Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Nellendra on June 18, 2016, 07:51:03 AM
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Hi
Has anyone been changed from Evorel sequi 50 patches to tablet form of Utrogestran 100mg and a 25mg oestrogen patch?
My consultant wants to change my meds due to headaches, nausea and tinnitus.
Xx
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The Utro with the oestrogen patch will be a good combo to try. This is a very low dose of oestrogen but it's worth starting low to see how you feel. DG x
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I changed from this to oestrogen gel and utestrogen.the gel is great cuz I had stomach problems with tablets. Having issues with the utestrogen so I use it vaginally. Still issues with it but a lot better! Good luck x
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Why are you lowering your dose of oestrogen? I really wouldn't use a 25mcg patch, I think that dose is far too low. Also, I would take this opportunity to switch from patches to gel because it is far more effective and also very flexible because you can adjust the dose to suit your needs.
I would also recommend you use the Utrogestan vaginally because it works better (more of it reaches the womb whereas 50% gets lost in your digestive system when taken orally) and it has fewer side effects when used in that way.
Like many others on here, I am on the Professor Studd regime which is 2 pumps of Oestrogel (some women are on 3 pumps) and a tiny bead of testosterone everyday and 100mg Utrogestan (vaginally) for 7 days each month but I stretch it to every 5 weeks and I have to say it is the best HRT regime I have been on by a very, very long way.
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It was suggested by the consultant as I'm having rotton side effects- headache/ nausea and tinnitus.
I think I'll mention what you suggested when I go in on thurs.
Thanks for the tips everyone. Xx
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Gel might be better because it allows for easy tweaking of the dose
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Looking back at your posts - it may well be the progestogen in the Evorel causing the headaches so utrogestan may not give you headaches. You won't know until you try.
It looks like you hadn't missed any periods yet before starting HRT? This can be a problematic time with your own hormones going up and down dramatically - with the added HRT sometimes giving you side effects. I can see why the gynae suggested a low dose to start with and nothing wrong with trying with the 25 mcg patch as prescribed initially. There have been women on here who can't go to a high level of oestrogen straight away so in your position (where you are in menopause) I would follow the prescription and see how you feel with a change.
The only thing I would say against this is that you are changing two things at once - the progestogen and the oestrogen dose so you won't know which was causing your symptoms (if any!).
I have always found patches to be excellent and they dealt with my symptoms very soon - never needing to change the dose - but I was late in the peri-menopausal transition when I started so my own hormones levels were less unstable. The brand I use is Estradot which are very small and stick well. However it is a personal preference combined with which method lets you absorb more oestrogen more effectively, without side effects!
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity
I am happy to try anything to get the balance right. Can't cope with these headaches any more..
:) X
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Well I went to my menopause clinic appointment today and it's all changed again - I was given femoston 1/10 mg . Fingers n toes crossed. :)
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Nellendra - Femoston is a good one to try as the progesterone in this one is kinder and suits many women very well.
Good luck and keep us posted. DG x
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Thank you dancing girl . X
Does anyone know the amounts of oestrogen and progesterone in femoston 1/10 compared to Evorel sequi? And also how long the tablets take to work versus patches?
Thanks xx
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Nellendra - do look under TREATMENTS at the top of the page to find out about dosages. Evorel patches are a medium dose HRT and Femoston 1/10 is a lower dose but the lower dose may well suit you OK and the headaches may have been to do with being on too high a dose.
If you are still using the patches, then meno symptoms may not return with this switch to Femoston. If you have taken a break from HRT before starting this new HRT then it could take 2-4 weeks for symptoms to subside and up to 3 months for the full benefits to be felt. Keep us posted. Dg x
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Once again thank you for the invaluable advice dancing girl
I went straight from patch to tablet in the same day so there has been no break whatsoever . I will look under treatments to see what I can find out. :) X
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Hi Nellendra
In February I changed from Evorel Sequi 50 to Evorel 25 and Utrogestan 100mg (every day). I had been on cyclic HRT for 15 years. My periods had not stopped when I started HRT and every time I tried cont HRT I had breakthrough bleeding. It was suggested I change to this after starting to get spotting throughout the cycle.
