Help! Heart palpitations with oestrogen gel!

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

I'm 48. I got a Mirena coil last year and feel a lot better, but I have a lot of perimenopause symptoms (anxiety, brain fog) that I thought might be helped with HRT.

My lovely GP agreed and gave me the Oestrogen gel, and told me to follow the instructions on the packet and come back in 3 months.

The instructions don't say how much to use but the leaflet says the usual dose is 2 pumps a day. I've done that since Saturday, but I've noticed I've had mad fluttery/thumpy palpitations! Like a kind of rolling thump in the top of my chest.

I should just stop using it, right? I know I need to go back to the GP but appointments are INSANELY hard to get, especially with him.

Should I just stop? Try a lower dose?

My symptoms aren't bad enough to risk a heart attack 😆 but I don't want to lose the chance to find out if I could be feeling amazing on HRT.

Anyone else had this? Any advice? Thanks

It's weird because I thought palpitations were a symptom of low oestrogen.

^^As above.

It is not likely to be serious. I've used gel for 12 years. I never had palpitations with it. I started on 1 pump for a couple of weeks and worked upwards to 2. Try that?

Palpitations are not serious unless they are part of an underlying serious heart issue which you would have noticed before.

I'd reduce to 1 and see if it helps, possibly build up as JingleHellsBells suggests. Palpitations (and some of the other symptoms) can occur both with too high or too low estrogen, and a few other things. Keep track of it and mention it when you see your GP next, but it is unlikely to be serious unless there are other issues involved.

I love the suggestion to build up the dose. Maybe going in all pumps blazing was a mistake.

But the leaflet specifically says to stop using it IMMEDIATELY if you feel a "racing" or "pounding" heartbeat so I'm really scared! 😆

I haven't used it today and I still feel fluttery. They seem worse when I'm lying down doing nothing; I don't know if that's just because I'm thinking about them more than?

My GP once told me to never read the side-effects part of medical leaflets as they're only there to prevent lawsuits, lol. I don't know what to do.

Maybe try ringing the pharmacist if you can't get in touch with your GP? I hope you get sorted, it can be an awful time!

Speak to a pharmacist rather than your GP, they're the experts on medication and its side effects. It may well just be a side effect, but we know nothing of your health history. Better to be safe than sorry.

And don't ignore the side effects on the leaflet. That's awful advice! They're all side effects that have been reported, and the leaflet will detail how common they are. It will also say which require immediate medical attention. For some meds I took, the PIL stated to seek assistance if I developed a rash, I did and was told to immediately stop the medication. If I'd ignored it I'd have missed a sign of toxic hepatitis, which untreated would have resulted in serious liver damage.

If the leaflet says stop using it immediately then I would do that and book a GP appt to discuss ASAP.

Any GP who says don't read the leaflet should be fucking struck off in my opinion. So irresponsible. I appreciate that some patients will worry unnecessarily (something doctors seem to be excessively focussed on) but I have picked up dangerous medication interactions before that my GP missed. As a fully functioning adult I don't feel the need to be babied by my doctor thank you.

It's your health and your body. You need to take responsibility for making sure you are well informed. Don't be told otherwise by anyone.

Thanks! To be clear, my GP only suggested that I stop reading the leaflets after I'd been extremely anxious about the likelihood of rare side effects, with a different medication, last year when I was suffering awful anxiety.

I won't use the gel again until I've seen him. It might be psychosomatic as I read about the chance of heart attacks going up with HRT. I honestly think I can summon up any symptom at Will these days.

But I'll lay off the gel and book an appointment. Thank you!

It's very unlikely that a pharmacist can help. I know they are experts (I have one as a close friend) but they are likely to say stop the meds and see your GP.

I don't know where you read about HRT causing heart attacks- that's not correct. Heart health in women using HRT is better in fact, according to latest research. If you are looking at the WHI /US figures from 20 years ago, they have been disproved and are no longer useful.

The leaflets and side effects have to cover ALL side effects even inf 1: 1billion. Your GP is right that they can scare people. If you read about the side effects of most over the counter drugs you'd not use a paracetamol.

The risks that are high risks are on the leaflet. These apply to ALL types of HRT not simply the one you have. They are written as a generic guide for pills, patches, gel, etc.

If you are anxious about using HRT then that to me is the answer to this. Your GP is unlikely to help other than maybe do an ECG and send you off for more tests.

@HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo

But the leaflet specifically says to stop using it IMMEDIATELY if you feel a "racing" or "pounding" heartbeat so I'm really scared

Where on the leaflet does it say this?

