Micronised Progesterone & Palpitations

[Dobie54]

This is the first month I have been on Evorel 25 and cyclical Progesterone (200mg taken 12 days a month). I have been on Utogestran for 5 days now and they have been completely hellish. My sleep has improved and I'm weirdly calm, but my days have been filled with completely debilitating heart palpitations, which make me feel sick and a bit feint. I reported this to the doctor who had me in for an ECG which showed sinus tachycardia HR 108 but they have not scheduled a follow up until 3rd March even though I've followed this up again today. Have asked the doctor twice about taking the meds vaginally and he just says he isn't sure if it is licensed for this and needs to check. Seems impossible to speak to anyone now and I'm not sure if I am putting myself at risk taking them now, but obviously aware I need to do this for the protection of my womb.

Has anyone found this levelled out for them? I'm not having any mood related side effects and things had been going so well it feels frustrating to stop everything.

There are thousands of women using it vaginally although it's not licensed. But my consultant (gynaecologist) prefers that way. I've done it that way for years.

It's licensed in Europe for HRT, and is used vaginally in the UK for fertility treatment.

Its very unusual to get heart palps with it. That side effect is not listed on the patient leaflet or anywhere online.

Are you taking it on an empty stomach last thing at night?

Palpitations are very common in peri so it is just possible there is no connection.

Because you are using such a low dose of estrogen (I'm wondering why- the usual dose it 37 or 50mcg patch) it may be that you're not getting enough estrogen - you've only used it for 2 weeks as well- and the palpitations are part of peri and not connected at all to the progesterone.

You could try it vaginally but if that doesn't help it may be you need to increase your estrogen - has your GP explained why you have been given 25mcg? That is usually for much older women (over 60, starting out on HRT.)

Hi, no they haven't explained why and they seem generally not very knowledgeable about it so I'm wondering if I need to pay privately to see someone? The palpitations were not part of my symptoms before, I had rage, 50 day cycles, skin issues, restless legs, lost libido and more. Palpitations started the day after I first took the progesterone and have continued daily afterwards. It is far too much of a coincidence imho. Seems like I need to speak to someone who is more knowledgeable than my GP.

Palpitations are listed on the instruction leaflet as a semi rare side effect.

Okay- I didn't check but I looked at it online on the NHS site.

Your GP could swap you to a different sort- Norethisterone. This is a tablet and I think the dose is 5mgs a day for the 12 days.

I took that for years but changed to Utrogestan as I preferred body identical.

Thank you, I'll investigate if I can ever get hold of them! In the meantime I assume I need to just push on with what I have to safeguard the womb.

You could try using it vaginally.