This is day 11 of using Estrogel in a.m., prometrium at night. At first after taking prometrium I was actually able to fall asleep with out any problems and only waking during the night maybe once or twice. The last couple of nights I have been experiencing vivid dreams that are constantly awaking me. I am very tired in the morning, having to drag my self out of bed and also having dull headaches. Has any one else had this problem with prometrium? I am wondering if I should use the vaginal route delivery instead of oral route. Thanks to all who reply.

I used prometrium twice. I'm still in peri. Anyway, it was a horrid drug for me and gave me insomnia (along with a host of other cognitive and physical side effects.) Yes, I also had nightmares while on it. I've posted other responses under the progestin thread regarding other options. I've heard of some women using it vaginally but never tried it there. I have many other P options to try when I skip 2 periods and need to cycle in something. I plan on staying away from the Prometrium. Some women do very well on it though. Good Luck, J.

Hi there,

Oh yeah. I get the weird dreams that wake me up also. And, the headaches.
If you check out the thread that I started about using Prometrium vaginally you can find some good info there. There are also a few older threads talking about it too.
There are a few ladies here who use it that way and are happy that there are not the same nasty side effects you'd get using it orally.
I plan to give it a try myself, then if that doesn't work I'm going to try using Prochieve or Crinone which is specifically made for this use.
It's unfortunate that the Prometrium only comes in 100 mgs. and up doses. I am certain that I would fare better with a lower dose of it.
If you decide to use Prometrium vaginally, please report back here how you do on it? And good luck!

Cathy

I had a compounding pharmacist tell me that they can even make up a vaginal Progestin/progesteron suppository formula in just about any dosage. Going this route seems so messy but sometimes the route of delivery is important in minimizing the side effects and gettting optimal dosage onboard. I haven't gone the compounding route yet because my insurance only covers mainstream big pharma drugs. However, many of them are bioidentical. As my docs say, "why reinvent the wheel when you haven't run out of options to try?" Good luck.

JJ I too am one of those who had an absolute miserable experience on P cream. Night terrors are just one of the side effects I would get from them and was confused bc I read so much how it helps soothe you and go to bed. I'd put it on before going to sleep and sometimes initially I would feel calmer and restful only then to be waken up hours later in a pool of sweat with total panic and anxiety from these terrifying nightmares right out of a horror movie. It got to the point I was afraid to even sleep and I stuck with it thinking it'd die down but it only became worse. I have stopped it and still trying to clear it out my system.

I read all I could on why that happened and I think it was increasing my cortisol levels or converting too much into it to create the intense anxiety. If you need it can you try decreasing your dose somehow and see if that helps? Also vaginally definitely might cause less symptoms and if you go that route remember you need much less than orally or transdermally. This was just my experience as I know others it has helped too but some of us are just very sensitive to any form of it.

I also used to wake up all sweaty (Prometrium caused my night sweats to reemerge). Yuck. Also, affected my moods and induced irritability and "road rage". haha Yes, I was a joy to be around.....

Progesterone doesn't convert into cortisol. However it does take along time to clear from your body. Some say it "builds up" in body fat tissue. (I'm not familiar with that concept and haven't researched it.) Anyway, after taking the Prometrium my progesterone blood levels were at a very high pregnancy level 2 weeks AFTER the last 100mg dose of Prometrium (8 day duration). My allergist and gastroenteroligist both seem to agree that my liver doesn't effectively "clear" the prometrium. Might be due to the P being suspended in oil. They both said 2 trials of Prometrium was one two many.

My two gyns disagree if a vaginal route of P delivery will be better than oral. However, vaginal or transdermal does bypass the (first pass) effects of the liver and a much smaller dose can be used inorder to protect the uterine lining. Also, for those of us who are sensitive to P a cyclical schedule of P is optimal inorder to minimize drug side effects. Your doc can figure out what is the amount YOU need inorder to protect your uterine lining. Find somone who is willing to spend the time with you. Do not accept a one size fits all approach to your healthcare. Best regards, J.

JZZ...I'm confused on the conversion to cortisol issue but from most of what I've read I thought it could definitely convert to it. The references I've read that it does and can be a reason for a 'paradoxical effect' on progesterone come from Uzzi Reiss, Dr. Vliet, and even some of the progesterone cream experts say it can convert to cortisol. I've also read alot of ladies on the forum more knowledgable on this issue say the same as well as having their cortisol tested after P cream and noticing a rise. Some places I've read that it doesn't convert to cortisol so I'm confused but it seemed to make sense. Do you have some references I can look more into that? I hope some of the others more knowledgable on this too will speak up...namely I'm thinking of Sariah, Iradan and Roxursox had similar experiences as I did and I think issues with higher cortisol because of it??? They're also much more informative on the topic than I am but am learning everyday lol!

Too much P definitely converts to cortisol, as well as estrogen and testosterone. I only get the surges during the luteal phase of my cycle when progesterone is at its highest, my numbers are very high in that phase, however.

Best Wishes,

TJ

Yes, if you look at a hormone conversion chart, P can easily convert to cortisol.

Shar, your experience with P is exactly what mine was when my doc put me on it over a years ago. It took me awhile to make the connection because prior to peri it made me sleep well, although it made me depressed and gain weight. But further into peri, I'd put it on at night, fall asleep, only to wake in a panic, heart pounding, full of anxiety, terrified. It was awful. I was so scared of what was happening to me.

P is evil for me