Estradiol/norethindrone is a drug for post-menopausal women, and the drug company Novo Nordisk sells an oral form under the name Activella. You can buy flaxseed oil as a food or dietary supplement. Activella may lower your risk of osteoporosis and reduce symptoms of menopause, and flaxseed oil may lower your risk for heart disease. These treatments may lead to side effects, so talk to your doctor before using them.
Pain
When you use Activella, you may suffer pain in your back and chest, and you may also experience shortness of breath. Activella may cause headaches, breast pain or tenderness, and pain in your legs. Activella and flaxseed oil can cause abdominal pain, along with diarrhea and bloating, although this is a rare side effect of flaxseed oil if you are a healthy individual who is taking it according to doctor's instructions, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Bleeding
A benefit of flaxseed oil is that it reduces your risk for blood clots and stroke, but a side effect is that it may cause excessive bleeding. Flaxseed oil may interact with blood thinning medications and require you to adjust the dosage, according to the Mayo Clinic. Do not ever change your medications without talking to your doctor first. Activella may lead to vaginal bleeding. If you have not yet stopped menstruating, Activella and flaxseed can make your menstrual cycle irregular, or cause spotting between periods.
Weight Gain
Flaxseed oil is a pure fat, and it provides 120 calories per tablespoon. You gain weight when you eat more calories than you burn, and you are more likely to overeat high-calorie, high-fat foods. Some individuals who use Activella report gaining weight. In some cases, this may be from gaining body fat. Another common side effect of Activella is weight gain from fluid retention. A less common side effect of using Activella is unintentional weight loss.
Other Risks
Potential side effects of Activella include an increased risk for breast cancer, cancer of the uterus and endometrial cancer, according to the University of Maryland. It may also cause liver damage or kidney disease. Ground flaxseed, but not flaxseed oil, has an estrogenlike effect, according to the Mayo Clinic. Flaxseed oil may increase the risk for birth defects, but you are not likely to be pregnant if you are taking Activella to reduce symptoms of menopause.
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