Hey there,

I am currently taking 1.5 mgs of Estrace (estradiol in pill form) and am very happy with the results. However, I would like to be try using the gel form for a couple of reasons. Just wondering if there is any difference in them besides the delivery method.
Is 1.5 mgs of pill form the same as 1.5 of the gel form?
I know that the pill has to be processed through the liver and the gel does not. Does that effect the potency at all?
I'd really appreciate some advice here.
Thanks a bunch.

Cathy

Cathy,
Not sure how to convert it, but I do know that transdermal doses are generally about 10% of the oral dose. If you are so inclined, you could experiment.

I do think you could have some uncomfortable symptoms as you are transitioning and trying to find the right dose, though, especially since you are happy with how you feel now on the Estrace.

Check the drug info that comes with the Estrace to see how much is in a gram. And then compare it to how much is in a gram of Estrogel and then figure out how much of the Estrogel is 10% of of the Estrace.

Hopefully someone more math-inclined that I can jump in here.

Cathy, I made the switch several months ago from 2mg estrace to .5mg divigel. It was the best thing I did. I was having a lot of weird stomach pains and nausea, wasn't sure if it was the estrace or just meno. I felt better within a couple of days. I don't have the ups and downs anymore. Divigel comes in individual packets. I use .25mg 2 times a day. I think I was taking too much of the estrace. When I asked the doc if it could be the estrace causing my stomach problems, he said no. I did my own research and asked for the gel. The best thing I did. Much smoother. Don't know about the numbers, you just have to go with how you feel. If you need to you can add more or less of the gel, that's the good thing about the packets being premeasured. Hope this helps.
Linda

Hi,
I am not experiencing any side effects (keeps fingers crossed) with the Estrace at this point. I'm happy with the dose of 1.5 mgs but I would like to spread it out throughout the day. I also have read about the pass through the liver with the oral and also how some conversions are different between the two.
But, the Estrogel comes in metered pump doses, no? So, can you fiddle with amounts if it say, comes out in 1.5 or 2.0 mg doses??
Also, Linda are you taking progesterone of any kind? I'm just finding a good balance with the Prometrium and the Estrace. Can't imagine one with out the other.....
Thanks

Cathy

I am definitely NOT math inclined!
I know I should not monkey with what is working.....But, I would like to be able to keep my E levels as close to even throughout the day as I can. I can feel the surge of energy mid day with the Estrace, but then it peeters out by early evening....
Still reading, still researching.....

Cathy, that's great that the estrace is working well for you. I am not familiar with the estrogel pump, but I do remember reading about some of the women on the site that are. While taking estrace, I would split the dose, 1/2 for morning and 1/2 at bedtime. You can take .5 3 times per day for a more steady dosing. Dr. Vliet has some of her patients doing this with great results. I also take 100mg. Prometrium every night. This has worked out well for me. I like the idea of using transdermal as much as possible in order to bypass the liver. My poor liver has been put through enough with everything else I have to take in order to make it during these trying times of meno.LOL The Divigel is the same as Estrogel, it just comes in a different package. As long as I need to take hrt, this is the best I have found, for me. Like they say, if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

Linda

I used the estrace pills for approx 1 year, then switched to the Estrogel in the pump. Each pump is .75mg, so I use one pump in the morning and one pump at night for a total dosage of 1.5mg. I tried using only one pump per day but my hot flashes still persisted at that mg.

With the Gel, you can kinda tweak the dosage. If I am really lagging, then I give an extra 1/2 pump or so to give me a bit more that day. You can always use less also. I found it to work well for me.

The only reason that I switched was because of reading that the transdermal was easier and did not have to filter through the liver.

Juliann

Just want to add too that I have read much scientific info which confirms that estradiol passes through the skin very easily, so the gel is a great way to deliver it.

manyboys, if you are fully menopausal you might want to consider the patch, it will give you a nice steady dose and will be more convenient than gel, IF you tolerate the patch adhesive that is ! I like the gel for me right now because I am technically peri and my hormones have been all over the place, and the gel allows me to tweak my dose. Once my hormones settle down I want to switch to the patch.