My gyn has just offered me a relatively new HRT called Angeliq. It contains a different type of estrogen and progesterone, supposedly without side effects like headaches. I can't find any forums of women who have used this. Have any of you heard of this, used it or know of others who have used it? Any thoughts or opinons?

Cathy

Hi Cathy,

I just started using this last Thursday. On Friday I had one heck of a headache, but I have always gotten headaches when my hormones go up and down, like when I used to have periods. So having that headache was pretty normal for me. It lasted one day and now I feel fine. I am taking it because of severe hot flashes and night sweats and I desperately need sleep after 2 years of not being able to sleep for more that 1-2 hours at a time. I have a lot of stuff going on in my life right now that I don't think I could handle without being able to sleep. So anyway, after 6 days, I think that today the hot flashes might be getting a little better. Hardly enough to notice, but at least it's a start. I will post some more as time goes on to let you know what's happening.

Sally

Hi, Sally. Thanks for your post. I hope all is going well for you and that you see some positive changes with the Angeliq. I am going to hold off for awhile. I have been taking an AD and seem to be feeling better. I am not quite feeling that menopausal zest...but am so much better than a year ago at this time.

Cathy

It has been only 12 days now since I started this and I feel like I might as well be taking sugar pills, because nothing is different from when I started. Still flashing and sweating like a son of a gun all night. I know that it will probably just take more time, but I must say that I am a little disappointed. I guess I was looking for a magic pill to make me feel better. So now I am having second thoughts. Maybe this isn't worth the risk if it's going to take soooo long for it to kick in. I might stop taking it, I haven't decided yet.

Sally

I think it might take as long as six weeks to feel some real changes. Do you have other issues besides the hot flashes...like crashing fatigue...not the kind of fatigue from not enough sleep? My problems with sleep or lack of started with not being able to fall asleep, stay asleep and waking too early. In general hot flashes have not been a major issue for me. When my periods stopped suddenly two and a half years ago, my problems began. The first year was not so bad. Then it got worse...the not sleeping led to all kinds of anxiety and depression. I at first could not believe it was depression as I would have some good days. And I have never suffered depression in the past. Then it all began to make sense to me based on what I have read. I wasn't terribly weepy or sad. But I had no energy, lost interest in doing things, and it was a major chore to keep up with the things I had to. I was taking a mild anti anxiety drug that had helped in the beginning. By April of this year, I was still feeling so miserable most of the time, I went back to the doctor. He suggested a low dose AD, celexa. I am much better but not there yet. I have days where I feel great. And then it comes back....the fatigue, etc. It is not as bad but it is there. I am going back to my GP on Thursday to discuss these issues. I might just need to have a higher dose. I am going to hold off on the Angeliq that my GYN gave me...if I can control things with the celexa, I won't have to risk the HRT. I have heard from others and read that taking ADs can help with hot flashes. It certainly has helped me sleep. Hope you can find some relief soon.

Cathy

About a year ago, I did have the crashing fatigue and a lot of depression and anger and I really hated my husband for every tiny little thing he has ever done wrong. Poor man! But that stuff is pretty much gone, now it's just the hot flashes. I'm so confused and I don't know what to do and I just want to be like I used to be before all this started.

The estrogen in Angeliq is not new, it is bioidentical estradiol. But the form of progestin used is a newer synthetic - drospirenone. It is the same progestin that is used in the birth control pill Yasmin and some doctors feel it has less negative side effects compared to the commonly used progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate. Angeliq is a combo of 1mg of estradiol and 0.5mg drospirenone. It may take several months of hormone use before you get maximum improvement in your menopause symptoms. If you are still suffering from hot flashes after 2-3 months you might need a higher dose of estrogen or you might need it in a different form - such as a patch, cream, etc.

In case anybody else is looking for info on this I'll reply even though the thread is old. After a really bad reaction to PremPro I was offered Angeliq. It has worked for me. I have been taking it about 8 weeks.
Here is what I told another "sister" (not P-S) in an email yesterday. ..." Yes, they are working. Nightsweats, almost gone; day flashes, gone; anxiety, down several points most days. No more panic attacks. Stomach problems better most of the time. Still can't sleep worth a hoot after 3 am. And some nights wake up before that. Still have weak and shaky periods ...
I've had no headaches to speak of and no other side effects that I can tell. Maybe some vague nausea but I was having that anyway. It has not raised my blood pressure which was the problem on PremPro.
Now if I could lick this insomnia.