Hi All,

I have been feeling terrible and wanted to try a natural progesterone cream. I found a Doctor that prescribed a 10% cream (I think that's high) and I tried it for the first time last night. I had a horrible reaction - pounding heart, anxiety, insomnia. I've heard of something called "paradoxical response" and that means you have the opposite reaction to progesterone - has anyone experience this? I called the Doctor and he said to stop using it for a few days then start with a smaller amount. I'm alittle concerned.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
DJ

I just started using a progesterone cream that is probably the lowest dose on the market. The name is GNC womens progesterone cream with 5mg per oz progesterone. I've only used it about a month but it doesn't seem to have had any side effects. Perhaps it is too low to do anything at all but from reading the article on powersurge regarding low dose progesterone by Betty Kamen, I felt the low dose would be a good starting point. Maybe you could consider this if it's not too low for you.

I had a horrible time with side effects of the natural progesterone cream my doctctor got made especially for me fromthe pharmacy....dry skin, foggy brain and sleepiness to such an extent I was afraid to drive....even small amounts did it for me....I guess it is just too strong for me. I am now trying BCP which is synthetic but for me the process of absorption is slowed (through the liver) for good or bad, and the side effects are very low or even none....only gone thru one cycle so hard to tell yet....Joan

I am 25 years old and have been experiencing a hormone imbalance for the past 2 years ever since stopping the birth control pill. about 4 months ago my dr. determined my body is not making progesterone and prescribed me a compounded progesterone cream to apply during days 12-26 of my cycle to help with symptoms such as water retention. This first month was wonderful and i felt great. Unfortunately the second month i had the same reaction. Except in addition to the insomnia and anxiety i also broke out with a face full of acne and i have never in my entire life had acne. If i had 1 pimple ever 2 months that was alot for me. My Doctor was hesitant to believe this was a reaction from the progesterone because no studies indicate that this could happen. However Dr. Uzzi Reiss refers to this as a paradoxical response. I have been off the creme for 2 months now and my acne and anxiety has not subsided. Did you have any skin break outs from the progesterone as well? How long did it take for you to recover from your symptoms since stopping the progesterone?? There is very little information about this type of reaction and i am very eager to hear more about your situation!

Thanks,
Kristy

Hi,,I use a compounded progesterone cream also and when I first started using it i had to cut back. The full dose
was too much for me. I'm still using it just using less. I think it is stonger than the over the counter and I don't needs the full dose. I also read about the paradoxical response and it makes sense so I just use a little less.