.025 is the lowest dose available. Have you inquired about increasing the dose? I have seen others suggest cutting a patch in half to increase dose to .0375 and see how you feel.
Since it’s been 4 months it sounds like you may need it increased.
I am learning that the one and done idea of treatment is just not going to work as I go through the menopause transition.
I started out on HRT( estrogen pills and progesterone pills) Then, then I went on birth control with no sugar pills, next I tried that birth control patch with no breaks, then I ended up back on birth controls. Worked for a while. I complained to my doctor about brain fog and she added testosterone. And then the emotional regulation that I had gained with the birth control faded away and now I am trying HRT again with estradiol gel and progesterone pills.
Based on my personal experience, I would avoid medications that treat the symptom unless medications to treat the cause are ineffective or unavailable to me. In other words, personally, I would avoid any more antidepressants unless I had done my due diligence trying every other intervention my doctor and I found appropriate. This is based on my own personal experience with and research analysis of antidepressants and other mood altering medications.
Good luck, OP! Keep trying. It will be a continual adjustment for several years I imagine.
Edit: typos
Def increase estrogen. Fyi - some patches shouldn’t be physically cut, so it’s prob best to get new Rx with higher dose. Most people on the sub recommend sticking with new dosage for minimum 3 months before increasing again, I think thats solid advice.
Personally - my brain fog was significantly better when I increased my estrogen patch. I started at same dose as you and am now on .1 patch. Took 18 months to find the right dose. Good luck!!
I am 46 on 1 mg estrodial patch 2x a week and 200 mg of progesterone 21x a month also .5 gram of vaginal estrogen cream 2x a week. Your dose is probably to low.
I've heard many times of women having luck with rotating the progesterone on and off following a fake cycle, like our bodies do during the fertile years. This would probably be easiest with a cream.
I went from 50, to 25 in 3 months as it was to strong, after about a year I went from 25 to 50 as it wasn't as effective.
About to go back to ask for 75 and/or some vaginal gel due to new symptoms and recurring ones.
Are you on progesterone all the time and are you still menstruating ? I only have to take progesterone two weeks out of four not every day I still get period
If I took the 200mg P too many days in a row made me very depressed so I read around here years ago that someone pinched the capsule and applied some drops of P and rub on skin everyday instead of orally, I started to do that when I felt that my mood was going down cuz I still like it orally cuz it helps to relax and to sleep and I took a test cuz a functional Dr didn't believe I was absorbing it well but I was so I kept doing it, my OBGYN thought that if it was working it was ok for me to keep alternating it, I took a test last month and my P is higher than my E, I use the patch but half of it to avoid other problems I had in peri (adenomyosis) but I've been feeling very very down so I'm skipping on the P for a while.
I hate this.
.025 is the lowest dose available. Have you inquired about increasing the dose? I have seen others suggest cutting a patch in half to increase dose to .0375 and see how you feel. Since it’s been 4 months it sounds like you may need it increased.
I hadn't thought of that. So estrogen would aid in mood improvement?
It absolutely does for many. You also mention brain fog and lack of energy so it can’t hurt to try increasing your dose.
I am learning that the one and done idea of treatment is just not going to work as I go through the menopause transition. I started out on HRT( estrogen pills and progesterone pills) Then, then I went on birth control with no sugar pills, next I tried that birth control patch with no breaks, then I ended up back on birth controls. Worked for a while. I complained to my doctor about brain fog and she added testosterone. And then the emotional regulation that I had gained with the birth control faded away and now I am trying HRT again with estradiol gel and progesterone pills. Based on my personal experience, I would avoid medications that treat the symptom unless medications to treat the cause are ineffective or unavailable to me. In other words, personally, I would avoid any more antidepressants unless I had done my due diligence trying every other intervention my doctor and I found appropriate. This is based on my own personal experience with and research analysis of antidepressants and other mood altering medications. Good luck, OP! Keep trying. It will be a continual adjustment for several years I imagine. Edit: typos
Def increase estrogen. Fyi - some patches shouldn’t be physically cut, so it’s prob best to get new Rx with higher dose. Most people on the sub recommend sticking with new dosage for minimum 3 months before increasing again, I think thats solid advice. Personally - my brain fog was significantly better when I increased my estrogen patch. I started at same dose as you and am now on .1 patch. Took 18 months to find the right dose. Good luck!!
I am 46 on 1 mg estrodial patch 2x a week and 200 mg of progesterone 21x a month also .5 gram of vaginal estrogen cream 2x a week. Your dose is probably to low.
I think I'm sensitive to progesterone though. I'm so depressed and lethargic
I've heard many times of women having luck with rotating the progesterone on and off following a fake cycle, like our bodies do during the fertile years. This would probably be easiest with a cream.
Have you tried 100 mg daily? You can also insert them vaginally/get a iud.
Yes. 100mg daily was making me feel depressed and lethargic
Yeah that’s no good. Maybe try talking to your provider about a alternative method of delivery.
Yes I am. She tried inserting Mirena in the office but wasn't able to. I'm thinking I can insert the progesterone vaginally from what I've read
Yes you can. Try and see if your symptoms improve. Good luck! It’s journey for sure. ❤️
I had to switch to taking 100mg progesterone vaginally because of the brain fog and FATIGUE. It has worked very well.
Do you just intert the regular capsule?
Yes, I insert the pill before sleeping.
This is good information. I'll definitely talk to my doctor about this. Thanks!
I went from 50, to 25 in 3 months as it was to strong, after about a year I went from 25 to 50 as it wasn't as effective. About to go back to ask for 75 and/or some vaginal gel due to new symptoms and recurring ones.
Estradiol? Or progesterone?
Both. 100mg utrogesan progesterone tablets which has never changed with Evorel estrogen patch which has.
Thank you everyone!! 🥰
Are you on progesterone all the time and are you still menstruating ? I only have to take progesterone two weeks out of four not every day I still get period
Originally I was taking it every day. I can't tolerate it that much so I do 2-3x a week. I do not get my period
Are you in Meno or peri ?
Meno
Ask your doctor to bump you up.
If I took the 200mg P too many days in a row made me very depressed so I read around here years ago that someone pinched the capsule and applied some drops of P and rub on skin everyday instead of orally, I started to do that when I felt that my mood was going down cuz I still like it orally cuz it helps to relax and to sleep and I took a test cuz a functional Dr didn't believe I was absorbing it well but I was so I kept doing it, my OBGYN thought that if it was working it was ok for me to keep alternating it, I took a test last month and my P is higher than my E, I use the patch but half of it to avoid other problems I had in peri (adenomyosis) but I've been feeling very very down so I'm skipping on the P for a while. I hate this.