Elleste duet

[Charm123]

Hello- been reading the old thread on this- just looking for some up to date info- I'm 51 yrs old, no period for 7mths. Been given Elleste duet 1mg to start- main symptoms are sleep problems, palpitations, lethargy,achey- really, really anxious about side-effects though and quite scared to start taking them- feeling tearful about it all help!

Thank you PollyPerky I think my problem is that when I'm feeling 'up' I eat healthily and have more energy. Directly my mood is low I revert back to eating 'crap'. I will try to be more patient! 😊

Just taken last green tablet in my 1st month on duet 1mg. My period has always been regular as clockwork, but despite having cramps for the past week my period is 4 days late. Does starting Elleste screw up your cycle for a while, does it usually settle? TIA.

HRT re-sets your cycle.
Have you had a read of the instructions leaflet (if there is one?)
It might tell you to expect a bleed roughly 1-4 days after the last progestogen tablet. Unless your own cycle breaks through (in future) you will now have periods on a 28 day cycle as per the pack, with bleeding starting anywhere from 1-4 days after the last tablet. (same thing that happens with the Pill).

HTH

Thanks Polly. Is it also the green tablet that's making me feel uptight, bad tempered and jittery?

Yes :)

HRT is mimicking a natural cycle, so the progestogen is the same as the 2nd half of a cycle when you may experience PMS.

Can I ask a question about Elleste Duet please? I've just been prescribed it by my GP. I'm 51 and probably perimenopausal. I haven't had a blood test to check/confirm anything and feel my GP is not very helpful or supportive. Anyway, she has prescribed these tablets without any discussion or explanation of how to take them and I don't understand what I should be doing with them. I've had a period this month (started a few days ago) but hadn't had one for the previous two months. So - I don't know now when I should start taking them and which tablets I should take. The leaflet doesn't make it clear and even DH has read it and can't figure it out either .

My gut reaction is not to start taking them and go back and ask more questions. Should I have had a blood test? I don't know whether I'm being treated properly or not? Feeling a bit teary and stressed by it all right now.

Hi ThereAreNoGhostsHere - sorry you're feeling so teary and stressed by it all .
I'm on Elleste Duet and posted about my very positive experiences of it earlier in the thread.
Firstly, is it definitely Elleste Duet you've been prescribed (and not Elleste Duet Conti, which is a different drug)? Does it say Elleste Duet 1mg (or 2mg) on the box?

If 1mg (which is the one i'm on) you'll probably have a box with 3 months of tablets in? Each set will have 16 white tablets and 12 green tablets and there should be a little booklet in the box which has some stickers at the back to help you label your tablets so you can remember when you start them and identify the day for each tablet. Did you get the mini booklet? Sometimes if they run out, our pharmacist puts a crappy photocopy sheet instead and I end up having to use a Sharpie for the days of the week.
You choose the sticker which starts with the day you start taking your tablets and put it at the top of the blister card, near where it says 'Start'

If you haven't got the leaflet, there's a copy here: www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/20974

This is what it says about when to start taking the tablets:

If you are still having regular periods, start on the first day of bleeding.
If you are not having regular periods you can start straight away.

If you've only just started a period I think you could just start taking them immediately, or if you're on Day3 of a period just skip the first two tablets and start from the third one?

But if you're really not happy/unsure then you should probably go back to your GP, or talk to a pharmacist?

Here's a picture of my tablets, in case it helps?

I've just started on elleste duet Monday and had to pay for 2 prescriptions is this right I couldn't believe it she said because it's a duo but it's in one packet?? Also when do you bleed is it when you start the green I'm going on holiday soon and couldn't believe when the doctor said I would get a period is there anyway of stopping this while I'm away??

the pack contains 2 hormones. After you finish the progestogens you will have a light period about 3 days after the last green tablet. You can stop the bleed by not taking any green ones and going straight onto the white ones again. This is a bit like running 2 packs of the Pill (OC) together without the 1 week break. It's not dangerous but neither is it what the dr would say do ! Some women are on a type of long cycle HRT which gives a period only once every 2nd or 3rd month but this is not usual and only done via specialists - usually.

Hi, glad I've found this site, nice to know I'm not alone! I have just started taking elleste duet conti as couldn't go on as I was, Does anyone else also take fluoxetine? I have been taking this for a few years but lately felt it wasn't working so well.
Look forward to hearing from you x

Elleste Duet 1mg - into 3rd month, so tired, so cross, when on the green tablets ( I know the progestogen bit) last month felt suicidal - the night sweats and hot flushes have completely gone but this is frightening rather than embarrassing - anyone else had a similar experience?
Also break thought bleeding and tender breasts - spoke to doctor today who has suggested a change to Femostan although after this experience I don't hold out much hope for a good outcome - advice very welcome.

