Finally saw my new NP today and I loved her. Had to drive 1 1/2 hr to see her. She spent an hour with me and actually listened. I am currently on Provera 5mg daily for the last 2 weeks from my GP. She prescribed Prometrium 100mg at bedtime. For the next 2 weeks, I will alternate Provera and Prometrium and then to the Prometrium. Please share any successes, I am really afraid to take this.
Thanks

Prometrium is great for me. Made me nice and sleepy so take at night. 100mg was too much for me because I'm not deficient so I'm taking a lower dose now. If you haven't already, ask your doctor what side effects to look for to know if you have the right dosage. You may also find that info on this website as well.

Prometrium 100 mg has been great for me - no problematic side effects. Hope you have the same experience with it!
Cesca

Provera is dangerous and has bad side effects. Prometrium is the same hormone as your body makes.

I've tried prometrium twice: 1st - to regulate my cycle - did not work, 2nd - as a part of NHRT. Both times it made me severely depressed, bloated, I got very scary chest pain along with deep arm and leg pain and shortness of breath, consipatrion, and immediate weight gain. I ate like a lumber jack and could not stop munching, which is absolutely abnormal for me. I don't eat junk, sugar and eat a low carb diet with no frankenfood, but I had such bad cravings that I could not stop binging on fruit, nuts and cheese, and everything else which could not escape . I'm afraid to weigh myslef, I feel like I've gained 15 poubnd after 10 days on prometrium. Sublingual progesteron is even worst (I tried it too), it works immediately and gives me chest spasm right away,throbbing leg pain, and endless crying spells. I was so dizzy I was afraid to go outside. Natural or not, my body does not like progesteron in any form!
HTH,
Dina

Hello Hearts,

As you see, Progesterone is usually well tolerated for most, but not all. This can probably be said for all hrt...

I had my progesterone levels checked a while back & they were post-mono, and I'm not yet. Still get periods (but skip a few here & there). So I needed the replacement.

Prometrium has been WONDERFUL for me. I use it 3 weeks out of the month, 100mg to start, last 2 weeks or so 200mg every night, then stop for the bleed.

If you've tolerated Provera, you should like this better since Prometrium is bio-identical. I also use an estrogen patch (.6mg). I feel so much better! It took care of (most) of my insomnia and pretty much all of my anxiety.

Best of luck, let us know how you do!

Nancy

Hi ladies,

I'm currently taking prometrium too, for PMS. I take it from day 16 to day 28 of my cycle. I love it and wish I could take it all the time. I feel calmer, I am not searching my whole house for carbohydrates, I haven't gained a pound on it, and I sleep GREAT at night (the only time I do, during the month). I'm taking 200 dose, tried 100 and didn't get any results.

I've been told I'm estrogen dominant, which I guess creates a really fierce PMS monster in women, along with fibroids (which I had removed some years ago) and other wonderful things

Riv

I'm a 52 year old woman in peri. I've been taking 200mg prometrium and 2mg estradiol daily for two months now. I was scared when my doctor wanted to put me on bio identical hormones but since I had had heavy breakthrough bleeding 40 days straight it was either this or a slow death.
I can't tell you how wonderful I've felt since I started taking the bioidenticals.
I'm a new woman. I actually have my life back, energy and I'm not weepy and crazy anymore. I realize each woman reacts to hormones differently but for any of you who have heavy bleeding, base of the skull headaches, low libido, no energy and are always 'freezing cold', talk with your doctor about bio identicals.

I couldn't be happier and I just hope to god they continue to work for me.

Rellie

I am a 52 year old woman in peri for the past 8 years. For three years, I took estradiol .5 twice a day and prometrium 200 mg for 14 days. Then I stopped taking any hormones for a year and 4 months. Now the symptoms, which never really went away, have returned with a vengence, so I have just started back on the same doses of estradiol and prometrium.

