Hi, all,

It's been a week since I started taking Prometrium 100 mg. every night with vivelle dot patch .1 mg. I took natural progesterone from compounding pharmacy for one week also.

I was very depressed before I started back on hrt on April 21. Since I started prometrium, I've felt my mood really going downhill. Today all I want to do is cry. I don't know what to do anymore. I cannot tolerate progestins. I have to take estrogen.

In one week I have also gained 3 pounds and my abdomen is so swollen, it looks like I'm pregnant. I have IBS constipation and this makes it much worse. I haven't been able to move bowels for days even with aids.

I'm really upset. My hubby can't stand my freaking out anymore. It's very difficult to get an appt. w/gynecologist.

If I could take less progesterone, maybe it would be all right, but I don't know how much less and still have uterine protection.
I'm postmenopausal. Before I took Prometrium for two cycles instead of progestin but period never came and ended up with hyperplasia.

I've very afraid that I'm going to end up in my bed again all day or worse. My psychiatrist doesn't know anything about hormones so he's useless, and the side effects of the antidepressants he's constantly suggesting have given me intolerable side effects.


If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it. I have very little money (mainly b/c I can't work until I feel better) so my options of seeing someone else are limited.

Thanks.

Hello Colleen,

I am in a very similar situation, but I am still somewhat in peri (I think??), as my periods are skipping.

I was issued natural BHRT, oral estrogen "Estrace" and prometrium. Everything seemed fine at first, I cycled them and got a period every month, but now, that is not the case, and further realizing that when I'm taking the prometrium I feel awful, foggy brained and fatigue.

It's been about 5-6 months of irregular periods, so I tried to discuss this with my doctor and find another way to take progesterone. Her answer was to offer me Provera, which is NOT bioidentical. After reading up on it, NO WAY, I don't think I want to do that.

I'm thinking that prometrium is the only way, unless you can get a vaginal progesterone, and try that.

How did you know that you had hyperplasia?? What is that??? I hope that I'm not developing that, as I'm not getting a proper bleed monthly.

I feel frustrated with the P also, and wish there was a better answer. In order to cycle they recommended 200 mg of prometrium, which would REALLY make me depressed.

Any other thoughts??? I do hope that you feel better soon.

Juliann

.1 mg on the vivelle dot patch seems right high to me and if you are gaining weight and have breast tenderness this seems more heavy on estrogen than progesterone to me. I don't know why you are on prometrium instead of bioidentical progesterone cream. I think that you just need to tweak your dosing-get a blood test to see ratio of estrogen to progesterone and see what it says.

Hi, Juliann,

Thanks for responding. When I was cycling progestin (norethindrone), I complained about its effect on my mood. Doc said try 200 mg. of prometrium for 10 days instead. First month I did this, I didn't get a withdrawal bleed; so, she upped dosage to 400 mg. the second month. Still, no withdrawal bleed.

I went back on progestin and then noticed spotting in mid month which I reported to doc. She had me have a transvaginal ultrasound which sound that my uterine lining was greater than 5 mm. Anyway, I ended up with a d & c (could have had endometrial biopsy), and pathologist's report said I had hyperplasia.

I know that this occurred b/c the prometrium didn't give me the withdrawal bleed for the two months.

Eventually went off hrt for 2 months b/c of progestin. Had no idea what I was in for. I have been a mess ever since. I thought that the prometrium was going to work well b/c I felt pretty good initially.

I called compounding pharmacy to see if 50 mg. of progesterone is enough to protect uterine lining. They didn't know. I left message for doc.

I've pretty much decided that if I can't do 50 mg. of continuous progesterone, I'm going to back to cycling and take progestin again. I feel that if I can feel better for at least 20 days of the month that that's better than feeling depressed and foggy brained for 30 days of the month.

I hope that you feel better soon, too, Juliann. If you want, I can post what doc tells me (if she gets back to me). I feel like I've been a major pest lately, but what can a person do ?

