Livial 2.5mg (Tibolone)

Livial general information

What is Livial used for?

Livial tablets 2.5mg are a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to help relieve symptoms of menopause, caused by reduced production of oestrogen after menopause or following surgical removal of the ovaries. These symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, headaches, mood swings, lack of concentration and loss of energy. Livial tablets are also used to help prevent postmenopausal bone loss (osteoporosis) and reduce risk of fracture. Livial tablets are intended only for post-menopausal women who are over 60 years and who cannot take other HRT medication for the treatment of oestrogen deficiency or other medication for prevention of bone mineral density loss.

How does Livial work?

Livial tablets 2.5mg contain tibolone, a synthetic steroid hormone that is broken down by the body’s metabolism into three compounds that act in a similar way to naturally produced oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. These metabolites are also tissue-specific which means that they only act on certain tissues. Livial tablets, once metabolised, have oestrogenic effects on bone, vaginal and breast tissue, whereas it has progestogen activity on the endometrium (lining of the uterus) and androgenic effects (like testosterone) in the brain and liver; these actions help restore the hormonal balance to relieve menopausal symptoms like vaginal atrophy, loss of bone density and osteoporosis, as well as other symptoms, such as reducing hot flushes and improved libido. Livial tablets also have other beneficial effects like lowering cholesterol levels which tend to increase after menopause.

What does Livial contain?

Livial tablets contain the active ingredient tibolone 2.5 mg, a synthetic steroid hormone that is used for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). They also contain potato starch, magnesium stearate, ascorbyl palmitate and lactose.

Treating symptoms of menopause with Livial

Livial tablets 2.5mg are a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to help relieve symptoms of menopause and to reduce risk of fracture due to osteoporosis in post-menopausal women who are over 60 years and who cannot take other forms of HRT or other medication for prevention of bone mineral density loss. Livial tablets contain tibolone, a synthetic steroid hormone that is broken down by the body’s metabolism into three compounds that act in a similar way to naturally produced oestrogen and progesterone and testosterone. Livial tablets help restore the hormonal balance to relieve menopausal symptoms like vaginal atrophy, loss of bone density and osteoporosis, as well as other symptoms, such as reducing hot flushes and improved libido. Livial tablets also have other beneficial effects like lowering cholesterol levels which tend to increase after menopause.

What are the side effects of Livial?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Livial tablets 2.5mg include: lower abdominal pain, abnormal hair growth, vaginal, discharge bleeding or spotting, breast tenderness, haemorrhage, genital itching, vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection), thickened endometrial (lining of the uterus) wall, abnormal growth of the cervix, inflammation of the vagina and vulva (vulvovaginitis).

What are the health risks of Livial?

Long-term HRT with Livial does have associated health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, stroke, deep vein thrombosis.

When should Livial not be used?

You should not use Livial tablets 2.5mg if you:

• are allergic to tibolone or any ingredients in Livial
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have a past or family history of carcinoma of the breast, endometrial carcinoma or liver disease
• have a history of thrombosis (blood clots) in the legs( thromboembolism) or lung (pulmonary embolism)
• have a history of heart disease, stroke, severe uncontrolled high blood pressure
• have abnormal vaginal bleeding of unknown cause
• have liver disease or the blood disorder porphyria
• are taking medicines that interact with Livial including: anticoagulant like warfarin, anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepin, anti-infectives like rifampicin, rifabutin, the sedative midazolam

How should Livial be taken?

You should take your Livial tablets 2.5mg with a glass of water once daily with or without food. You will generally see an Improvement in your symptoms within a few weeks and you should continue to take your Livial tablets 2.5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which will usually be for the shortest time period required to improve your symptoms, usually at least 3 months but not more than 6 months without a review.

How long should you take Livial?

You should continue to take your Livial tablets 2.5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which will usually be for the shortest time period required to improve your symptoms, usually at least 3 months but not more than 6 months without a review.

Missed dose of Livial

If you miss a dose of Livial take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Livial be stored?

You should store your Livial below 25°C in a cool dry place.