HRTs:
gall bladder disease
probable dementia over the age of 65
various skin disorders:
discolouration of the skin especially of the face or neck known as “pregnancy patches” (chloasma)
rash with target-shaped reddening or sores (erythema multiforme)
purpura due to loss of integrity or function of the vessels (vascular purpura)