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[Samsz]

Hi,

I'm just posting regarding my sister who has had severe insomnia for years now. She thought she couldn't have HRT due to having breast cancer 11 years ago, but has been told she can.
She has been on 100mcg patch for about 3 months or more now with no improvement (of course the insomnia may not be due to menopause, but we have tried everything else so want to really give this a go)
Her GP told her she may not be absorbing the patches and so has given her the gel - 2 pumps a day - equivalent to 50 mcg of the patch. He said to start the gel lower as she may not need as much on the gel.
So my question is - does anyone think that's a bit counterproductive to go down on the dose - surely she should have 4 pumps a day?
I've recently stopped 100mcg patch and have 4 sachets of gel a day (equivalent to 100 patch) as recommended by Newson Health and this is working for me.
Would love to hear your feedback.

Thanks, Samsz

[sheila99]

Newson are known for prescribing high doses and sometimes it's far too much. Is she meno or peri? Has she had blood tests? Not much use in peri as your own production fluctuates so much but if she's meno it will show how much she's absorbing. Some people do absoelrb differently though if I'd been prescribing I don't think I'd have reduced it by so much.

[Nas]

Different products are absorbed differently, so I don’t think you can compare like for like. The two pumps of gel may work for your sister just fine and can be titrated according to symptoms.

Agree with Sheila re peri or meno. A blood test for the latter, would detail whether she is absorbing from the patch or not. Did she work her way up to 100 dose?

P.s not sure 4 sachets = 100 patch ?
Isn’t 1 sachet the equivalent of 2 pumps ? ( could be wrong though).

[Samsz]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.
She is in meno not peri and yes she did work up to the 100 patch.
She hasn't had a blood test yet - I keep telling her to push for one, but she says she will wait until the GP says which I think is about a months time.....

[Samsz]

Sorry, I meant to say I am on two sachets - not four!