How long does it take HRT to start working?

[higgle]

My GP prescribed me Kliofem on Monday, strted taking it yesterday ( Tuesday) my only menopausal problem is hot flushes and they are driving me mad - how long will it take for the effects of the HRT to kick in? desperate to see an improvement. Also does anyone have any good or bad experiences on this drug?

Hello all. I've just begun Mimvey estradiol and norethindrone acetate tablets 1 mg/0.5mg.

Have any of you had experience with these. Short story is I'm 48 and post menopausal. I am just OVER the syptoms, restless leg syndrome, headaches, exhaustion and insomnia to name a few. Went through meno real bad a few years ago. Had a run of zero to very little syptoms last year. They are back now. Not as bad as it was a few years ago.

Anyone with any knowledge? When will I be feeling better? Any loose ideas? Also I am in the US. Cali.

Thanks for the topic!!

Lots of great info, everyone! I'm excited to start HRT. I've had hot flashes every five minutes for some time and feel completely broken, tired, a real mess. Started on Minivelle (estradiol transdermanl system) lowest dose patches 0.0375 one week ago. Flashes now range 30 to 45 minutes apart (yes, I've got an Excel spreadsheet going). I'm hoping to see bigger changes in the next few weeks. My main concern is when to add the supplemental progesterone. My mom, 30 years ago, took Premarin w/o the progesterone and ended up with endometrial (sp?) cancer. I've held off on HRT because I was scared but realized w/o it, I'm plain old sick. Feels like the flu, all the time. Hot/cold, hot/cold. Fans in every room, carrying battery operated fans with me all the time. Dr. was happy I came in because she says car accidents are common with those suffering with this because of sleep deprivation. Looking for some great advice, as we travel this WONDERFUL (!) journey together. Thank you!

Hi everyone. Loved reading all your posts. Have a drs appointment today to hopefully get hrt. I'm 48 and have been having hot flushes for bout 3 years. I swore I would never use hrt after reading lol if the side effects but the last 6 months of my life have just been hell suffering from all symptoms. I'm at the point where I think my husband and kids just hate me and hate being around me. Just had the last 2 days off work and this moment can't even be bothered going tomorrow. I hate feeling like this as I've always been happy and a go getter. I hope that he gives me the script I need today and I can see results asap. Feeling so desperate.

I'm a 48 year old lady that obviously didn't know enough about the menopause went to the doctors 2 months ago told him I was having sweats night/day couldn't sleep for more than 2 hours and I could actually feel my moods changing but also told him I had a really stressful job and had given up smoking 6 months earlier and asked if there was a test to confirm the menopause he said no and I ended up walking out with a leaflet!!!
2 months later I feel near suicidal, and my mood swings are going to get me in trouble at work, not good emotions to have in a managerial position, as I have no idea if I'm going to be In tears, happy, or going to walk away from my life and everything in it.
After reading all these threads what I now know is that I'm not alone, there's more to the menopause than hot flushes and us ladies should talk about it more openly I was also one of those lady's that thought that when the time came I would do it the natural way ha ha I didn't know then what I know now so after being in floods of tears explaining all my feeling to a female doctor this morning she's prescribed a 3month HRT course (which one I don't know I was feeling so horrifically depressed I didn't read the prescription) I'm just hoping it's all it's made out to be and I have a quick response to the drug as I don't think I can go back in to work until my head is in a more stable place so I. Watching the clock now waiting to pick up the prescription

Share the advice is to give it 3 months and if it doesn't work, try another sort.
TBH patches and gel are better ( and safer) than pills- dunno why drs keep dishing out pills.

There are 3 different types of progestogens in the different types of pill- HRT ( the pills you'll take during the 2nd half of the cycle) and these are the ones that often cause side effects similar to PMT. If you don't get on with one sort then ask to try others.

You will find more info on this site under the HRT section, left hand side of menu.

www.menopausematters.co.uk

Thanks for that info pink
I feel better just talking about it I really didn't know there was that much about this period of our lives I think typically I though we went through the change had a choice to take HRT or not, boy there's so much more to it.
I picked up my prescription last night she's given me 3 months of 1/10 femoston couldn't wait to take the first pill I've decided to take a couple of days off work, my head is in a much better place today than it was yesterday than god.
I've just ordered some garcina carbogia as someone earlier in the thread mentioned that apart from helping with weight gain they can help with moods, I'm prepared to try anything and in all honesty the last thing I want to do is put on weight I've battled that all my life and more so since giving up the nicotine.
I had a problem free pregnancy yet my employer and the Nhs offered time off,free dental care etc etc
Now I'm experiencing the menopause I feel like there's not enough understanding especially from employers and more should be done or is this just my employer !!!

Just noticed this - obviously a long running thread which answers the question I posted about 6 weeks back!

