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[Kathleen]

Hello Ladies.

Having had a rough night I decided to read the patient information leaflet in my HRT to see if I am infact experiencing side effects. I have been taking Tibolone/Livial 2.5mg tablets for three months and the leaflet suggests these  should not be taken  if you are lactose intolerant. This made me wonder if anyone else has encountered this problem with Tibolone or any other tablet HRT or indeed has found out if they are lactose intolerant. I know digestive problems are common with the menopause but it would be helpful to know if the tablets themselves are contributing to any upset.

Take care ladies.

K.

[Mbrown001]

I know Cubagirl is dairy intolerant and has had issues with certain meds. Hopefully she will be along soon to let you know about her experiences.

If you have a lactose intolerance then it's bound to upset your gut as you take these constantly.

Mrs Brown

[cubagirl]

Kathleen, best to find alternatives, gels or patches. However, that isn't always possible. So many meds have lactose, which is basically something to pad out the tablets. Try checking out the UK Drug Database  to find out ingredients. If you cannot get meds without lactose, try taking lactase tablets. I've found they help a bit, if taken just before.  H&B do some good ones.

[Kathleen]

Hello  MBrown001 and cubagirl and thank you for your responses.

I had very disturbed sleep last night and loose poo this morning ( sorry if tmi ). This made me wonder about the lactose in the tablet. Having said that I am very jittery atm so hormones are yet again doing their thing! I will certainly consider the lactase tablets for the future.

Thanks again ladies and take care.

K.

[cubagirl]

If it is lactose, you'll find anything with it in will affect you. I can't take any form of dairy now, so it can be a bit of a nightmare. I've had this problem for a long time so have got used to it. Many food items are available now lactose free or dairy free.

[Kathleen]

Hello again cubagirl.

Thank you for your comment. Do you know if supplements also contain lactose. I've been taking vitamin B12 along with my Tibolone and wonder if infact the vitamin pill is the culprit?

 I appreciate things can get complicated because after I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis I discovered that people with UC should not take some types of iron supplements because it makes the condition worse, pity no one had told me that earlier!

Thanks for your help and take care.

K.

[cubagirl]

Not sure, but I've checked H&B website & their B12 is free from lactose & dairy. Check ingredients on packaging or look up online.

[Kathleen]

Hello cubagirl.

Thank you so much for doing that, very kind of you! I'll be sure to look out for lactose information from now on.

Take care.

K.

[Tempest]

Hi, Kathleen!

Gosh! I missed that when I took Tibolone - I'm lactose intolerant (diagnosed formally by Gastroenterologist). Now I'm wondering if this is part of why I had a particularly rough ride on it.......

Generally though it didn't suit me as after I was well into the second pack, things went really 'wonky" and I know a few other ladies have succumbed too over time.

It's such a shame, as women seem to fall into two definite camps of those it works brilliantly for long term, and those for whom it's a disaster even after it working ok at first. This is such a rollercoaster ride, isn't it?

Tell me, have you tried adding B6 by the way? It's a great supplement to help with mood (as well as magnesium for helping anxiety).

I have actually noticed a difference since I started the Quaker Super Goodness porridge with added zinc, vitamin c and b6  - it caught my eye in the supermarket as I usually have porridge every day and I enjoy this a lot (I have it with lactofree milk as I can tolerate this ok).

Sending you hugs! xxxxx

[Mbrown001]

My daughter is lactose intolerant. It's never been diagnosed but she had such tummy troubles we started cutting a lot out and then when we added things in again it became very clear what was causing her issues.
Recently when she had a bad allergic reaction to a skin cream she was given anti histamines by her GP. They contained lactose so we had to hunt out one that was lactose free.
We have discovered that Tesco has the best range of "free" foods and it's getting much easier to manage things.
She finds eating out a complete nightmare....if you ask some restaurants they look at you as if you have some deadly disease.
I think it will become much easier in the not too distant future to manage this condition as so many supermarkets are catching on to the fact they have a really big market for dairy/lactose free foods.
Medication is a completely different problem. As CG says it's used as a filler and has no practical use at all. I think that those who suffer from this difficult condition should email drug manufacturers and complain when they are prescribed pills that contain unnecessary ingredients. The more of us that do this the better. After all it's not the active ingredient.


Mrs Brown

[cubagirl]

I complained once, can't remember company, didn't even acknowledge email! Suppose I should have resent email, but thought "They don't give a monkeys" they are worth millions & I'm nobody to them.

Eating out is a nightmare. Restaurants understand vegan, but say dairy free & their eyes glaze over.

[Hurdity]

Have you been diagnosed with lactose intolerance Kathleen? If so I think surely you would know? As you do have digestive issues already and you think the tablets might be affecting you then a return to transdermal HRT might be preferable if it continues. If you read what it says here then also your UC maybe even be affecting absorption of the tablets so you may get variable hormone levels (which should be completely stable at your menopausal stage and taking a constant dose of HRT).
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/route.php

Hurdity x

[Kathleen]

Hello again ladies.

Many thanks for all your comments and insights.

I have just come back from H&B where I bought some vitamin B tablets that don't contain lactose and are stated suitable for vegans who of course avoid consuming any animal products.  Maybe veganism is the way to go to be certain of lactose free.

Thanks again all and wishing everyone well.

K.