In 1998 I had to figure out on my own that my symptoms were due to peri, then find a doc who would prescribe hormones to a woman still having periods. Eight years ago, a lot of doctors insisted on waiting until actual menopause to prescribe any kind of HRT. The natural hormones were a godsend to me, since I can't tolerate synthetic progestins.

With natural hormones, I was able to get off Remeron, the only antidepressant that didn't make me want to jump out of my skin. Actually, the remeron did very little good, since in addition to depression I also had the other thirty or so other symptoms I've seen talked about on this board.

I understand that every woman is different and needs to experiment to find what's right for her; however estradiol and prometrium worked well for me.

Adding two more cents here...

Prometrium has been wonderful for me also. Take 200 mg. 1st 14 days of every month, along w/ .05 mg of estradiol [via Vivielle patch] every day.

Have gone from anxious, weepy, flashing [hot only], headachy, sleep-deprived witch to a much closer version of the former me. Hubbie is no longer worried about which version of me he'll see each day and [more importantly ] neither am I! Plus, I sleep beautifully at night as I take my pill right before bed... that's Heaven compared to before Prometrium!

Trade off is I now have regular periods again [had stopped completely while I was on low dose BCP], but have to say, my body feels better doing what it wants not what chemicals [BCPs] were dictating.

Hope you also find relief, hearts, and that you don't suffer negative side effects that a few folks have experienced here -

new

I have been cycling BHRT for 4 months now, using the 1mg Estradiol, and 14 days on 100mg prometrium at night. This has worked wonderfully, feel much better and NO hot flashes. BUT, this past PERIOD was SO heavy, and I had a few days of being OVER THE TOP emotionally. What could cause this???

For those of you who are cycling, are your periods normal, or do they fluctuate??? Just hopeful that this will pass and not be EVERY month.

And if one of the pills causes the heavier period, which one would it be??? I know WE have to be scientists these days to figure out our issues, lol.

This past week, along with the heavy period, I felt so "OFF" of my usual self, my mind seemed to wonder and anxiety made me jittery. Anyone have this issue????

Thanks, Jules

Juliann,

I went from no periods to moderate 5-day events again when I went on NHRT. PMS returned too...Could your anxiety be PMS related? I ask as I will feel some anxiety right before period, but then it goes away at the end of it.

Also, did have to adjust dose of prometrium [upped from 100 to 200 mg] w/ GYN... Perhaps you need to see your doc for slight adjustment?

Best of luck,
new

Jules:

Estrogen makes periods heavier or not based on dose. The more E, the more endometrial build up, the heavier the period.

The emotional stuff is typically caused by the P. It can make you moody and low E symptomatic, without question. It can cause dark moods too. I read from another poster that oral P creates a particular toxic metabolite from the liver and this is what causes the physical and emotional distress in greater magnitude. Not sure. This month I am doing my P vaginally so I can't report yet.

More than a few women have anxiety attacks when P builds as well. It's common knowledge that P builds through cycles and becomes more menacing over time. Sometimes women have to go every other month with the P cycle just to clear it out more.

Hope this helps.

Eileen

Thanks for all the info

A few days after this horrible period ended, I resumed my normal self, I seem to FEEL so good on the estrogen, and on the days that I take the progesterone I do fine also. So it's just at my PERIOD that everything seems to clash.

I will WATCH another couple of months, and if any extreme moods happen again near my period I will talk with the dr about switching to a different kind of progesterone.

Also I've had really sore breasts begin at the mid-month range, and they ease up after period. This was always a problem for me anyway, then with peri it seemed to lessen, now on the hormones its back. I'm sure this is caused by estrogen being back in my system???

I love taking the BHRT, as I have MANY great days and needed to feel better. Are you ladies finding this to be true for you as well????


Atlanta Girl, Please let me know how your NEW progesterone works, and what it's called???? Thanks


Jules

In general, I feel much better on BHRT. Glad to hear so many others are helped too. Prometrium has no apparent affect on me except I do need to take it before bed, as it makes me sleepy. I'm bloated anyway, so I don't see any connection there.

