drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate at a glance
Medicine class
Continuous combined oestrogen–progestogen HRT.
Form
Fixed-combination, film-coated oral tablet taken with or without food.
Contraception
HRT does not prevent pregnancy.
What is drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate used for?
Licensed uses include:
Treating oestrogen-deficiency symptoms in women established as postmenopausal.
Preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high fracture risk when other approved treatments are contraindicated or not tolerated.
How does drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate work?
Estradiol replaces some oestrogen lost after menopause, helping symptoms and reducing bone loss. Drospirenone opposes oestrogen-driven growth of the womb lining and has mild potassium-sparing activity.
drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1 mg + 2 mg
How to take drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate
Swallow the film-coated tablet whole with some liquid. It may be taken with or without food.
drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Breast pain or tenderness
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting, particularly during early treatment
- Headache
- Nausea, abdominal discomfort or bloating
- Mood changes, including low mood, emotional changes or nervousness
- Weakness or localised swelling
Get urgent medical advice
- Painful swelling in one leg
- Sudden chest pain or breathlessness
- Sudden facial drooping, speech difficulty or limb weakness
- Severe allergic swelling or breathing difficulty
- A new breast lump or persistent breast change
- Heavy, persistent or newly recurring postmenopausal bleeding
drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate in pregnancy
This combination is not intended for pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, stop taking it and contact the prescriber. HRT is not contraception.
drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate while breastfeeding
The product is not indicated during breastfeeding. Oestrogen HRT is not usually prescribed while breastfeeding unless a specialist considers it appropriate.
drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate interactions
Check prescribed, non-prescription and herbal products before starting or stopping them.
Enzyme-inducing antiseizure medicines, including carbamazepine, phenytoin and primidone
May reduce symptom control and alter bleeding.
Rifampicin, rifabutin, efavirenz, nevirapine or St John’s wort
May reduce hormone exposure and alter effectiveness or bleeding.
Strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors
May increase exposure to drospirenone, estradiol or both.
Common questions about drospirenone + estradiol hemihydrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is it a contraceptive?
No. It is HRT and does not reliably prevent pregnancy.
Why does it contain a progestogen?
Drospirenone opposes estradiol-driven growth of the womb lining, reducing but not eliminating the associated endometrial risk.
Can it cause vaginal bleeding?
Bleeding or spotting is common during early treatment and often settles. Heavy, persistent or newly recurring bleeding needs assessment.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.