What is it used for?
Angeliq is indicated in women who have a uterus for the:
• Treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with the menopause.
• Treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with the menopause. When prescribing solely for the treatment of symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy, topical vaginal products should be considered.
Contraindications and cautions:
Do NOT use Angeliq if:
• you are allergic to any ingredient in Angeliq
• you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• you have kidney, liver, or adrenal gland problems
• you have a history of blood clots (eg, in the lungs, legs, eyes); endometrial, cervical, or vaginal cancer; estrogen-dependent growths; undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding; or breast cancer
• you have had recent (within the past year) bleeding in the brain, stroke, heart attack, or other serious blood vessel problems
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have had your uterus removed (hysterectomy), or you have a history of endometriosis, growths in the uterus, uterine fibroids, abnormal mammograms, or lumps in the breast
• if you have a history of asthma, heart problems (eg, heart failure), high blood pressure, blood problems (eg porphyria), blood vessel problems, heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol or lipid levels, diabetes, depression, dementia, gallbladder problems, pancreas problems, cancer, growths in the liver, lupus, migraine headaches, seizures, or underactive thyroid
• if you have high blood potassium levels, low blood sodium levels, or abnormal blood calcium levels
• if you have a history of fluid retention (swelling) or tobacco use, or if you are very overweight
• if a member of your family has ever had a blood clot (eg, in the lung or leg)
• if you have a history of jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin) caused by pregnancy or estrogen use
• if you will be confined to a bed or chair for an extended period of time (eg, because of surgery or a long airplane ride)
Side effects: All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Back pain; breast tenderness, pain, or enlargement; headache; mild hair loss; nausea; nervousness; stomach cramps, bloating, or pain; vaginal spotting or breakthrough bleeding; vomiting; weight changes.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); calf pain, swelling, or tenderness; chest pain; confusion; discharge from the nipples; fainting; irregular heartbeat; lumps in the breast; mental or mood changes (eg, depression, irritability, memory loss); numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; severe or persistent dizziness or stomach pain; severe or persistent breast pain; severe, persistent, or recurring abnormal vaginal bleeding; speech changes (eg, slurred speech); sudden severe headache, nausea, or vomiting; sudden shortness of breath; sudden weight gain; swelling of the hands or feet; unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor; vision changes (eg, double vision, sudden vision loss); yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Interactions: Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
• Troleandomycin because the risk of jaundice (yellowing of the skin of eyes) and liver problems may be increased
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, lisinopril), angiotensin receptor blockers (eg, valsartan), heparin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen), potassium sparing diuretics (eg, triamterene), or potassium supplements because the risk of high potassium levels in the blood may be increased
• Azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), or macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin) because they may increase the risk of Angeliq 's side effects
• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, griseofulvin, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), penicillins (eg, amoxicillin), rifampin, St. John's wort, or tetracyclines (eg, doxycycline) because they may decrease Angeliq 's effectiveness
• Corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Angeliq
• Lamotrigine or thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Angeliq
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur.
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