Utorgestan - I keep forgetting about the empty stomach or forget completely is this bad?

[FusionChefGeoff]

I've been taking this for 4 months now but struggling to get into the night routine for various reasons / excuses.

If I forget one evening, should I take it the morning after?? Or just skip that dose?

I keep forgetting about the empty stomach thing, eg I have some chocolate after dinner about 9 / 9.30 but then take the tablet say 30 mins after the food. Does that matter??

I've got no discernible side effects as far as I can tell - is it really serious if I'm not taking this exactly as prescribed?

I take utrogestan - my GP told me to take them on an empty stomach because taking them with food can increase drowsiness due to increased absorption. I took them on a full stomach once and I literally faceplanted myself across the bed whilst trying to get in it because I felt so woozy. Thankfully my DH managed to turn me over and rotate me so that my head was on my pillow!

My GP's advice to me was to make sure I have at least 12 hours between doses if I ever forget to take them when I should.

I'm afraid I NEVER manage to take it on an empty stomach. I take it at bedtime. No food two hours before bed?! Never going to happen 🤣😬

I take it at bedtime. Menopause specialist never mentioned the empty stomach, and she mentioned a vast quantity of other stuff, so am assuming it isn't important.

Or you could take it vaginally in which case the empty stomach is irrelevant.

Reading on here it seems to depend how drowsy it makes you and if that’s a problem. I take it a night, have prob stopped eating about 8 and am in bed by 10. Can’t say it makes me super drowsy but I do go off to sleep reliably and sleep through more since being on it.
I wouldn’t worry about it if you’re not experiencing any bad side effects. If it’s absorbed more with food then surely that’s good for its primary purpose (protecting your uterus) and only a problem if you get secondary effects?

Taking it with food 'increases the bio-availability' (This might be on the leaflet.)

Meaning you get more absorption, which can be a good thing, but its side effects can be stronger.

It's your choice, really, It will work better with food but you might feel a bit more hung over the next day.

If you're struggling to remember, put the packet on your bedside table and set your alarm on your phone maybe?

Who ever said wait two hours after food obviously doesn’t have a commute! By the time I’ve got in from work and eaten it’s gone 8. I need to be asleep by 10.00 to be up again at 5!

I find it completely zonks me out that night but I feel ok during the day.

I don't take it any more, but I used to leave the packet on my pillow each morning so I'd see it when I went to bed.

I also had a recurring reminder in my calendar for the full 12 days.

Have never been told about the empty stomach but tit does make me a bit drowsy so I always take it at bedtime anyway when it's probably a good few hours after a big meal. I have recurring reminders on my phone with alarms set twice a day otherwise I'd never remember to take it. I also have reminders on everything my prescription (online) so I don't run out.

I like it it helps me sleep, didn't realise that about the food, I never take it on an empty stomach either.

The label on my packet just states take at bedtime, it doesn't mention taking it on an empty stomach and the nurse only said to take it then as well. I've taken it shortly after eating something and just felt a bit groggy the next morning, but I do try and leave 2 hours. And that's only from reading things in forums like this.

The info about taking without food on an empty stomach is on the leaflet in the box.

Having said that, taking it with food enhances the beneficial effects but you may find it increases drowsiness.