I can now report that vaginal itching went within a week, it took about 2 weeks for the night flushes to go for my particular combination of my physiology plus HRT and by a month I was pretty much symptom free. Second month's cycle saw my libido back to normal (peaking about a week after my "period" ie round about the time I would ovulate were things happening naturally).

Just like to say thanks to pinkfrocks for being so encouraging on the thread I started.

Glad you have had good results!

Femoston is- I understand- one of the better pill forms as it is close to our own bodies hormones.

If you get on well with it then maybe think- long term- of changing to patches as they don't increase risks of blood clots.

Can I join in please.

Im 51 and started taking Prempak C about 6 weeks ago. It has helped my hot flushes as they have reduced but not disappeared. I still have no libido and can cry at the drop of a hat, or alternatively I could kill!

I have also developed really bad heartburn/reflux, and seem to have grown a middle. I really don't think they are working for me so Im back at the docs on Friday.

Can anyone recommend what I should be asking for. Ive read so much on the menopause, what you should take, what you shouldn't take and I cant see the wood for the trees.

Im normally a very happy optimistic type of person but lately Ive been so down, Ive started to feel like a different (and not very nice) person!

:(

You've got to allow 3 months for any HRT to work fully then think about changing. It might not be enough on its own- meno is a time when you have to really think about living and eating well- including plenty of exercise such as brisk daily walks for an hour.

I know it's boring but it really is the time to cut out sugar, crap food, booze and caffeine- maybe not completely but almost!

There is NO evidence that HRT causes weight gain but meno does- so our metabolisms change and we need to cut back- I eat a fraction of what I did in my 20-40s because of this.

Back to Prempak- this is an old form of HRT. it's still used but it's not the best. The oestrogen in it is from horses urine- so it's not the same as we'd have ourselves. if it's a continuous/ combined sort - no bleed- then you will also be taking a progestogen each day too- this can cause bloating and bad mood swings just like PMT.

Many women find they get on much better with a bio identical oestrogen ( same molecules as our own oestrogen) and a separate progestogen such as Utrogestan or Norethisterone- the first is bio identical meaning it's the same as we make ourselves and may have fewer side effects. Patches are also safer than pills.

If you use a separate progestogen then you can either take it for a few days each month and then you will have a period-like bleed, or you can take it every day and have no bleed. It's down to preference really- I prefer to have cycles and my dr is happy for me to have long cycles of between 6-10 weeks, but that is under supervision ( as it's private) to check the uterus lining doesn't overgrow with longer cycles.

Have a good read of the Menopause Matters website and go to the drs prepared to ask for what you want because many are not clued up on HRT and just reach for the cheapest and oldest products eg Prempak!

Thanks for that pinkfrocks
The doc may do that anyway as my Bp was high she said she was still prescribing the HRT as the high Bp could be due to the sate I was in (I was a mess)and have to go back in 2 weeks for another bp check to make sure. And it's good to hear it's the meno that adds weight and not the HRT as hopefully this will mean I'll be dealing with the same metabolism on HRT as I was last week with out it

Hi pinkbraces
I think pinkfrocks is right not that I'm any where near as clued up as pinkfrocks (but I plan to be) as I only got the HRT yesterday and started putting on weight a while ago, I put it down to quitting smoking (I'm sure this is also a factor) but I go to the gym now and it's back in control so it's good to know I wont have to go to the gym more often to counteract the HRT.
As for the heartburn/reflux I was experiencing this for a while then 2 months ago the dc put me on Lansoprazole the weight and the heartburn started way before I'd been diagnosed I'd been putting all my symptoms down to nicotine withdrawal as my periods have been erratic for years

Horses urine, you just said horses urine!

Well that has at least made me smile, in a strange sort of way.

Thanks for all the info. I will read your posts again and take a look at the website. I want to go to my doctor appt on Friday as knowledgeable as possible.

No doubt I will be back with more questions

I forgot to add, I am quite a fit and healthy person, go to the gym about 4 times a week, walk lots as we have a loony dog who loves her walks. I also have IBS which means I'm a healthy eater , apart from the wine

Hi I am 41 I think I started manapause about a year ago but slowly got worse I had itching all over hot flushes moods all over place basically I felt pregnant anyway just started take the 2nd lot of pills in packet I am worried about takeing them nearly all symptoms gone but doctor said being so young I have a 48% chance of breast cancer is this a fact ? Just so worry any advice would be greatful

Your dr said a 48% chance of cancer? They are mad- or you misheard.... because that would mean 1:2 risk(almost) which is a joke.

A woman's lifetime risk is 1:8.

Taking HRT at 41 does not increase your risk of breast cancer. The risks only start to kick in if taken for 5 years or more after the age of 50+.

