Oestrogel - bad side effects

[grace11]

I’ve been prescribed oestrogel for peri menopause symptoms- mainly insomnia and anxiety. I’m very sensitive to new medication so have been putting off trying it for ages. I decided to bite the bullet for this cycle (I’m to use it day 15 up to my period) and tried it today and I’ve had horrible side effects with just one pump!! Nausea, dizziness, thirst, clenching my jaw, facial flushing. I’m waiting to hear back from the doctor but my instinct is to stop and start at a lower dose if I can get it for the next cycle. Has anyone else experienced a bad reaction like this?

Are you extremely anxious or just slightly? It sounds like verging on a panic attack type response.

I would try again Thursday. One pump in the morning then just go about your day as normal, try not to over think it. Deep breaths and whatever calming strategies you usually use. If it does happen perhaps patches may be better as a slower release?

As with most medicine you need to try it for a good 6 weeks to get used to it and see the benefits. Your symptoms do seem pretty extreme for oestrogen though, could some if it be anxiety? If you are looking for problems/symptoms you tend to find them.

The only side effects I've had is water retention and increase in breast size. I've reduced the dose from 6 pumps daily to 4 because of this.
I hope the doctor is able to help.

Thanks everyone. I know it does sound like anxiety but I have anxiety a lot and this feels different. I put it on (incorrectly actually as I rubbed it into each inner thigh and I realise now you just smooth it over one for one pump) and did some exercise and worked. Then after a few hours the side effects set in for the whole day - my jaw aches still! They’ve faded a lot now but I’m still feeling a kind of hangover from them. I do have strong reactions to a lot of medication- I can only take one antibiotic and even that gives me colitis. Trying the patches could be a good option too - although I imagine the strength is more than 1 pump a day. I do think it’s prob about the dose and release. I’ll see how I feel in the morning. Good to know it’s generally well tolerated tho. Thank you

@Grace11 i also have these side effects with oestrogel /oestrodose. My anxiety came back after 4 months of using it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I decided to bite the bullet for this cycle (I’m to use it day 15 up to my period)

Confused here ...

you use estrogen every day. (and progesterone for 12 days a month if you are also using Utrogestan.)

You didn't apply it incorrectly.
I use 1 pump in the morning and spread it over 2 inner thighs, and then the same again at the end of the day.

You can just apply to one arm or upper arm, but honestly, it makes no difference either way. Applying it to both thighs or arms means it dries much faster.

It's also worth knowing that although it is a prescription drug, it's body-identical, and the estrogen is exactly the same as your own. You are not using a 'drug' like The Pill, for example. So all the gel is doing is topping up your own level of estrogen and even then it's far lower than you have naturally before our hormones decline.

@grace11 may be its estrogen dominance? You may only need one pump a day? Thing is we dont all have blood work done to check if our levels are right before even starting hrt. Cant make out whats going on with me because im post meno 🙄

@grace11 ignore me. Just saw that you only used one pump. Meno brain 🥴

@JinglingSpringbells I was instructed to use it day 15 up until my period by a hormone consultant. This can be the entry point for HRT but can only be done if you are having regular periods. And I’m guessing you can only ever use the minimum dose this way. It’s mainly to address tricky PMT symptoms in the luteal phase of your cycle. Thank you for the info on how to use - glad to know I did it right at least! Any yes true about it not being a drug but it had a v strong effect on me. I decided not to use it today and to try and get sachets so I can start at a lower dose at my next 15 day window.

Well, that's very unusual @grace11 .

You did say it was for anxiety and insomnia, not PMT, so maybe your dr is looking at it in a very different way.

I am slightly concerned though because estrogen is not licensed to be prescribed without a progestin of some sort, even in women in early peri with periods. Basically, a dr is not allowed to prescribe it on its own if you have a womb.

Is this a private consultant?

@JinglingSpringbells no it’s not private - it’s an NHS menopause clinic. I’ve also had a private long covid/menopause consultant recommend the same thing. The anxiety and insomnia mainly come in the luteal phase and get worse towards my period. I totally trust the consultant - they are very well regarded in this space.

