(Pete Hueseman, R.Ph, R.D.'s 14th visit to Power Surge) Dearest: My guest tonight is Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D. Pete has been a Registered Pharmacist since 1973. He has worked exclusively in the women's healthcare field for years devoted exclusively to compounding prescription hormone products (progesterone, estradiol, estriol, estrone, tri-estrogen, DHEA, testosterone, pregnenolone). Pete specializes in counseling patients and physicians on the use of hormones. Pete advises patients and physicians, nationwide, and is an acknowledged expert on the use of *natural* (bio-identical) hormones for HRT (hormone replacement therapy). Pete is professionally associated with NAMS, the Academy of Alternative Medicine, Alternative and Complementary Medicine Association, and is registered with more than one professional Pharmacist's Association. Pete also is co-owner of Bellevue Pharmacy Solutions. Pete, it's a pleasure to welcome you back to Power Surge. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Thank you for having me back, it is my pleasure. Dearest: Have you found that since the halting of the WHI (Women's Health Initiative) Study last year and the concern over risks of using synthetic hormones, such as PremPro, that more women are turning to natural hormones? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Yes, definitely. Dearest: That's it? Can you share with us why you think they're turning to naturals? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: They are safer and much less side effects. Dearest: Why are they safer? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: They are chemically identical to what the ovaries used to produce, they don't have to metabolize to something to be active, and therefore less side products, and safer. The body can recognize them right away. Dearest: What do you mean by "don't metabolize to something to be active... and therefore less side effects?" Thanks. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Estrone can turn into 16-hydroxyestrone which is carcinogenic, and for example, there is lots of estrone in the Premarin. Dearest: Thanks, Pete :) I appreciate the explanation. Kataneena: Logically, because men have less osteoporosis one would think testosterone would help with bone health, but the studies don't show this. Without knowing the long term effects of added testosterone, would you recommend it for women and why or why not? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: You are exactly correct, the testosterone can help promote good bone health, as well as an anti-depressant action. Testosterone is a very important part of the hormone picture, and lots of doctors ignore it. Moozie: Can switching a hormone regimen cause anxiety? I tried estradiol and prometrium and had a horrible side effect. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: To change medications will only cause a side effect when the doses are not proper yet in most cases. It sounds like they need to be fine tuned. Dearest: Pete, maybe I can explain a bit better. Moozie is suffering from terrible anxiety. She was taking Ogen and Medroxyprogesterone and the anxiety felt much better. Then she wanted to use something more natural, so she started using Estradiol and prometrium and her anxiety became worse. Moozie, what doses were you using of the Ogen and Methy? And the naturals? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: It sounds like the switch over dose was not equivalent for her, and therefore the symptoms came back. Moozie: .325 of Ogen Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: I would need to know the exact dose of each, and the dose form and the directions, and then I could help her better. Dearest: Moozie, I recommend you write to Pete directly and maybe you can sort this out, ok? You can write to Pete at Pharmacy@power-surge.com. Pete, what's the phone number? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: 1-800-728-0288 Dearest: I think all she needs is her dose tweaked and she'll be fine. Kar: Many women can drink soy milk and they are helped by it. But it gives me even more hot flashes. Any idea why? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Sometimes, the phytoestrogen content is not strong enough to solve everyone's symptoms. Dearest: Especially soy milk - has very little soy isoflavones in it. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: I would use a natural HRT in a low dose to go along with it. Have you tried Revival? Check out the Revival on the Power-Surge recommendation area. Dearest: And if you didn't want to use hormones, you can read about Revival soy protein on the Web site. Email me for more information at Dearest@aol.com Scentsitive: Hello. I'm 43, was taking TriLevelen for ~11 years but stopped 1 year ago due to terrible menopause-like symptoms. I feel fine now, symptoms are gone and have regular periods, no other health issues, EXCEPT have a practically non-existent libido. I hoped this would improve after discontinuing the birth control pills. Can this be improved with hormones? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Remind me in the email, or I might forget. Dearest: Maybe you need hormones, Pete :) Elena: I am 46 now and I had gone through an early meno at 42 within 2 years went through with it I have never taken anything for it but I drink soy milk now and try and eat right. I am worried about the long term effects of it. What vitamins can you prescribe that might help? I get heart palpitations and headaches though. Dearest: Elena, you can find all that information on the Power Surge Recommendations page at www.power-surge.com/recommend.htm. Are you worried about the long-term effects of soy milk? Elena: I hear good things and bad. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: I don't think you have a thing to worry about with the soy, keep checking your bone health, and take the active women's multi vitamin by Power-Surge and sold by Bellevue Pharmacy Solutions, you may need some natural estrogen for the headaches and palpitations and, of course, balance it with some natural progesterone. Dearest: Soy milk doesn't have enough of anything in it to have long term effects (or even short term). I wouldn't worry. Elena: How is magnesium? I heard it's good for that. Dearest: It's on the recommendations page. You have the link above and E.mail me at Dearest@aol.com to send you a welcome letter with lots of links and information. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Magnesium is great and important to work with the calcium for good bones. PortiaPoo: Hi Pete. I am on the biest dosage 3.75 and progesterone. 75 mg. and I still feel it wear off after 8 hours. The 2.5 mg of biest did the same thing so you put it up. Why is this happening? Getting headaches too! Is 3.75 biest twice a day high for biest? Testosterone 1.2 and no sex drive still. Eye brows are falling out in clumps! Even with 2 mg. testosterone the same thing. Do I need DHEA? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Maybe, and maybe we should do a saliva test to figure it all out, and measure the Estriol, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHT, and DHEA, and go from there. Dearest: Give her the number, Pete. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: 1-800-728-0288, it should be on her bottle. Dearest: She might look at a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon instead :) I don't think that would have your number. LOL calcium, magnesium,etc. You are advised to take 6 a day. I take 2. Also more. I will check the bottle and email you the specifics. Thanks. Dearest: Guest, you might want to look at the Power Surge Recommendations page at www.power-surge.com/recommend.htm Pete, there are supplements available of that kind on your site, aren't there? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Yes, we have many good products, and lots of them are listed on the Power-surge.com/recommend.htm area. Guest0: Thanks, Dearest. I have been there. Gotten so much great info and support here. Micki: Hi Pete. When would you advise taking DHEA and has it been proven safe for women to take? Thanks Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: I usually recommend it be taken in the A.M. after breakfast, and also usually it is low in people over 40 years of age. It is safe to use, yes. FullerJean48: What can I take instead of Advil or Excedrin since I am now on Warfarin 1mg? Tylenol don't work on me for headaches and pain. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Advil, nothing with aspirin in it, and I do believe the Excedrin has ASA (acetylsalicylic acid - aspirin) in it. Jimi: If I feel good taking/using nothing, except multi vitamins, should I be using NHRT anyway or leave well enough alone? fsh is 89.2. oestradiol is <80. DHEAS is 1.8. progesterone is <1.0. I am postmenopausal. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Don't do anything else, if your bones are healthy, then don't fix something not broken. KyraRose: My Gyn just prescribed Menest 0.625 mg and Prometrium 100mg - he said the Menest is soy based and the Prometrium is micronized. Are these naturally compounded hormones - I have a problem with anxiety and afraid they will cause more. Should I try Revival first? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Menest is only partly natural. It is from soy but Esterified, and anything esterified is not totally natural. It should help you though, my Biest would be better, and the prometrium is natural, but in peanut oil; these should both work to solve the symptoms quite nicely. You could try the Revival for a month or so, if you want to first, but, it probably will not be the total answer for you. Dearest: If anyone wants information, Email me at Dearest@aol.com and I'll send out a welcome letter that will guide you around Power Surge's Web site. Also, if you want to contact Pete, you can get his information on his Ask The Pharmacist area at www.power-surge.com/asktheexperts.htm PortiaPoo: One more question Pete. Could you tell me what the average dosage for women is for biest, progesterone and testosterone and also how many times per day? I read it in another transcript but it didn't mention how many times a day for the dosages. Not for peri but menopause. Dearest: One thing you'll learn, Portia, there's no such thing as "average" especially in menopausal women. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Biest 2.5mg. and Progesterone 50mg. and Testosterone 0.625 mg all in one sublingual tab and dissolve one under the tongue two times a day every 12 hours, is pretty average for menopause. PortiaPoo: I understand that. I just wondered for most women what what enough to relieve the symptoms. Dearest: I know :) But one woman can take 1/2 that dose and feel great. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Portio: Dearest is correct about that. PortiaPoo: That's why I thought 3.75 mg biest a day seems like a lot to take 2 times per day. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: I would start with a low dose of the Biest and progesterone, and adjust as needed, there should be no problem with blood clots. You could take an aspirin 81.mg. E.C. (enteric coated) tablet daily as a safety precaution. Varicose veins do not mean you will get blood clots. 3.75, is only slightly higher than the 2.5mg dose actually. Dearest: How much estradiol is in the 3.75 bi-est? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: 0.75mg of estradiol in that. KyraRose: My levels from Aeron lab was 1.5 Estradiol, <.05 progesterone and 18.1 Testosterone - are the levels of Menest .625 and prometrium 100 look like good levels and hopefully starting out easy - I tend to have side effects from most medicines. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Yes, that should be a good starting point for you, I would prefer you eventually call me for some Biest though. If you have any problems then try to cut the menest in half with a pill cutter. Sula: What are the side affects one should look for when taking the natural hormones. I just read about blood clots? Weight gain? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Weight gain, would only happen if the dose was not fine tuned properly, other side effects could be bloating and breast tenderness, or headaches. Dearest: Pete, Where did the term "estrogen dominance" originate and can you explain what it is. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: It is when the symptoms of menopause seem to say there is too much estrogen in the system, and not enough progesterone to balance it with. Coined by doctor, John Lee, MD. I think it is a bad term, and I call it hormone imbalance. Most women actually need some estrogen too. Progesterone is usually the first hormone to go once the menopause approaches. BarbiLynn: I'm not sure if this question has been answered, but are some of the over the counter progesterone creams working and as good as they say they are? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Yes, some do work, and we do sell the one by Emerita, the original Progest Cream, I would tell anyone to go ahead and try it. If it does not seem to work well, then get the doctor to order the prescription one, that is stronger. BarbiLynn: I've been using one for 2 years and seems to be working well for me except for no libido, thank you. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Then we need to talk about adding in some testosterone, or to measure your estrogen level, and adjust from there. Bray9946: I had a hysterectomy February 17. My doctor said he didn't think a blood test for hormones was necessary because my ovaries hadn't been working for 2 years as I haven't had a period. I am having symptoms of vaginal dryness, weight gain and no energy. I have ordered a saliva test and am anticipating getting the results. Any comment on what I can do in the meantime? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Are you on any hormones since the surgery? If not, then call me tomorrow for a recommendation to start on. The saliva test results should be done within 10 to 14 days of sending them in. Dearest: Pete's number is 1-800-728-0288 Bray9946: He said I didn't need any unless I had symptoms. He did order vagifem. Sula: What percentage of the Progesterone should be in a cream? Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: Each person and each situation requires a different percentage, so the range is 1.5% to 10% and use it 2 or 3 times a day. PrematureWorries: I have been on Premelle 2.5mg for 2 years. I am 42. How long can I safely be on this? I am very comfortable with this now. Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: What is Premelle 2.5mg.? It must be from a foreign country, but probably for 5 to 7 years safely. Is that a foreign name for Premarin? PrematureWorries: 0.625/2.5mg conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D.: That is PremPro, I would wean off it soon, and email me for a natural bioidentical substitute for your doctor to order for you. Dearest: There's also an excellent article on weaning off hormones at www.power-surge.com/educate/weanoffhrt.htm Pete, thank you once again for educating women about our hormones and menopause. If anyone has further questions about naturally compounded hormones, you can ask Pete by typing into your browser, www.power-surge.com/askthexperts.htm and Pete will get back to you on any questions regarding natural hormones and menopause, or you can call him at 1-800-728-0288 or E.mail him at Pharmacy@power-surge.com Read Pete Hueseman's first transcript Read Pete Hueseman's second transcript Read Pete Hueseman's third transcript Read Pete Hueseman's fourth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's fifth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's sixth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's seventh transcript Read Pete Hueseman's eighth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's ninth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's tenth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's eleventh transcript Read Pete Hueseman's twelfth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's thirteenth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's fifteenth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's sixteenth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's seventeenth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's eighteenth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's nineteenth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's twentieth transcript Read Pete Hueseman's twenty first transcript Read Pete Hueseman's twenty second transcript Disclaimer: Every guest in Power Surge is a highly respected professional whose opinions are his/her own. An appearance in Power Surge does not constitute an endorsement of a guest's views. None of these transcripts may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Power Surge™ and the respective guest. Read other transcripts by returning to the Library. Dearest aka Alice Stamm Power Surge Founder, Facilitator, Host Copyright©1994- by Power Surge. All Rights Reserved.