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[RibenaBena]

Hello,

Please please tell me I’m not going mad. 😭 I just need some kind words and a hug.

I’ve been taking Evorel patches at the guidance of the Newson clinic for over two years. I gradually worked up to 125 patches as my symptoms were stubborn, but at this level I’ve been feeling really great. Only a month or so ago, I remember thinking ‘I’ve cracked it, I feel fab!’.

Knowing 125 is a high-ish dose, I decided to try and come down to 100 and just settle at that level. No one told me to do that, I just thought I would try it, because I thought it would be ideal to sit within NHS guidelines if I could.

I was fine for 2 to 3 weeks, but just in the last three days I’ve hit the most ENORMOUS patch of anxiety and depression. It’s literally come out of nowhere. 😭😭 I can’t stop crying, my heart is racing with anxiety, I’m worrying about literally everything, my brain won’t stop catastrophising. Everything feels too much for me to cope with. I feel so sad and panicky. My life IS stressful,  but there’s nothing really immediately terrifying to worry about. Not like this anyway.

Could this reaction be related to reducing the oestrogen?

I’m wondering if I just go back up to 125, as I can’t go on like this much longer.

[PearlJ]

Wow - albeit different dosages and time frames I have literally just posted the same thing! I totally understand! Think I will go back to my full dose after reading your post! Hope you feel better soon x

[KaraShannon]

I'm on Evorel Sequi, I was on 100 Estradiol and the combined patch as usual, the doctor said my estradiol was through the roof (even for a 30 year old she said).  So I've gradually come down to 50 again.  I do feel better, not getting the dizziness so much that I was getting.

I was still taking just a cut small strip from a 25 patch on top of the 50.  I stopped that 3 weeks ago and now I'm feeling awful.  I'm getting tremors (or the sensation of them). 

And my mind.  I'm sad and anxious.  I do have a stressful life but no immediate problems as you mention.  I don't have any emotional support these days, somehow that's fallen away.  But I'm feeling awful and wondering if it's the slight change in estradiol.

Either way I'm with you, hang in there and hugs. 

[sheila99]

Now you know why you were on 125  .  I'm on 100 but every time I try to reduce my symptoms return too. Some people absorb better than others. It isn't what you put on your skin that's important, it's what's in your body.

[KaraShannon]

Now you know why you were on 125  .  I'm on 100 but every time I try to reduce my symptoms return too. Some people absorb better than others. It isn't what you put on your skin that's important, it's what's in your body.

Sheila, I hope no one minds me jumping in here, but my doctor told me that Evorel Sequi is only licensed for use with 50 estradiol and then 50 estradiol and 50 noreshisterone combined.  Any more estradiol risks there not being enough norehisterone to protect the womb lining. 

Can I just ask what you've been told re this and also OP? 

That said I did feel better with lower estradiol, the dizziness was less...

thanks 

[RibenaBena]

I’m on Evorel - and patches go up to 100 (and the Newson clinic, with expert consideration, prescribe higher).

[Hollyboll]

Hello,

Please please tell me I’m not going mad. 😭 I
Could this reaction be related to reducing the oestrogen?

I’m wondering if I just go back up to 125, as I can’t go on like this much longer.

You're not going mad.  Dose changes can definitely cause symptoms.  Sorry you are going through it. 
I've learned the hard way that changing doses can cause problems.  I totally get why you wanted to go down, but if you were OK on 125 you might want to go back there.  If you are unsure, you could cut a 125 in half and try 112.5 for a couple of weeks first, which would also be a more gradual way back up even if you do then go back to 125. 

Fwiw, a properly expert consultant (in the NHS) told me that he's not worried about being on 125 as long as (like any dose) blood levels are in physiological range, ie just because it's a bit over NHS levels doesn't mean it's unsafe (as long as you have adequate progesterone etc)

It sounds as if you were happy on 125 so as others have said probably best to go back there, although I might personally do it via an interim trial of 112.5.

Personally, and having learned the hard way, I'd be loath to go much higher than 125 but that doesn't sound like where you're at

HTH and big hug x

[Winterose]

I suspect we all absorb our HRT differently. I put myself on 125 Evorel ( had hysterectomy) when previous symptoms returned plus we need more as we get older and our natural levels drop .
I think you have to do what makes you feel normal . I’d tried 150 and that was too much.


 

[sheila99]

Now you know why you were on 125  .  I'm on 100 but every time I try to reduce my symptoms return too. Some people absorb better than others. It isn't what you put on your skin that's important, it's what's in your body.

Sheila, I hope no one minds me jumping in here, but my doctor told me that Evorel Sequi is only licensed for use with 50 estradiol and then 50 estradiol and 50 noreshisterone combined.  Any more estradiol risks there not being enough norehisterone to protect the womb lining. 

Can I just ask what you've been told re this and also OP? 

That said I did feel better with lower estradiol, the dizziness was less...

thanks 

You can use the evorel oestrogen only patch with a separate progestin on either a sequi or conti regime, most commonly with utrogestan or provera. If the only progestin you take is from the evorel sequi patch then he's right that you can't add more oestrogen as the amount of progestin in the patch is insufficient.

[RibenaBena]

Thank you all. None of my friends are taking this high level - in fact most of my friends aren’t on HRT (yet) - so I have very few people to talk to about this. I feel so reassured to hear of some of you are on / have been on 125, and the comments passed on from the NHS contact.

I have a Mirena for proges. And am due an annual blood test from the Newson so that will give me a full picture.

So…I’ve gone back up to 125 with today’s fresh patch change. I felt so good at that level and cannot continue on like this. As I said, I even thought to myself just the other day “actually, I feel like me again!”. Honestly, the last 2-3 days have been pretty dark (not dark-dark, but very very unhappy).

Thank you all. So so much 

[KaraShannon]

Now you know why you were on 125  .  I'm on 100 but every time I try to reduce my symptoms return too. Some people absorb better than others. It isn't what you put on your skin that's important, it's what's in your body.

Sheila, I hope no one minds me jumping in here, but my doctor told me that Evorel Sequi is only licensed for use with 50 estradiol and then 50 estradiol and 50 noreshisterone combined.  Any more estradiol risks there not being enough norehisterone to protect the womb lining. 

Can I just ask what you've been told re this and also OP? 

That said I did feel better with lower estradiol, the dizziness was less...

thanks 

You can use the evorel oestrogen only patch with a separate progestin on either a sequi or conti regime, most commonly with utrogestan or provera. If the only progestin you take is from the evorel sequi patch then he's right that you can't add more oestrogen as the amount of progestin in the patch is insufficient.

Ah right, thanks for the clarification