Hi all,
How long does one need to be off the cream every month? I came off for the bleed but it took 5 days to start. Now, 7 days off all of my peri symptoms are back and I've only been bleeding for 2 days. Does anyone know if I can restart, I just don't feel good off of it.
Thanks!!!

Sorry, I'm talking about Progesterone cream.
Thanks again

I've been wondering the same thing, Hearts. I dread the days when I can't use the ProGest Cream - it does such a good job of helping my peri symptoms. I'm on day five of my period (not much bleeding right now), and I'm tempted to start the cream early. Maybe someone can help...

This question has haunted me too - I use Prometrium (or sometimes the cream)

...last time I stopped for what I thought was a period (spotting) I was feelin lousy be day 5. Sometimes I use the cream as early as day 3 - then start the pills soon after.

If anyone knows for certain - that'd be great!

Hey, I was reading something about coming off P and feeling horrible. One doctor's solution to coming off was to take a regular dose and cut it by half or a third, depending, and let this be the come off dose. The other alternative is to not come off at all. I am not sure what the side effects to this are. I think it's a good idea, taken from some of my reading, to lay off a few days every month. Perhaps dosing much lower on those days is a possible compromise...?

I started progesterone cream about a year ago. Now, the rules are different for me cuz i had a hyster. several years ago. I was told by my dr. that I don't have to go off it during the month...only those with a uterus do. I didn't know this to begin with, and called my dr. after the first month (after skipping those couple of days)..told her what a witch I was on those days I didn't use the cream. She then explained that I could use it continuously since I don't have my period any more.
June

I also dread the days I have to skip the progesterone cream. My symptoms really kicked up mentally and physically this week off. I'm counting the days until Monday when I get to start again.


I wish I could take the cream all month but I heard we need to skip a week when we are in peri to allow our uterus to shed its lining. Otherwise it could build up and that isn't good. That's what I heard anyway.

isnt it amazing what happens after just a day without the cream? i went thru that too when i first started on it about 3 years agao and my dr. told me to use 50mg. DURING my period and see how i do. i did it and it helped sooo much and i still had my period! so it works well to do that for me. but she told me that if it stopped my period to lower my dose. so if i were you girls i would do the same and see what happens. its been 3 years for me and it still doesnt stop my period. but if it lightens it up too much , then the next month i will try to take off a day to let the bleeding flow good to sort of clean myself out and then im back on it. i read that we can actually go 3 months without a period and be ok , but we need to bleed out the next month. so anyway i think if you need to stay on it DO IT!! you will be fine. most dr's agree now that there really isnt a set amount you need to use , you use it and use it until you find the amount that makes you feel better. i was using a 10% cream at 200mg a day for the first year and a half and then i was able to lower it a little at a time and still felt good. i was recently (the last 6 months) down to using just 50mg. a day and it was great until this last period , my hormones must have taken a giant lead up or down or all around , but i crashed big time for the past few days , so i upped my dose yesterday to 100mg thru-out the day and by mid evening i was feeling alot better. i will be sticking to that , or more if i need to till i find what works again. back to the old drawing board i guess. very upsetting.

My doctor told me as soon as I start bleeding to stay off for 7 days then back on. Most creams you are on 21 days and off 7.

I hate the time I am off the natural hormone cream because ALL my symtoms come back - headaches, dizziness, aches, pains, offbalance, etc.

For the last year I've been on a bio-identical compounded progesterone gel, 5%. used daily (bid). At the time it was prescribed the nurse practitioner said it was ok to use without a break. It never did stop my periods or really have any effect on them. In fact, I had multiple procedures because of heavy bleeding within the last year. I have all "parts" intact.

But anyway, last week at my first follow up visit with her she said that the newest research said everyday was not the best option and gave me an Rx. for 7%, also bid but with 10 days off each month.

It has been only five days and I feel awful. Disrupted sleep, nausea, muscle aches, irritable, totally blah.

My differential diagnoses are this progesterone withdrawal, hypothroid, reverse seasonal affective disorder.

Any advice greatly appreciated!