@grace11 i hope you find a solution to how you're feeling.
I speak from experience with same side effects, its not a great feeling. Please update any changes 😊

Thank you @SamR36. I’m really interested in giving HRT a go instead of trying anti anxiety medication (which I’ve been prescribed at least 5 times and not taken!). We’ll see tho - acupuncture is really helpful for anxiety btw in case you need to look at alternatives. I’ll update here x

i started oestrogen 2 days ago and accidentally misunderstood and took 4 pumps last movie, I have that horrid feeling of adrenaline and nausea like right before you throw up so totally share your pain.

i have just been berated tho for using it without a progesterone (hate the way they make me feel) so now waiting for a biopsy, if you can double check that you are on oestrogen only do as it may save you a biopsy.

I ask also Uber sensitive to medication too so share your pain, hope you’re on top of it soon

Thank you @grace11 . I strongly believe in acupuncture, im currently having it for trigeminal neuralgia which i also believe that menopause brought on with fluctuating hormornes whilst peri. I shall look into it for anxiety. X

The same happened to me after one application of one pump.
Plus period pains all the bloating etc.
I was very surprised that such a small amount could kick start it.

I was prepared to give it all a go even tho
I'm very sensitive to everything.
The utrogesten however you spell it floored me. Absolutely out of it.
I gave up. This was in lockdown and I had no guidance really.

I stopped it as couldn't even string a sentence together, I felt drunk. So weird and quite alarming.

I find the utrogestan the same, i use it vaginally for less side effects but still zonks me 🤷🏻‍♀️. Im at a stage where i dont know whether im better with or without it..

Everyone is different.

I started on half a pump as directed by my consultant.
It took one pump for me to feel any different.

Within days I was sleeping through the night again and felt human!

I was in my early 50s and almost post-meno though, so my own estrogen was probably very low.

@JinglingSpringbells if you don't mind answering, what's the advantage in using the oestrogel as you do with 1 pump in the morning and evening as opposed to 2 pumps in the morning?

Oh that's interesting.

You can just cut back on the gel, by not using a whole pump- just don't press the plunger right down.

Going back to my tolerance of it, I have had my ovaries and womb removed, so have v little oestrogen of my own, wondering if that makes a difference.

It's very difficult to tell isn't it. I probably didn't use any of it for long enough I was so put off.
I did my own research and did the utrogestan vaginally but I was so freaked out and Zombie like I gave up and didn't really know which was causing what.

I might have another go. Or see a GP and start over.

@Batcountry8 and @Matchingcollarandcuffs really sorry to hear it was a nightmare for you too. That feeling of adrenaline was def a big side effect - my jaw ached from clenching it. It had such a powerful effect which is a shock when you are told one pump is the lowest dose! I thought I’d take it and all my troubles would be over after watching Davila McCall’s documentary 😂Thanks @JinglingSpringbells I may try that with the pump but I was told it wasn’t accurate enough and you have to have sachets if you drop below one pump. Maybe these sachets are hard to get tho. The hospital haven’t been helpful so far - the secretary found it a bit of a joke that I’d only tried once but I’m not likely to go for it again with my crazy reaction - then I def would be anxious. Oh and @Batcountry8 I had that feeling of being out of it too - I was trying to talk to someone at work on the phone and just kept saying the wrong words… Maybe I should stick to acupuncture…

I had bad side effects from two pumps so reduced to 1.5 and the side effects went. You could try reducing to half a pump then slowly increase it you feel you need to.

I may try that with the pump but I was told it wasn’t accurate enough and you have to have sachets if you drop below one pump.

Yes, it's not that accurate but does that matter? Not really.

It's not that accurate using gel anyway. People's skin is different, how thinly you spread it varies, some will always be left on your hands, no matter what.

The variation between half a pump and 'almost half a pump' is so miniscule, it's not an issue.