I've been doing the 1 mg Estrace daily and 200 mg Prometrium 13 days a month. It has helped, but this month I've been symptomatic again--back to night sweats and weight gain and all the other odd things that go with it. I'm wondering if I need to tweak it. After going off it, it has taken 6 days to start my period. ?

Eileen -
Am confused here, or more accurately, my body seems confused. When I was on LD birth control [.20 mgs estrogen], I had NO periods, but all symptoms of meno. GYN said it was time to consider something else... Long discussion w/ her - decided to try NHRT w/ only .05 [1/4 previous amount] mg. of estradiol. After one month on new regimen, periods returned! I wonder how this could be? Any thoughts?

Curious, but actually feel better having periods again - all hot flashes, anxiety, sleep disruptions and so on are gone! And others have said that Prometrium calms nerves/anxiety... I do take that at night as it also makes me sleepy. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth!

new

I don't know the answer to your question, but I agree with you about periods...I usually get a lessening of symptoms after my period, which if nothing else gives me hope. I generally lose a lb or two and feel lighter, sleep a little better, breasts aren't so huge and painful. All these are wonderful things.

Yes, PMS goes away after period ends, just like the old days [referring to high school ]. Breast tenderness is much worse at this stage of life tho', wow! Am so happy when THAT returns to normal each month!

Surely hope I don't develop a problem w/ progesterone... it doesn't sound like fun either.

You are right, chauchat. This process has so many "wonderful" aspects to it! Have been promised by post-meno friends that it does get better tho'... and man, I'm holding them to that promise!!!

new

Hi..dont know if this thread is too old to drag up again...but Im also on 100mg of Prometrium every day, along with Estrace. Its only been a month, but within 4 days or so of being on both I felt 100 percent better.

THEN.....


THis past week I was suddenly depressed, low energy etc.....and I started my period for the first time in 5mos. I went to my Naturopath this morning and asked her if this is what Im going to experience every week b4 my period...and she said it should be less and less and should even out. She gave me evening primrose oil to take every day and that should help even out the moods etc of this pre week symptoms.

Otherwise I have all good things about NHRTs! I never thought Id be the one to take them, but my symptoms were SEVERE, beyond herbal therapies. And I feel great now!

My doctor just prescribed the Prometrium as well as Vivelle for me. Here's hoping for some good luck with them!! I'm sure keeping my fingers crossed!

Best wishes to you mrsb! May you have the same good results I've had. Now on month 5 of your combo and feel sane again... Long may it last!

new

Thanks,new!

I could definitely use a new outlook on life! Unfortunately, the pharmacy was out of the vivelle and I have to start them together so hopefully it will be in today and I can start them tonight.


*fingers crossed here*

Ok,now this is getting ridiculous! I called the pharmacy to see if my script was ready and they told me that the warehouse informed them that they are no longer carrying the medication and she has to find it somewhere else! What? I've never heard of such a thing! And does this mean that I'm going to go through this every month when I need a refill?? I thought this was a pretty common med.

I just want to start them already and I can't even do that! Geez!

I got my Rx filled at COSTO and they had it..........

ladies,

Did any of you notice any slight increase in symptoms before things got better? I've had more anxiety and shakiness the last few days but I don't know if it's the hormones that are causing it.

Any thoughts? How long should I expect this to take effect?

It is possible - or it might not have taken effect yet or it might not be strong enough. Have you talked to your doctor about it?

Zelma

No,not yet. I just started them on Thursday so I thought I'd give it a little bit and see how it goes. I ran into the nurse in her office and she said it's usually about 3 weeks to notice a difference so I'll give it that long and go from there.

Definitely give yourself a couple of weeks before seeing results... I actually didn't really start to feel better until I'd been on them for a month [complete cycle I guess].

