The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Breast pain (17-24%)
- Headache (11-17%)
- Accidental injury (3-17%)
- Upper respiratory tract infection, like cough, cold, sore throat, congestion (10-15%)
- Sinus infection (7-15%)
- Postmenopausal bleeding (10-11%)
- Nausea (10-11%)
- Weight gain (up to 9%)
- Ovarian cyst (up to 7%)
- Stomach flu (up to 6%)
- Viral infection (up to 6%)
- Vaginal yeast infection (up to 6%)
- Mood swings (up to 6%)
- Back pain (3-6%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Changes in vaginal bleeding pattern (e.g., breakthrough bleeding, spotting, lack of periods)
- Stomach pain
- Gas
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Common cold
- Trouble sleeping
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Dizziness
- Nervousness
- Hair loss or excessive hair growth
- Swelling of the arms, legs, or feet
- Changes in weight
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in sex drive
Activella serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Blood clots: trouble breathing, leg pain or swelling, skin that's warm to the touch
- Heart attack: chest pain, arm pain, shortness of breath, cold sweats, lightheadedness
- Stroke: sudden weakness on one side of your body, drooping face, changes in your speech or vision, confusion, headache
- High calcium levels: tiredness, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, constipation
- Low calcium levels: muscle spasms or twitching, numbness and tingling in your fingers, toes, or around your mouth
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, or pelvic pain
Source: DailyMed
The following Activella side effects have also been reported
Women rarely have severe side effects from taking estrogens to replace estrogen. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor:
The prolonged use of estrogens has been reported to increase the risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus) in women after menopause. This risk seems to increase as the dose and the length of use increase. When estrogens are used in low doses for less than 1 year, there is less risk. The risk is also reduced if a progestin (another female hormone) is added to, or replaces part of, your estrogen dose. If the uterus has been removed by surgery (total hysterectomy), there is no risk of endometrial cancer, and no need to take an estrogen and progestin combination.
It is not yet known whether the use of estrogens increases the risk of breast cancer in women. Although some large studies show an increased risk, most studies and information gathered to date do not support this idea.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Breast pain or tenderness
dizziness or light-headedness
headache
rapid weight gain
swelling of feet and lower legs
vaginal bleeding
Rare
Breast lumps
change in vaginal discharge
discharge from nipple
pains in chest, groin, or leg, especially calf
pains in stomach, side, or abdomen
pain or feeling of pressure in pelvis
severe or sudden headache
sudden and unexplained shortness of breath
sudden loss of coordination
sudden slurred speech
sudden vision changes
weakness or numbness in arm or leg
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Other Activella articles
Other Estrogen / Progestin Combinations side effects articles
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