Evorel Conti Patches

What are Evorel Conti patches and what are they used for?

Evorel Conti patches are a combined form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), used to treat symptoms of the menopause. Most HRT treatments involve daily tablets. However, Evorel Conti is a patch that is placed on the skin and changed twice per week.

Each Evorel Conti patch slowly releases two active ingredients estradiol (3.2mg) and norethisterone (11.2mg) which imitate the action of the two female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. It is a convenient alternative for patients who cannot or prefer not to swallow tablets every day.

Evorel Conti is a continuous combined treatment that does not involve a regular period. For this reason, Evorel Conti patches are suited for women who have already reached the menopause but still suffer from distressing symptoms.

If you are switching from another HRT product, leave one week without treatment before you begin using Evorel Conti patches. HRT should only be necessary as a relatively short-term treatment as your body adjusts to the menopause. You should review your HRT with your GP at least once a year and have regular gynaecological checkups.

What is the menopause?

All women go through the menopause. This usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. As you approach this age, your ovaries will produce less and less oestrogen. This has the effect of stopping the menstrual cycle, but the change in hormone levels can lead to several symptoms that may substantially impact day-to-day life.

Physical symptoms of the menopause include:

• hot flushes (a spontaneous heat that spreads throughout the body, leading to blushing, sweating and an unusually strong heartbeat)
• night sweats
• osteoporosis
• dryness of the eyes or vagina
• psychological effects such as irritability, insomnia and depression

How does HRT work?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) eases the symptoms of menopause by supplementing the levels of hormones that the body can produce naturally. Some medicines are oestrogen-only. However, in women who still have a uterus, an uncontrolled increase in oestrogen levels will cause the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) to grow excessively.

This will substantially increase your risk of complications such as endometrial cancer. Evorel Conti patch also contains norethisterone acetate, a synthetic version of progesterone to help counteract this increased risk.

Alternatives to Evorel Conti Patches

There are currently multiple variations of HRT available on prescription including those containing just oestrogen or combined HRT, such as Evorel Conti, that contain both synthetic oestrogen and progesterone. Evorel Conti patches contain the same active ingredients as Femseven Conti patches.

HRT comes in the form of tablets, patches and vaginal gels. For more information about what HRT you can buy from The Independent Pharmacy visit our Advice for Menopause page.

If you are looking to start HRT or would like to change to a different treatment you should discuss your options with your doctor or specialist.

Non-medicinal alternatives for the symptoms of Menopause

For Night Sweats and Hot Flushes

• Using A fan
• Cool Showers
• Wearing light clothing

Vaginal Dryness

• Lubricants

Other Alternatives

• A healthy diet and regular exercise
• Stopping Smoking

Sources

• Evorel Conti, Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/e...
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...
• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/estradiol-with-norethisterone.html#indicationsAndDoses
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/

How to use Evorel Conti patches

• Evorel Conti patches are for transdermal use only by postmenopausal women who have not undergone a hysterectomy.
• One patch should be applied to the skin on the buttocks or hips, changing and rotating sites twice a week. Patches should be worn continuously without a break. Do not apply to the skin on or around the breasts.
• Patches can be worn under loose-fitting clothing. Be careful to not place your patch under any tight or elasticated waistbands.

How to apply

1. Before application, wash the skin and dry it thoroughly
2. Remove the patch from its pouch and peel off half the protective liner from the back of the patch.
3. Place the patch onto the desired area of hairless, intact skin, sticky side down and peel off the other half of the liner, pressing the patch down onto the skin for 30 seconds.

Before using Evorel Conti Patches please take the time to read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly.

Evorel Conti ingedients

The active ingredients contained in Evorel Conti patches are: 3.2mg estradiol hemihydrate, 11.2mg norethisterone acetate. The patch will release 50mcg estradiol and 170mcg norethisterone per day.

Evorel Conti patches also contain the following inactive ingredients to make up the complete product: Duro-Tak 387-2287, guar gum, Hostaphan MN19

Side effects of Evorel Conti patches

Not everyone will experience side effects when they take Evorel, however if you do they may include:

• Itchy or inflamed skin where the treatment is applied
• Dizziness
• Breast pain
• Mood swings
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Diarrhoea
• Joint pain
• Breakthrough bleeding
• Weight gain

If you are concerned about these effects, or if the product affects you in any other way, stop using it immediately and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Evorel Conti warnings

Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.

Evorel Conti patches are unsuitable for you if you:

• Have ever had breast cancer
• May have cancer which is sensitive to oestrogen (including uterine cancer)
• Have untreated endometrial hyperplasia (an excessively thick womb lining)
• Suffer from a blood clotting disorder, or have ever had a blood clot
• Have recently had a heart attack or stroke
• Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Have a history of liver disease
• Suffer from porphyria (a rare hereditary blood disease)
• Are allergic to any of the ingredients in the patch
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Inform your GP if you plan on using Evorel Conti and have ever had any of the following health complications:

• Fibroids
• Impaired liver function
• Uterine problems including endometriosis or endometrial hyperplasia
• Circulation problems (e.g. angina, heart attack)
• High risk of blood clots
• Diabetes
• Migraine
• Gallstones
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Asthma
• Epilepsy
• Fluid retention
• High blood pressure
• High-fat levels in the blood
• Otosclerosis (a hereditary ear disorder)
• A family history of breast cancer or another oestrogen-sensitive cancer
• A history of severe allergic reactions

Evorel Conti and other medicines

• Epilepsy medicines (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine)
• Tuberculosis medicines (e.g. rifampicin)
• HIV medicines (e.g. nevirapine, ritonavir, nelfinavir)
• Bosentan (to reduce blood pressure in the lungs)
• Hepatitis C medicines (e.g. telaprevir)
• St Johns Wort

Evorel Conti and cancer

HRT may increase your risk of breast cancer. The extent of this risk will vary depending on the length of your HRT treatment and whether you are taking combined or oestrogen-only HRT. Check your breasts regularly for changes to the skin or nipple, or for any noticeable lump. For women who use HRT for more than five years, there may also be a slight increase in the risk of ovarian cancer.

Evorel Conti and your circulation

Stop using Evorel Conti and seek medical attention immediately if you notice early signs of any of the following:

• Blood clots – pain and swelling of the legs, difficulty breathing
• Stroke – sudden migraines, blurred vision
• Heart disease – chest pain that extends to the neck or arm
• Liver disease – yellow colouration of the skin or eyes

Discuss with your doctor whether your personal benefits of HRT outweigh the risks mentioned above.

Please read all packaging and the Patient Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.