Hi all...
Just joined and starting to read around this wonderful (massive!) site. I've been on Premarin and Prometrium for about 6-8 months and went to GP yesterday to discuss as he had said he would like to have me on this for as small a dose and as short a time as possible. I had seen a reduction in some symptoms (night sweats, chest pains) but not in others (headaches, fatigue, body aches, interrupted sleep, lost libido)

After 5 min, no mention of ANY testing or labwork, he gave me a prescription for Celexa...my last words as he dissappeared out the door were 'but Im not depressed???' I did some reading on Celexa and dont think its the first line of response to my symptoms here and thats when I decided Im going to need to take a new direction here and find some new help!

I'll go and do an intro and ask questions in the appropriate topics, but my curiosity for today....I have 5 days of the Prometrium and Premarin left. Should I wean myself off this as slowly as possible, or am I going to experience anything by ending cold turkey?

Thanks!

I talked to my GP about this same thing not too long ago. I have been on Vivelle dot and Prometrium for about 2 years. They have worked very well for me, virtually all of my symptoms have left, except maybe the anger issues.

She told me that 2 years is not a long time to be on them and if they're working, why stop now? I could take them for up to 5 years in her opinion. She said at the very least, wait until after summer to start tapering down. Makes sense to me! Why bring on more hot flashes in the heat of the summer??

Depending on the dose you are on, I would definitely talk to your doctor about tapering them down. You can bring back all the symptoms full force by quitting cold turkey and I'm pretty sure you don't want to do that!!

Good luck!

Rubysmom,
I would definitely advise you to taper off your hormones very slowly. Are you thinking of getting off of hormones altogether? I think bioidenticals are safer and work better if you want to stay on them for awhile longer (Prometrium is bioidentical but Premarin is not.) I think you need to see another doctor, since yours isn't being very helpful with this. Also, even if you aren't depressed you may find that an anti-depressant like Celexa can help with hot flashes if you decide to stop the estrogen.

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I would definitely advise you to taper off your hormones very slowly. Are you thinking of getting off of hormones altogether? I think bioidenticals are safer and work better if you want to stay on them for awhile longer (Prometrium is bioidentical but Premarin is not.) I think you need to see another doctor, since yours isn't being very helpful with this. Also, even if you aren't depressed you may find that an anti-depressant like Celexa can help with hot flashes if you decide to stop the estrogen.
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I think I would like to explore bioidentical, but to get some testing done first to find out what I really am lacking. I was kinda shocked that he (GP) just switched me over to Celexa. I'd like to find myself a NP doctor and get saliva testing, but Im also concerned Im going to be hit full force once the Prometrium and Pemarin run out...I cant imagine that swapping over to Celexa is an "equal" alternative.

For those who have done the saliva testing - can it be done while I still have the Prom and Prem in my system?

Ruby,

I agree with the others, do NOT go off the hormones cold turkey or you will suffer from a hormonal crash, and for some of us that is a really bad place to go. Taper for sure.

I take prometrium (a bio identical as stated above) and Estrogel (also bio identical but prescribed by the doc, from a normal pharmacy). I have been taking mine for about 6 months and I would kill, if someone tried to take them away!

My understanding is that saliva testing is not accurate...I tried it and my estrogen levels read high! Which was insane, it had bottomed out. Blood tests are apparently the best and most accurate way to test.

From what you explained, it sounds like you could use a touch of testosterone....it helps with fatigue, libido and keeps bones healthy. There is lots of info here about it, as well as some threads on the forum here.