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Menopause

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Original poster

Elleste Duet. When do I start to feel like a reasonable person again?!

35 replies

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 27/01/2018 13:10

Just started these. I am wondering how long until they start to take effect. A little alarmed by the list of common side-affects, which seemed to include much of what I was trying to address. Any advice please, Polly or other knowledgeable peeps? TIA

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whoareyoukidding · 27/01/2018 13:19

I can only speak for myself but I have been on Elleste Duet 1mg for around 7 months now and I have never experienced any side effects. Hope this goes some way to reassure you.

MadameJosephine · 27/01/2018 13:23

I felt better within a few weeks. I’ve been taking it for about 5 months now and palpitations, joint pain and hot flushes are much much better. Brain fog still a bit of an issue but improved. I’ve had a few headaches but I’m prone to them anyway and otherwise haven’t noticed any side effects

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 27/01/2018 13:44

Thanks, that's reassuring. I am on the 1mg, but wondering if it will be diluted by the effect of my considerable bulk, and I'll end up having to take the 2mg one, but hopefully not.

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PollyPerky · 27/01/2018 13:52

Ignore the list of side effects - have you ever read them for aspirin or paracetamol? They have to include any side effect ever suffered by anyone. Don't read !!!

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 27/01/2018 15:19

Ah, ok, thanks Polly. I was lulled into reading them when I had to read the instructions. I don't normally frighten myself by doing this! And no, paracetamol etc is fine :)

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lifeiscrap · 28/01/2018 08:33

I've been taking Elleste Duet 1mg for a couple of weeks now - about to start the green pills in the first pack - and really don't feel like they're working. I'm not so emotional but really irritable (raging sometimes Blush ), anxious, not sleeping well, libido still low etc. Please someone tell me it will get better.......

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 28/01/2018 11:22

Oh dear. The rage is more of a problem than being emotional so I hoped it would help with that...

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HRTpatch · 28/01/2018 11:23

I felt better within 3 days...rage was my main issue.
I was on it for 6 years but changed to conti patches as I was sick of bleeding.

lifeiscrap · 28/01/2018 16:42

Yes I had hoped the rage would go but not yet - more irritable at the moment, first week or so it was rage. I should probably be patient but so many others have said that the white pills made them 'happy' - I would like that. I'm just wondering how long I should give it - I have 3 months supply so maybe another couple of months. I wasn't expecting a miracle 'cure' to all my problems but some improvement would be good!

Let me know if Elleste works for you SpongeBob - I suppose I may need to change medication if it continues like this. Also difficult to know what is menopause symptoms, what is due to stress or something else (like thyroid).

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 28/01/2018 16:58

I will Life. Sorry if life is crap for you at the moment. I'm on the white ones at the moment. I am not feeling too bad, but have never been particularly patient, so.....

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GlamGran55 · 29/01/2018 18:40

I am peri and started Ellesste duet last October or Nov. Now the good news was the sweats at night stopped actually they weren't horrendous. I felt OK with a few bouts of pure misery. I also take fluoxetine and have for many years. But I can't remember the last time I felt happy. I am constantly worried about family n friends dying and every few weeks I just cry for a few days. Stupid small things overwhelm me at times. It's not all the time but surely it should be better than this? I am going to see the doc this week . Anyone else felt like this? Maybe a change of HRT will help. Oh and the anger, let's not forget that!

lifeiscrap · 29/01/2018 23:05

Thanks SpongeBob - life is actually ok-ish now but I name-changed when I was feeling particularly low and haven't got round to changing it again. I'd forgotten what it was like to feel normal and thought it was just me / stress - I hadn't realised all the different symptoms of the menopause. I actually felt relieved when I realised I must be peri-menopausal and that HRT could help - now I just want HRT to work!

Sorry you're feeling so miserable Glam. I constantly worry as well but have always been anxious so just thought that it was me rather than something specific that could be treated. And I've felt emotional and overwhelmed by small things but I'm not constantly unhappy. It's really not great that you're so miserable and crying for days but at least you're seeing the doctor about it - hope you get something sorted to help you. Have you felt worse emotionally since going on elleste duet?

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 30/01/2018 11:51

HRT did you find the conti patches as good? Thanks for your input, I am a bit fed up of the, albeit intermittent bleeding too. I'm 57, I think I've done my time!

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HRTpatch · 30/01/2018 12:02

I like the conti patches but have been bleeding on them!.
Which defeats the object..
Not sure whether to come of it and see what happens.

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 30/01/2018 16:04

Oh that's a blow then Patch...

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PollyPerky · 30/01/2018 17:42

GlamGran have you thought about something like CBT for your anxiety and worrying? It might be better than ADs. It's now considered that talking therapies are the first line of action instead of medication. Learning some strategies to re-wire your thought patterns may help and the ADs may actually be keeping your emotions very 'flat'.

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 30/01/2018 18:45

Unfortunately AD's were the first thing they offered me Polly. Had to point out the reason I can't take them, which two minutes with my notes would have told them. I know they haven't got time, but are AD's cheaper to the NHS the HRT? Genuine question BTW.

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Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 08/01/2019 18:09

Just found this again. For those asking, I do feel a bit more human now on the tablets.

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bert3400 · 12/01/2019 08:05

Hi SpongeBobJudgeyPants glad to hear you are feeling better, I have just started Elleste Duet after being on Femiston (sp) for 18 months. The initial HRT did help with the menopause but every 3rd week I would get a cold for a week which would wipe me out, this was a monthly problem and pretty depressing. So the GP has now put me on Elleste ...fingers crossed I don't get sick in 3 weeks time .
Has anyone else found this , it's like the 2nd lot of pills (grey)lower my immunity so I pick up any bug that's going ?

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 13/01/2019 10:03

Haven't had that problem with the elleste Bert, but I would like to think I would stop with the withdrawal bleed before too long, presumably by changing the tablets. At nearly 58, I feel like I'm too old for it.

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Shelleyamanda · 22/01/2019 16:14

Just found this thread when googling Elleste Duet 1mg. Ive just started taking it. On day 8. Feeling more anxious than I was before tbh! And also really stressing about when I will get a bleed. The leaflet is so unclear. It says any time from day 21 to say 5 if the next pack! Or maybe no bleed at all! The green pills have norethisterone in them which delays periods. So I am thinking that I won’t get a withdrawal bleedv(if I’m going to get one) until I finish the green pills and start the next pack of white ones. Would welcome feedback from anyone taking these? When do you get your bleed?

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 23/01/2019 18:54

I start a couple of days into the new pack. Its worth persevering with them a bit longer maybe. I took about a month of pills before I started to feel better IIRC.

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PeridotCricket · 23/01/2019 19:01

I switched from elleste to femeston as my main thing was anxiety and it was making it worse. And the rage. Better on femeston. So maybe horses for courses.

Original poster
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 23/01/2019 19:04

That's interesting Peridot.

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Shelleyamanda · 23/01/2019 20:14

Thanks SpongeBobJudgeyPants. I’m actually feeling a bit better today. Not so anxious. Got to say the main thing I’m stressing about is when I will have a bleed as we’re going away for a few days! Haven’t been away for 18 months and I don’t want it ruined if I’m not feeling well. I will be 5 days into the green pills while we’re away. It seems everyone who is on Elleste bleeds once they start the next pack. In hindsight I probably should have waited to start the course until I got back but that was a month away and I wanted to start feeling better! I’m also worrying about weight gain. Did you gain weight when you started taking it?