Utrogestan

[Choccymumma]

Hi all,
New to hrt, finding the estrogel ok, but the utrogestan was awful.
I took 200mg at bedtime and the next day at lunchtime I was so dizzy and felt faint. Weak to.
I've read that its hard to tolerate.
Has this happened to others too?

I haven't had anything like what you describe. It has helped MASSIVELY with my sleep, I had forgotten what a decent night's sleep was like but now back on track.

One day could be a coincidence, I wouldn't discard it yet. Good luck.

My first few days I had terrible dreams. Now I actually like it, I sleep better. Having periods is annoying though.

I had terrible headaches on utrogestan tablets. I swapped to patches and have no problems now

I started taking utrogestan vaginally instead as itaking it orally made me feel like I had PMT plus a 3-4 day headache each month. Much better now. Instead of taking 2 tablets per night you take 1 if you take it internally.

@SHM2407 The dose is still 200mgs whether you use it vaginally or orally. I don't have time to link again to the report, but the British Menopause Society published a report in January 2022 stating that micronised progesterone had to the same dose, whichever way.

The half dose, was, as far as I know, created as guidance by 1 private GP, who based it on one small research paper. It ought to have been updated as it's now incorrect and the BMS was worried about an increase in hyperplasia.

That guidance has been changed.

It sounds as if you didn't digest it fully overnight. How late in the evening did you take it?

1 take on an empty stomach ( at least 2 hrs after food.) Taking on a full stomach = more absorbed = more possible side effects.

2 take with a full glass of water so it is dissolved/ digested.

It's no harder to tolerate than any other type of progestogen used for HRT.
Many women love it, others don't, but it don't give up after 1 night.

I take utrogestan vaginally. I was prescribed 200mg vaginal tablets which come with applicators by a menopause specialist.

@JinglingXmasbells , if you get a chance please could you link me to the report? I haven't been able to find it on the BMS page and I'd like to show it to my GP (who told me about the reduced dose). Thank you.

My problem with it was the awful depression it gave me. Started within 48 hours of that part of the cycle, and ended 48 hours after stopping that part of the cycle. Happened for months and in the end I gave up on HRT as it was unbearable. Going to try to book with a Bupa menopause nurse at some point to try different levels etc and see if can get it to work.

@JinglingXmasbells , is this it? thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/14-BMS-TfC-Progestogens-and-endometrial-protection-01H.pdf

Yes!

This is the part

^HRT but can be used off-license to provide the progestogen component of HRT in women who experience progestogenic side-effects with oral intake. In addition, in women who do not tolerate oral progesterone intake, vaginal administration of oral micronised progesterone preparations (Utrogestan
100 mg capsules licences for oral use) can be considered on exceptional basis. This will be off-license of the products and there is no available evidence on the absorption kinetics of progesterone preparations intended for oral intake when administered vaginally. Such intake should follow the same doses recommended with oral intake.^

@JinglingXmasbells Thanks! 🙂

I started this on Wednesday at bedtime and had exactly what you described, it was very strange. Subsequent doses have not given me any symptoms and the sleep is amazing.

@Battlecat98
Gosh really?
But it only happened after the first dose?
It was scary for me.

I had a horrible reaction to it both orally and vaginally.
I lasted 3 days.
Perhaps had I continued with it vaginally it would have calmed down.

I was practically comatosed, felt dizzy etc. It was quite scary and disappointing.

But I always have strong reactions to drugs.

Unfortunately I stopped without really looking at alternatives as we were in lockdown and it was impossible to speak properly to a GP.

I'm relying on vagifem for dryness. It's ok but I do four a week.
The rest of the menopause symptoms I'm putting up with.

It put me off completely.

I can’t tolerate oral progesterone, I have the same reaction as you, OP. I have a Mirena instead.

I’m taking it vaginally. GP put on the box orally or vaginally (so the pharmacist didn’t get excitable) and I’ve been fine with it that way. GP said it would mean I skipped the potential side effects of taking it orally. They said if it was a faff the next option is the mirena coil. I’d previously had the mixed patches and when I went from the oestrogen only to mixed part of the box I had bad side effects. Been fine with vaginal Utrogestan though.

I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one! Have been feeling really sorry for myself thinking these things only happen to me!

Definitely not only you.

I went down the rabbit hole of reading everything about it all and confused myself even more.

Menopause matters is a great site but I had too much info in my head.

Yes I've found Menopause Matters really informative and supportive.
I've had horrible shaking episodes this weekend and don't know if its related to coming off hrt this week.

Hi,
Yes I did all that.

Hello everyone I'm new to this site but was desperate for ANY information about stopping utrogestan 100mg orally after 3 months I've put on alot of weight ( not taken alongside estrogen as bad side affects)

????

You are taking Utrogestan on its own?

Why? What was the rationale from your dr behind this?

There is some evidence that progestogen-only HRT might help where estrogen cannot be taken. Did you try different types of estrogen and was Utrogestan only helping your symptoms? If so you could try using it vaginally instead of orally. You might find the weight gain stops when used this way. See the link to the British Menopause Society shared above for further information. If not and you want to stop it would be best to discuss this with your GP and maybe look at any other options but you can usually just stop taking it.