And even then they are tiny risks- drinking alcohol regularly and being overweight are greater risks for cancer.

I m 4 months post total hysterectomy and have started taking Elleste solo 1mg for hot sweats , joint pain the normal menopausal issues , been taking tablets for about 5 days . Not sure if its my imagination but I seem quite bloated would love to know of other girls experience of this hormone and how quickly did it seem to make a difference . I just can't wait to feel normal again it feels like it will never happen

1mg is a very low dose if you have no ovaries- is that the case? Many women who are in peri or post menopause use 1-2 mgs.
I'd say it's unlikely that 5 days of oestrogen makes you feel bloated when it is such a small dose. Oestrogen itself doesn't usually cause bloating- it's something that tends to happen more with progestogens.

You might like to think about changing to a patch or gel. Pills are considered a bit 'old fashioned' now because topical HRT is much safer. In addition, a lot of oral HRT is lost during digestion so your 1mg might not be getting into your system much.

I have just been prescribed Elleste duo and started taking it this morning. I am a 51 year old who has not had a period for about 3 years and had the hot flushes and lack of sex drive for ages, also sex is very painful too. Can anyone share their first hand experience with Elleste Duo? How long before it works, how has it helped, not helped etc? This is my first evr post as a new mum to mumsnet, although my children are 18, 14 and 12!!!

I too have not had periods for 3years and just gone onto Elleste duo 2mg today. How has it helped and it it take very long to help

I don't think anyone else's experiences can help much- because everyone is different. I found relief in 4 days. You might need local HRT ( vaginal cream) to help with painful sex because systemic alone is not enough for over 20% of women.

You don't have to have a continuous type of HRT because this means you will be taking progestogens every day and some people find they make them feel more moody. You can still have HRT that follows a cycle and gives you a bleed each month, if you want, even though you have been period-free for 3 years.

I've been on a few different types of HRT for the past 5 yrs.
Elleste Duet Conti will be the last. I have been on it for 2 months.
No hot flashes, sore body subsided, less restless leg, I sleep like i'm drugged and started taking power naps in the day. No weight gain and I continue to exercise daily and eat regular healthy meals ( except for my sugar binges, lifetime bad habit)...anyway what would be my period this week is blissfully bloodless but the breast tenderness, cramping and moodiness are very present. Being 53 my female doctor allowed me to take this HRT even though I still had regular periods because I probably wouldn't have regular periods if I hadn't been taking HRT these past years.
So....Id like to know if anybody else is taking this and feels like they still have a cycle ....blood or no blood...cuz this black mood is horrible. Since this is the first month without blood Im hoping the following months will be without the other period symptoms. Other than a whole week of depression I do want to finish the 3 pack course ...its my last choice.

Needto- might be better for you to start a new thread title for your question because you've posted under' how long does HRT take to work' which doesn't seem to be what you want to know?

HRT doesn't maintain your periods / fertility. We have a finite number of eggs and when they are gone, they're gone. So without or with HRT your periods would have stopped at the same time. Bleeds on HRT are withdrawal bleeds - bit like bleeds when taking the Pill (sorry if you know this!)

I'm assuming you say you were 'allowed' conti HRT because you are 53, but the 'rules' are age 54 or without a period (natural one) for 12 months.

If you were having natural periods when you began HRT it would have re-set your cycle - sequential HRT- so it'd be hard to know if your own cycle was overriding the HRT which it can do in peri, or if you were having a regular monthly withdrawal bleed. Probably the latter .

If you are still getting PMS symptoms then that suggests you have cycles still from your own hormones as on conti HRT where you take 2 hormones every day, you ought not to have cyclic symptoms, at all.

You ought not to have any bleeding with conti HRT- that's the whole point, that it's bleed-free.

If you have been bleeding then it seems as if you are not ready for conti and ought to go back on sequential. It's quite normal to get some breakthrough bleeding on conti for a few months but this would only normally happen if it wasn't controlling your own hormones due to you still having enough oestrogen.

I'd say you are not ready for conti yet, but maybe carry on for 2 more cycles and see what happens.

oh one more thing- the moodiness etc may well be a result of taking progestogens daily - as you do with conti- and this is one reason why some women very post meno still prefer a sequential type because it reduces the amount of progestogen they take to a few days each month (or less with a long cycle type) rather than daily.

I have been taking Elleste duo 1mg,I was fine on the white tablets but since I have been on the green ones I'm a mess, I can't get myself together I'm moody,snappy and if I had my way I wouldn't get out of bed. Has anyone else experienced this?

very very common. YOu are now on the progestogen phase- so you may get the same side effects as you had when you had natural cycles- PMS.

The only thing you can do is change to a different brand of HRT to experiment with different progestogens. I think some women say that Femoston has a 'kinder' type of progestogen re. moods swings but it's different for everyone!