Hi everyone I am turning 56 this year and I last had my last period when I was 52 I have been going through menopause for the past 3 and half years but it got worse in the last 1 and half years it was really, constant sweating, fatigue, mood swings, unable to sleep at night or during the day when I come from a night shift. I was very skeptical in starting on HRT but I had to swallow my pride and go for it. It was the best thing I have ever done to start on hrt. I am in my second day of my second packet. Yesterday I started experiencing cramps, and terrible period pain later on period started very heavy and painful. I was in shock as I had not had it in almost 4 years I am not happy at all. Please help is this going to stop or is this an ongoing thing🤒🤒🤒😔😔😔

It's an ongoing thing as long as you take the Duet type of HRT.

Your dr should have offered you CONTI (continuous) which is no bleed.
That is for women who have not had a period for at least 12 months, are post menopause and do NOT ANT WITHDRAWAL BLEEDS.

what is WRONG with these drs??????????????

Hi there, I’ve just gone 48, no period since July and was suffering with crazy hot flashes, day and night waking up soaking - irony is I really feel the cold and now my windows are are open even if it’s minus out!
I went on Elleste Duet 1mg. Just started week 3, so still on whites.
Prior to going on HRT I had my first full blown migraine with the full works - vomiting, the lot!! as opposed to a light sensitive migraine lying in bed for the weekend. Went to GP thinking possibly due to ‘age’ etc, as it really knocked me about and time off sick not good. Was given Triptans for a likely attack and other meds to keep at bay. All good : )
Over the last few days I’ve woke up with back ache - likely to be my new mattress??? And yesterday still on the ‘whites’ I have come on!
Plus last night 8pm - no headache or sign of - to 8:30 migraine coming and being sick within ten minutes through till midnight. The quickest onset of headache to actually being sick!
I’m guessing the back ache was possibly periods pain???
I never had period pain as an adult - nothing. One of the lucky ones.

But if I’m going to have to put up with migraine too - literally lying on my bathroom floor???
And I thought you were supposed to bleed on the green not the white.
This isn’t good.
I get that you have to ride it out and bear with till my body normalises, but migraines with sickness is something I can’t deal with and future ones frighten me, especially interfering with work and time off.
I think I prefer the hot flashes.
Any thoughts??
xx

@clarebare Sounds awful- poor you.
I think from what you have said- a migraine before you began HRT- it is a coincidence you have had more now you are on HRT.

It would be best though to swap to a patch type which is safer re blood clots and recommended for women who get migraine. it's just safer, full stop.

I get migraines- have all my life- but they are fewer since I've been on HRT and my hormones are 'regulated'. The only time I get one is when I come to the end of the progestogen phase, just before a bleed.

Your period is just that- it's come while you are settling in to the HRT cycle because presumably you are still having periods? It might take a few months for it to all settle down.

Have a look at this table of HRT

www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

Evorel Sequi as a patch is the same as in your tablet.

You could swap to Oestrogel and Utrogestan (12 days a month) instead. (two products, gel daily.)

Hi jinglinghellsbells,
Thanks for reading : )
No I don’t have periods. I haven’t had a period for 7 months. I was given all the info to read by my GP and to make a preference - narrowed down what I wanted down looking at risk and side effects. I asked for patches/gel as it ticked my box. Plus I have a family history for aneurism - 2 deaths on my moms side and my cousin who is fine now (but a picture of health at the time) which along with migraine I thought patches/gel please.
She said why you need gel? Are you dry?!!!
Confused....as the info talks tablets, patches gel.
She said your totally low risk and put me on the tablets.
I thought what was the point in asking me to read and look at a preference???
I’ll look at the link, thank you : )
X

You need to go back and find a different GP- she sounds useless.

BTW you are still having periods- you've just had one.
You aren't post menopause until you have not had a period for 12 months- so that would be JUly this year. meanwhile you are peri. You can miss 6,7, 8, 9....and then have more either with gaps or whatever.

Have just had to change from ellestte duet 2mg due to problems with the manufacturer I had no problem being on these, felt great, I'm now on kliofem & I feel like crap have been bleeding for 3 weeks any advice around this plz