HRT or clonidine?

[Swisskit]

I've been on Novofem (replacement for Elleste Duet) for 3 months now and my hair is falling out big time. It's always been quite thin, and perimenopause was making it worse, but the HRT has really had a huge impact on the thinning.

I went to see the GP yesterday, and she suggested it's the progesterone part of the HRT that causes the hair loss, and has prescribed me clonidine instead.

I'm not keen to take this, however as the side effects of lowering blood pressure, extreme tiredness and dry mouth sound as bad as the hot flushes and sleeplessness that I want to avoid.

Does anyone have any advice about changing to a different type of HRT which maybe won't make my hair fall out? I'm sort of thinking if I have a different ratio of oestrogen to progesterone (current HRT is 1mg of each) then maybe things would improve.

Any advice on this or on the clonidine would be most appreciated.

I couldn't take HRT as it gave me appalling migraines. My GP put me on clonidine and it has made a huge difference. Not only has it got rid of the flushes and mood swings but has eliminated my migraines too. I've not experienced any of the side effects you listed.

BTW my migraines used to wipe me out for several days. Clonidine was originally developed as a migraine treatment.

If you want to persevere with hrt have you considered the mirena coil for the progesterone, I've found it really great with no side effects. I was always quite sensitive to the progesterone in oral contraceptives but have had no problems with the mirena as it obviously bypasses the liver and bloodstream and goes straight to where it's needed. If this doesn't appeal them maybe try micronised progesterone with a patch or gel or a combined patch as side effects tend to be less than taking it orally.

How about Oestrogel pump-pack 0.06 gel?
Is anyone on the gel? Does it help ?
My OB just recommended it to me .
His wife is on it too.
Better than patches.
He swears by it and says all his patients love it.

Thanks for all your replies. Will look into all of those before I see the GP again.