Colleen

Hi, Lilyyoga,

I discussed bioidentical progesterone cream with hormone consultant who said that it works pretty well; however, when I read a report on it from the North American Menopause Society, they said that studies have been scant, and they cannot say definitively that it will protect uterine lining.

Colleen,

Thanks for your reply, we are going through such a similar situation. I have been trying for the past few months of cycling the prometrium and all I get is mid month spotting and NO PERIOD. Plus, not to mention that I feel foggy and tired while on the prometrium, even though I was only using 100mg on days 14-26.

Did you seem to get periods with the other progestin that you were taking??

I was thinking of just stopping everything for a while and seeing what my body is actually doing no, but I guess that would cause me to be a train wreck also.

Please let me know what the doc says to you, I worry because I'm not getting a good bleed either, and am scared to try the provera because it's not bioidentical.

While you were off all hrt, did you get a period??? Just wondering!

Thanks, Juliann

[quote name='Juliann' date='May 15 2007, 03:21 PM' post='170365']
Colleen,

Thanks for your reply, we are going through such a similar situation. I have been trying for the past few months of cycling the prometrium and all I get is mid month spotting and NO PERIOD. Plus, not to mention that I feel foggy and tired while on the prometrium, even though I was only using 100mg on days 14-26.

Did you seem to get periods with the other progestin that you were taking??

I was thinking of just stopping everything for a while and seeing what my body is actually doing no, but I guess that would cause me to be a train wreck also.

Please let me know what the doc says to you, I worry because I'm not getting a good bleed either, and am scared to try the provera because it's not bioidentical.

While you were off all hrt, did you get a period??? Just wondering!

Thanks, Juliann

/quote]
Hi, Juliann,

When I started hrt four years ago, I was still getting periods but my fsh was 33. Now I'm post menopausal -- found out when I went off hrt for 2 months and fsh was 100.

I decided last night to just stop taking my progesterone capsule b/c I can't deal with foggy brain (depression). Initially asked doc about lower dose but decided that there's no way that I'm going to feel any better.

I talked to doc today, and we decided that I would go back on norethindrone (synthetic) which I hate to do b/c it isn't any picnic either but compared to natural progesterone it's not that bad. She agreed with me that I could take just a tiny dose of it for 12 days each month = 1.25 mg. -- the normal dose is 5 mg. Norethindrone gives me nasty pms but no foggy brain.

Because norethindrone is so much more potent than prometrium, I always got a period.

I hope you can find something that works for you. I think that ifyou have to use a synthetic that norethindrone is better than provera (side effects wise). Take care.

Colleen

Hi Colleen,

Another idea is to try vaginal progesterone rather than oral. Insert the progesterone close to your cervix so that it targets your uterus. I cannot tolerate oral progesterone but I can tolerate vaginal. You do not need as much vaginal as oral. I am taking 50mg at night for 10 days. You can use Prometrium vaginally as well as orally. The only problem is that the dose may be too high (you could waste some or save it for the next night, there is oil inside the outer capsule). You can get Crinone/prochieve from a regular pharmacy. You can search for Crinone studies or prochieve studies and find studies that show it works. Crinone is probably stronger than compounded progesterone though and may be stronger than Prometrium, so a regular dose may give you excess progesterone side effects. Some doctors do not know about vaginal progesterone but you could find the studies and show your doctor that it is effective. Vliet talks about vaginal progesterone in her books. Pubmed.gov is a good place to search for studies. If you type Crinone vaginal progesterone dose you will find studies that may be helpful.

Kathy

Well, the "natural" progesterone our bodies produced for 30 years (premenopause) seemed to work pretty well to protect uteruses. I can't see how that would change. Just my thoughts.

Plus, the thinking now is that progestins are what caused many of the problems in the Women's Health study.
.

was put on prometrium also an experienced similar negative side effects. Switched to compounded progesterone cream and it works beautifully and side effects disappeared..