Utrogestan and sleep

[Alicelily]

Hi, so I've been using estrogel for 2 weeks and last night was my first night of using the utrogestan. I am an anxious person anyway and I have been dreading starting these tablets after seeing so many horror stories about them. I worked myself up so much that I was already on the verge of a panic attack when I went up to bed. My plan was to wait until I felt drowsy before taking them. Because I was in such a state I couldn't get to sleep. Eventually when I did start feeling sleepy I took the 2 tablets. I didn't have any weird side effects as in being dizzy, stomach pain, headache, weird dreams or anxiety through the night but I didn't sleep great. I felt like I was tired but my brain was wide awake. Have any of you felt like this or do you think it was due to me being anxious in the first place? If you did feel like this how long did it take to settle down? Any help is appreciated 🙏

I imagine it was your anxiety since it was only your first night. I’ve been using Utrogestan since January and sleep very well but started off feeling a bit dizzy - and that disappeared after a few days.

I find that progesterone helps me to sleep better and I feel generally more relaxed and grounded on it.
Too much estrogen for me makes me feel anxious.

I have been taking these for about six months. I didn't read any horror stories before I started taking them, and have had no issues whatsoever. It sounds as if your real problem was anxiety about them.

God, I love my Utrogestan days. My sleep is so much better (just got a notification saying "well done for 8 day run of fantastic sleep" from my Garmin account😀).

My body hates the synthetic stuff (pill/mirena etc) so was expecting it to be dodgy with the Utrogestan but not happened. So I understand why you felt anxious. Progesterone is actually something that can aid sleep/anxiety so try and keep an open mind and give it some time.

Utrogestan doesn’t effect my sleep in anyway sadly. I dread taking it because it makes me bloated, spotty and grumpy. But then it always has.

Thank you for all your replies. I was guessing it was to my own anxiety. I can wind myself up over anything. On the first day of using my estrogel (2 pumps) I had anxiety at night but I'd got really stressed at work that day but assumed it must have been down to the gel. I spoke to my DR who said she thought it was my own anxiety but to drop it down to 1 pump for this round and try 2 again next time. I've been fine since. I had a bit of a woolly head and nausea for a few days but feel OK now. Will keep going with the utrogestan and see how I get on tonight. I read all of the bad experiences so was expecting something to happen I think. Apart from not having a great sleep I feel fine. I used to take the pill and had no problems with that so hopefully will be ok with these. Think i'll stop googling 😂

@Alicelily don’t Google! Every woman will react in their own ways because they are so individual. I had a very bad experience with the mirena coil but other women have had no issues.
anxiety keeps me awake at night often so you have my sympathies.

Absolutely don't Google. Everyone is different, and things affect everyone differently. I could never tolerate the Pill, but haven't had a single second's bother with HRT gel/tablets.

This is making me feel slightly more positive about it. I've had a couple of brief anxiety waves through the day but nothing like yesterday and I'm not worrying about taking my pills tonight (yet) so will see if it makes a difference tonight. I've only just thought of looking on here and using it. My Mum died a few years ago and would have normally have spoken to her about these things so felt a bit lost. Husband has been good but not the same as talking to other woman in the same situation. Thank you all 😆

Alice that could have been me writing your post. I suffer from anxiety and depression and have spent the best part of a year now trying to get better. I don't want to hijack your thread but I am mentally girding* *my loins ready to start hrt for the second time. My first attempt was last October, when my mental health crisis first kicked off. I saw a private menopause doctor who suggested I do 2 months of estradot patches before starting the utrogestan, but I got so completely freaked out a couple of days before starting the utrogestan part that I just stopped the whole thing. Instead I have spent many months taking various antidepressants and anti anxiety medications none of which have completely got me back to 'me' reliably. One thing that was suggested by the menopause specialist I saw was taking the utrogestan vaginally as it can lessen side effects, and for me that was my biggest worry, that it makes me more anxious or depressed. It still is to be honest! Might that be something you could try? I am also guilty of endless googling. It's so hard not to isn't it? Anxiety is a bastard for needing constant reassurance. Good luck with your pill tonight. Do you ever use any relaxation apps like headspace or have any strategies to help you when it's time to take the pills?

It's awful isn't it? I never used to be anxious about anything but a few years ago I lost my mum and was put on anti depressants. All was fine until they upped my dose and I had a reaction to it. I wouldn't sleep in my bedroom for a few months after because I thought it would happen again. I used to stay up all night and only sleep when it got light. I had to carry on taking the meds and cut down slowly because of the half life. It was really frightening. I struggle with taking medication now because i worry about the side effects. I then lost my Dad the following year so Ive been a bit of a mess. I use headspace app usually but not last night. Yet again I was worried about it relaxing me too much on top of the tablets making me dizzy 😂

Update on last night
Slightly anxious at bed time, went to sleep within about 10 mins of taking tablets and slept through until about 5 this morning. Was a little anxious when I woke up but managed to fall back to sleep for an hour. When I got up with my alarm I felt a little tired, a bit spaced out and a bit sick but that's passed now. Feeling more positive and hoping it continues like this.
Can I just ask? It says to take on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours after food) which I did. I usually have a Decaf coffee or a hot chocolate at bed time, is this classed as food? The first night I had a coffee without thinking so waited another hour before tablets but last night I went without but did miss my bedtime drink.

Anything in the stomach (particularly dairy) will affect the absorption. I think food in general can increase absorption, but dairy (or could be calcium) reduces it.

Thank you Panty mcpant face 😀 x

I get a great sleep on them
Its the nights I don’t take them I don’t sleep well 🤷🏻‍♀️

Tonight will be night 5 and apart from the first night (and my own anxiety) I've been fine on them. Ive been having good sleeps and my fitbit agrees 😁I am finding it hard not to have a warm drink at bedtime though.
I have noticed the last couple of days I have got a tiny bit anxious around teatime. I would usually feel anxious the week before I started my period so not sure if its that. If I've been OK with tablets up to now would I have got through the worst of any side effects or do they come on later on through the course?
I started on 2 pumps of estrogel but freaked out thinking it made my anxiety worse so under doctors advice I went down to one pump and have been fine. She said to try and up it to 2 after the utrogestan and see if I'm OK with it then. Do you think this breakthrough anxiety could be because I need more oestrogen? Maybe I should try another pump now 🤔