I have been using the Arbonne PROLIEF prog. cream for a few years and the other day I decided to try a different brand - Progest ADE . I felt good, relaxed and calm for the past three days, and yet this morning I am so DEPRESSED. I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep with a million worries going through my mind and now I'm just in a depressed mood and can't seem to get out of it. I was just wondering if maybe the switch could be the cause - maybe the cream I'm using now is just too strong? And if it is, can that cause depression? Maybe I should just use less of it. I think I was using it twice a day instead of once since it's almost time for my period (I think). One never knows at age 47 - ha.
Thanks, Sandy
Full Version: Can progesterone cream "cause" depression?
I don't think progesterone cream (assuming your dosage is reasonable) actually causes depression--what it does is compete with your estrogen receptors. So it can block some of your estrogen and that can cause depression. I think you should try lowering your dose of progesterone and see if you feel better. Good luck.
I hadn't heard of Progest ADE so I looked it up ... it's not progesterone cream, it's a dietary supplement to aid digestion.
sscmack46, did you typo ? Is the product you used spelled differently ?
sscmack46, did you typo ? Is the product you used spelled differently ?
Hi, and thanks for the responses to my question. I am not going to use any progesterone cream at all the next few days since I think I must have "overdosed" on it the past few days with the newer, seemingly more potent stuff.
I looked at the container again, and it does say Progest - ADE and underneath it " micronized progesterone" Cream 60 g No fragrance, no dyes, no formaldehyde . I bought it from a very reputable health food place, so I'm assuming it is just truly the "real" thing and maybe more potent. I need to just cut back a little bit.
I do believe though it has influenced my depressive episode today and I just hope I can feel better again tomorrow. I HATE depression! I'll be doing okay for a few minutes, then BOOM - I feel in despair for no good reason. Depression is hard to explain to those who have never experienced it. I am certainly thankful for my Prozac, and wonder if I need to increase the dosage during this perimenopausal transition.
Sandy
I looked at the container again, and it does say Progest - ADE and underneath it " micronized progesterone" Cream 60 g No fragrance, no dyes, no formaldehyde . I bought it from a very reputable health food place, so I'm assuming it is just truly the "real" thing and maybe more potent. I need to just cut back a little bit.
I do believe though it has influenced my depressive episode today and I just hope I can feel better again tomorrow. I HATE depression! I'll be doing okay for a few minutes, then BOOM - I feel in despair for no good reason. Depression is hard to explain to those who have never experienced it. I am certainly thankful for my Prozac, and wonder if I need to increase the dosage during this perimenopausal transition.
Sandy
I'm going through the exact same thing.....but mine has been off and on for months. I didn't think it was the progesterone cream until my dr. told me today to stop using it. I was on prozac but stopped to try 5htp(not fun) I slept better but felt worse anxiety and depression.So I started back up on prozac 2 weeks ago and I'm just as bad so I'm stopping both for now.
when I tried hormones, bio and otherwise, yes, I did have the opposite effect for what they were "supposed" to be doing...so I would say yes, it can cause depression......
I cannot find this stuff on the 'net. I don't think it's Emerita Pro-Gest, they don't have "ADE" in their product names.
Sandy, does it mention "USP" on the label or packaging anywhere ? Because that's a guarantee that the product actually contains the amount of progesterone the manufacturer claims it does. Not necessarily 100% guarantee but it's better than not having "USP" on the label.
Do you have any idea how much progesterone you are applying each day ? I use 20mg per day, split into two applications, one morning and one evening. I used too much the first time, knocked me out ! I didn't get depressed though.
Rollercoasting estrogen could also affect your mood. Could be a coincidence that it occurred when you started using this new cream. Or if you used more or less than you intended, that too could possibly have had an effect on your estrogen.
Sandy, does it mention "USP" on the label or packaging anywhere ? Because that's a guarantee that the product actually contains the amount of progesterone the manufacturer claims it does. Not necessarily 100% guarantee but it's better than not having "USP" on the label.
Do you have any idea how much progesterone you are applying each day ? I use 20mg per day, split into two applications, one morning and one evening. I used too much the first time, knocked me out ! I didn't get depressed though.
Rollercoasting estrogen could also affect your mood. Could be a coincidence that it occurred when you started using this new cream. Or if you used more or less than you intended, that too could possibly have had an effect on your estrogen.
QUOTE (SandraSmith @ Jul 16 2008, 07:56 PM) 
I cannot find this stuff on the 'net. I don't think it's Emerita Pro-Gest, they don't have "ADE" in their product names.
Sandy, does it mention "USP" on the label or packaging anywhere ? Because that's a guarantee that the product actually contains the amount of progesterone the manufacturer claims it does. Not necessarily 100% guarantee but it's better than not having "USP" on the label.
Do you have any idea how much progesterone you are applying each day ? I use 20mg per day, split into two applications, one morning and one evening. I used too much the first time, knocked me out ! I didn't get depressed though.
Rollercoasting estrogen could also affect your mood. Could be a coincidence that it occurred when you started using this new cream. Or if you used more or less than you intended, that too could possibly have had an effect on your estrogen.
Sandy, does it mention "USP" on the label or packaging anywhere ? Because that's a guarantee that the product actually contains the amount of progesterone the manufacturer claims it does. Not necessarily 100% guarantee but it's better than not having "USP" on the label.
Do you have any idea how much progesterone you are applying each day ? I use 20mg per day, split into two applications, one morning and one evening. I used too much the first time, knocked me out ! I didn't get depressed though.
Rollercoasting estrogen could also affect your mood. Could be a coincidence that it occurred when you started using this new cream. Or if you used more or less than you intended, that too could possibly have had an effect on your estrogen.
I'm sorry I am just now returning this message. To answer your question, my container has these ingredients: Micronized progesterone USP, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D. Base also contains purified water, (and quite a few other ingredients), but those were the main ones I listed.
I actually started feeling better and not depressed when I decided to stop using the progesterone cream for a few days since I feel I overdosed on it. I started my period a few days later, and now I"ve been only using a tiny amount every night before I go to bed. I'm a wee bit depressed right now as I write, but I think it's more circumstantial than hormone related - with my middle daughter leaving for college soon, my husband has been asking would I consider getting a job, at least part-time...and I'm SO stressed thinking I just couldn't handle it right now with having to take my youngest daughter back and forth to school every day for the next year (20 minutes or more away). I'm such a wimp that I can't handle pressure too well, even on Prozac and progesterone cream. :-( Sandy
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