As for availability, I had trouble too the first time I filled the RX. Had to wait 2 days for pharmacy [CVS - am in New England] to get the patch. Rather than worry about that headache every month and possible goof up my regimen, I signed up w/ a RX service who renews through the mail. Now get 3 months' worth at a time and am never [HOPEFULLY] going to run short.

Don't get me started on the problems I've had with CVS! Imagine other chains are as bad!

Hang in there, mrsb, better days are comin'!

new

Isn't that funny! Guess which pharmacy I use!!

They completely screwed up the whole prescription. My doctor called in the Vivelle and when I went to get it they told me the warehouse was out of the one I needed and they were substituting something else. I told them that I didn't want something else, I wanted what the doctor prescribed. They told me they wre trying to get in Alora. I told the pharmacist that that wasn't what I had discussed with my doctor so he said he would call her the next day. My insurance won't even cover Alora so where they got that idea is beyond me!

I called and spoke to the nurse and she told me they had called in Vivelle and she has never prescribed Alora for anyone so she had no idea what they were doing. She called CVS and they ,quite rudely, told her that the script had been filled the night before,with Vivelle,which they had in stock the whole time! What the heck!

Needless to say,the next time I'm there,my regular pharmacist,who I love, wil be getting an earful!

Thanks for the input,new! I will give it some time.

I guess we are all different in how we respond to somthing......My symptoms on a scale of 1-10 were a 10, and I noticed an overall improvement within a week.

Id look for another pharmacy that is more reliable......I wouldnt want it to be available one month and not another.........

[quote name='mrsb76' date='Apr 4 2006, 12:06 PM' post='120556']
Isn't that funny! Guess which pharmacy I use!!


Can't resist: CVS is NOTORIOUS for substituting RX's [using cheaper generics to save them $$$]. Am also hypothyroid and when I started my med's for that, they also switched what my endo had prescribed for a generic. I got the worst side effects and had no idea what was the reason. [Didn't even think to check that RX was wrong, the names were so similar.] Finally doc [endo] asked me to check pill bottle. Sure enough, the RX wasn't what he'd prescribed. Was so angry - felt horrible to begin w/ and then made worse so that CVS could make more money off me...

Thanks for letting me vent. When given a choice, I now to a little Mom & Pop pharmacy for med's if I can't do it online...

new

I think once I know I'll be staying on them, I'll get them through the mail direct from my insurance company. I don't want to chance running out!

I think it's ridiculous that they can do this. Doesn't seem right.

Hi All... Mrsb 76...

I started meno two years ago and it's been a horror show. As many I've gone through several not too swift or kind docs, and therefore have had to play doc to myself in many ways to try and attain some relief. I have only taken bioidenticals (will not take any equine or fully synthetic hormones). The bios are pretty good. However, getting on the right ones in the right dosages on the right scheduling and in the right delivery forms, can make a huge difference for all us. It's never just what hormone, it's also how much, when, the "delivery method" (gel, oral, patch, etc.).

I've learned so far, for me, that mimicking nature (what my body once did) as closely as possible (as Dr. Diane Schwarzbein, "The Schwarzbein Principal" and one of Suzanne Somer's docs) works out the best, in terms of relieving symptoms and helping me to feel human again. So, I have found that for me, it's better to take hormones non-orally (we were not made to eat and digest hormones, it taxes our livers badly, and estrogens are known not to stay steady in the body when taken orally).

Think about it, when our bodies were making our own natural hormones, our hormones didn't pass through our stomachs, livers, etc. Our hormones when directly from our ovaries to our blood, etc. Also, for me, I think it's wisest to take bio "identcal" hormones that are molecularly and cellularly identical to our own hormones and cells vs horse hormones and lab creations that are not identical to our cells, etc. (That's why they're known to cause more side effects and worse long term health hazards than the the bioidenticals, makes sense, no?)