I've just checked the leaflet in mine. It doesn't say that anywhere. It does mention severe chest pain but that is very different from a racing or pounding heartbeat(which is not mentioned at all.)

Can you say where on the leaflet and under which sub heading you can see it? Also, what is the product- is it Oestrogel or Oestrodose?

@JinglingHellsBells

Can you say where on the leaflet and under which sub heading you can see it?

You're right! It's not on the leaflet. I've just reread mine and you're right. It must have been online when I googled it this morning. 🙈 I read quite a few websites...

Let me see if I can find the link.

@JinglingHellsBells

It was from my google searches this morning! I found it. The website is here: chealth.canoe.com/drug/getdrug/estrogel

And the bit I quoted is in the photo here:

I also found (just now, re-Reading something I'd skimmed earlier) a link to a document that says palpitations are a side effect of (O)Estrogel. I guess this is reassuring..?

Website link: pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00012389.PDF

Mention of palpitations:

Oh wait! Lol. I'm not even taking Oestrogel 😆-- mine is called Oestrodose 😆

This is why my GP tells me not to read things; because I worry a lot and I'm not that bright.

Palpitations are apparently "common", with occurrences in 1-10% of users:

www.drugs.com/sfx/oestrodose-side-effects.html

See, that suggests to me it's not as scary as I thought? But I dunno.

I think I'll leave it till I can get to see my GP.

Thanks for everyone's comments!

@HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo

That link is not an official document that is with the product- it's just a website. It's meaningless. You should read the information leaflet in the carton.

The actual leaflet is online and it's written by Besins the manufacturers.

here it is www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.353.pdf

Palpitations are not mentioned anywhere.

Also, for your reassurance, palps have no connection with a heart attack in terms of pain.

Erratic heart beats in people who are normally 'well' and flutterings are chiefly caused by anxiety.

@JinglingHellsBells

Thanks for posting that link. 😊

I'm sure the palpitations aren't necessarily a harbinger of a heart attack 😧 but they feel horrible. I've had palpitations before (last year when I was anaemic and oerimenopausal) but these weren't like those. The palps I felt with the HRT were stronger and more continuous, like a weird flutter/thump that lasted about 3 seconds. NOT fun!

Plus I felt really bloated and tired and grumpy.

How long do the symptoms last while you're adjusting to the oestrogen?

Plus I felt really bloated and tired and grumpy. How long do the symptoms last while you're adjusting to the oestrogen?

I didn't have any symptoms, it just got rid of all the symptoms of meno I had!

Maybe it's not the gel at all, but a coincidence that these things are going on at the same time.

Why not miss a day or two and start again with half a pump, for a week, then one pump and see how that feels?

Why not miss a day or two and start again with half a pump, for a week, then one pump and see how that feels?

I like this plan. Thank you!

I'm also reassured by two things I've just read (I'm still googling!) that said palpitations are often felt in the first few months of starting HRT, before your hormone levels settle down.

I get those
I’m on low dose tablets ... I tbink it’s normal but get checked if you’re concerned ...I felt a bit giddy the other day and was in town near my docs surgery so I walked in and asked if I could be checked ..all was fine and I’m relieved I asked now ...👍

I didn't have any gel yesterday. This morning I've tried 1/2 pump on my arm and, fingers crossed -- no palpitations!

I am feeling overwhelmed, and a bit like I've got PMT (clumsiness, etc) but that has to be psychosomatic as I've applied a homeopathic amount 😆

Thanks for your help, Jingle

@cavalier Sorry you get this too! I know that you mean about the giddiness. Sort of like vertigo? I've had that. Not with this gel, but last year when I was really run-down.

Glad you got the all clear! How long have you been taking your pills? I read the palps can last a couple of months ☹️ but then your body adjusts.

It sounds like you are getting PVCs. Premature ventricular contractions, kind of like an extra beat but feels like a big lump and then a gap. They are benign and just happen in some people. I have had them for decades and my cardiologist continues to say to just ignore them. Palpitations are when you heart starts racing very fast (sinus tachycardia) and is only a problem if you have it very often or for longer than 20 mins or so. Palpitations are very commonly caused by anxiety.
One thing you can do to calm it all down is take a full dose of magnesium every evening. Not in a multivitamin as they usually have very small doses, take a stand alone full recommended daily amount pill. Magnesium helps to regulate nerve impulses in the body, heart rhythm being one of the most obvious places where that happens. Most people are deficient in magnesium and dont even know it