Although I previously had no side effects to HRT I found I experienced headaches in the first 2 weeks which I put down to the Utrogestan. I haven't had any flushes or night sweats ( I always used to have night sweats just before the breakthrough bleeding) just occasional warm episodes. However I feel sometimes my bladder is irritated and slightly strange feelings as if the vaginal walls ar atrophying although things are definitely not dry!
Hope this is of some use. I must admit I was surprised I could manage on half the oestrogen Flutterby x
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Ok, I ended up being switched onto Femoston 1/10 not Utogestran. Not sure why but the consultant thought that was the best idea.
If i'm honest I now want to come off hrt because I don't feel like I have any choice. I am still suffering very bad headaches on a daily basis, constant tinnitus which has nearly drove me mad, a bit of nausea which is bearable. The headaches and tinnitus are not bearable.
I rang my consultant last tues and am still waiting for a call back, I left a message asking if it was ok for me to come off hrt straight away or if I had to wean myself off. I have not had a response so I'm none the wiser so far.
Does anyone on here know?
I am open to any ideas or advice anyone has.
(I still have regular periods, am 48, get a few hot flushes but nothing major, the reason for taking hrt was mainly as I was feeling generally unwell with a whole host of symptoms incl headaches.. ) I am really at a loss as to what to do. I could go to my gp but I feel they don't really know how to deal with complex peri issues. So far, I have tried Evorel sequi for 3 months which didn't agree with me - headaches, tinnitus and bad nausea. been on Femoston for 2 1/2 months and headaches are dreadful, tinnitus is terrible and nausea is bearable.
I'm not sure if I would be a candidate for the famous Dr.S meds, but would be willing to try anything.
:) x
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also, I don't really understand the difference between evorel sequi 50 and femoston 1/10, obviously except one is a patch and one is a tablet except the progesterone is different in them.
I'm at a loss to understand all this medication info.. Yikes.. :(
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Hi Nellendra - It's fine to simply stop the HRT - you may get some bleeding after stopping but this should settle.
As you are peri meno, it is very difficult to get the balance of hormones right. Headaches are common in the peri stage - I suffered terribly with headaches for days on end. The progesterone in Femoston is well tolerated and kinder than the progesterone in Evorel - most HRT types have different combinations in them. Femoston is a good one to try first so you've been given good treatment by your gynae.
What symptoms are you trying to control?
I think your problem has been the HRT dosage. When I was still peri and started taking HRT, most of the HRTs I tried were too high a dose and I got headaches etc as a result. I then went to the Amarant Centre privately and they put me on one pump of Oestrogel per day with 12 days of progesterone each month (I think it was Dydrogesterone which was available then but isn't any more) . This is a very low dose and it got me through my peri stage very well. I then increased to 2 pumps per day when I knew I was post meno.
You could request Oestrogel and take either Utrogestan or Provera for 12-14 days each month.
Here is the link about the progesterone options: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/to_progestogens.php
Dg x
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Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it.
I was originally suffering loads of symptoms - headache, anxiety, dizziness, brain fog and generally feeling pretty unwell, I had hot flushes but could handle these as were mild. I feel no benefit so far in taking hrt, I'm so disappointed as really thought it'd work. I still suffer all the symptoms but headaches are worse , now dreadful tinnitus and a bit of nausea but that's bearable.
I wonder if my GP would prescribe what you have suggested as have recently moved and am waiting a referral to nottingham menopause clinic. But don't feel I can wait any longer.. I'm never sure if my symptoms are due to oestrogen being too low of too high or just out of balance generally. It's all so confusing. If I could get rid of the headaches, dizziness and tinnitus I would put up with the rest. 😀
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Also forgot to say that since taking femoston 1/10 I have had a 'beard' of spots on my cheeks, lower cheeks and chin area of my face. which have just stayed and not healed up! Delightful! 😄
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Nellendra - why not simply take a break from the HRT for 4 weeks to see how you feel. When you get your referral to the meno clinic you can then discuss the options - and ask about Oestrogel with Utrogestan (or Provera).
You could try asking the GP fro this combo as they should be abel to prescribe it but many are not that clued up and are reluctant to prescribe something they don't know. Most GPs are not familiar with Utrogestan - it's usually listed in their books under micronised progesterone.
If you go armed with the info printed off from this site you may have luck. I do think a break from HRT first might be sensible so you can really see what's going on with your hormones. Dg x