Mrsb 76.... Similar to you I have been taking bio estradiol (.1 mg Vivelle Dot patch, and even Walgreens has a problem sometimes not having it) with bio progesterone (Prometrium, 100 mgs at bedtime). The side effects you described can be from either hormone, however, those particular side effects tend to be caused more by progesterone (natural or otherwise). I was taking my BHRT both daily now for over a a year, and I started out feeling what you have described and it gradually got worse and worse. I was tired, starving (esp for sugars), gained a lot of weight, tired all the time, hot all the time (not flashes), skin crawling (paresthesi, listed side effect under Prometrium), depressed and big time anxiey, worrying constantly about everything.

This past weekend I went to a reunion of friends and forgot to take my bedtime 100 mgs of Prometrium. I decided to not take it a second day just to see and it was INCREDIBLE! I FELT SO MUCH BETTER, all of those nasty symptoms were gone!!! I realize now that I was basically OD'd (for me, not everyone) on Progesterone. P is a good thing, but not every day for every women. I am now going to take my hormones cyclic, not continues. As I cannot deal with being off estrogen (Vivelle Dot, way better than Climara patch, Dot is the best patch I think), I will not do the cycle where one goes totally off of both hormones and or totally off of the estrogen. That often brings on your worse meno symptoms again.

I am going to take my Vivelle Dot all month, every month and now take my Prometrium 100 mgs every month from the first of the month to the tenth of each month (10-14 days is the average recommended). As the 100 mgs was too much for me and there is no lower dose of Prometrium (I could chase my old doc to try a compounder, but my doc is an old codger and a pain, this would be too much for him to get into to), so I will take my 100 mg Prometrium pill at bedtime every other night for the first 10 nights of each month. That would be equivalent of 50 mgs the first 10 days of each month. If I need more I can up it to the first 12 or 14 days, 100 mgs every other night, etc.

Mrsb...76...Google "Prometrium" and one of the links that comes up will be rx.com, they provide great info. Check out the side effects, especially the psychiatric and neurological. Prometrium (progesterone in general) is known to cause anxiety, fatigue, depressions, etc. If you formerly tended to suffer from PMS and or have every suffered from depressions of any kind, you are even more susceptible to have these symptoms when using any form of progesterone. If you have a uterus and are using any form of estrogen you must take progesterone.

However, if you discover that you are one (of many woman) who is a bit progesterone intolerant, you can like me, tweak the dosing. The extreme alternative would be to get a complete hysterectomy (as long as you are menopausal not pre or peri) and then you can take the estrogen unopposed if it is what gives you your most relief (which is the case for me) and not have to take any progesterone. If you break down the meaing of the word "PROGESTERONE" it means...PRO (for) - GEST (gestation, pregnancy) -ONE (hormone). Progesterone is the pregnancy hormone and too much of it is like being perpetually pregnant, which doesn't feel good and is very taxing on the body and it's organs, not healthy. So, even though it's prescribed this way, it probably isn't the healthiest or optimum or most like nature, to take these hormones continuously, as I was doing.

Hope this helps a little...Tweak your doses (within safe dose ranges) because hormones are fluid (ever changing in the amounts we need at different times) substances in our bodies, not static (stationary) things.
Google Dr. Schwarzbein and check her pages out. She has info on general healthy living, but search out her menopause pages and how she discovered in her endocrinology practice working with diabetics how continuous (non bio identical) HRT and no HRT, negatively impacted her female patients (diabetes, heart disease, horrid symptoms like us here in P-S) and how she is at the forefront of the cycle usage of bioidenticals (BHRT/NHRT).

...Bea.

Wow!

Thanks for all the info,Bea. I did google it and I'll tell you, if we went by all the side effects that could happen with everything we took,we'd never take anything! Some of them are downright scary!

I've been on them now for about 2 weeks and I'm feeling much better. The nausea went away and the last few days I've actually felt normal! I can't tell you how long that's been!

I will heed your advice and pay attention to how I'm feeling. Right now my doctor wants me on it continually but she's going to monitor me every few months so we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for all you wrote though. I do appreciate it!

mrsb76 - glad to hear you are feeling better! Hurrah!