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Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?

by Ashley
(Middleboro, MA, USA)

Hi I just started taking natural progesterone cause mine was low and I started taking about 100mg a day and I felt good during the day no weird symptoms and I took it for 3 days. Every night I took it I experienced insomnia and it got worse every night and on the 3 night I also experienced anxiety and jitteriness which it’s the next morning and I still have the jitteriness feeling.

I read through a bunch of forums on progesterone causing insomnia and anxiety and I’m just wonder if it just doesn’t work for some or maybe I need to take like a crap ton more? Maybe I should wait a while before I try again if I should cause it feels like if it makes my jitteriness more worse I’ll just explode with anxiety.

Oh and I have had my vitamin D levels checked and they are good I take 50,000iu a week.

Comments for Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?

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Mar 08, 2021
 Adjust the dose if side effects
by: bill

each person reacts differently to different amounts depending upon what your particular hormone balance is, as well as individual biochemical differences.

You will need to experiment starting with either a significantly higher dose or a much lower dose with a rest between each try and see at what dose you get the least side effects with.

It is worth the effort to find the dose that works best for you. Take a few days rest and try again.
Also are you taking a pill or are you applying a cream? A cream will absorb better and give you less issues than a pill or capsule.
Mar 09, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Joy

Hi Ashley

I am pleased that you have started to use progesterone. A good quality progesterone cream such as Natpro will certainly help you if used correctly. Progesterone must be used no less than twice a day. Use half in the morning and the other half at night. Usually between 100-200mg is needed, more if symptoms are severe. When first using progesterone is does disrupt things, it can make adverse symptoms worse which is what happened to you. Three days is not nearly enough time for things to improve, it can take 2-6 months to feel it's benefit, longer if symptoms are severe. Progesterone therapy takes time and patience, it can get scary at times so I do understand. Please read the How to use Progesterone Cream page. Also take note of any Estrogen Dominance symptoms that you may experience.

The Anxiety page may also help you. I don't agree with the once a week D3 supplement, I prefer 5000iu's per day.
Mar 09, 2021
 Adjust the dose if side effects
by: Ashley

Thank u so much for responding ya I was using a cream I was thinking about doing that I’ll wait a little bit and then I’ll try maybe 400 and see if that works:)
Mar 09, 2021
 Adjusting the dose
by: Ashley

And can I just ask how reducing the dose would be helpful?
Mar 10, 2021
 Adjusting the dose
by: Joy

HI Ashely

I am assuming that you are referring to Bill's post but I will add my bit.

I see no reason why you should wait before trying again. Using 400mg is good especially seeing that you are battling with anxiety. You can always reduce down to a level that suits you but never less than 100mg per day. You will have to experiment to see what suits you and your adverse symptoms. Use half the amount in the morning and the other half at night. All this is explained on the website and forums. Remember that it takes time.

One would only reduce the amount of cream used once all your adverse symptoms have cleared and you feel stable, not before.
Mar 10, 2021
 Adjusting the dose
by: Ashley

Okay thank you a lot for that clarification makes me feel so much better and ok I will try the 400 I am just afraid if for whatever reason it would make my anxiety and insomnia get even worse but i'll just have to try it out and hopefully it doesn’t give me those really adverse symptoms.
Apr 11, 2021
 Re: Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Anonymous

Ashley how have things been since last month? Has the anxiety and palpitations got better with higher progesterone? Xx
Apr 18, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Ashley

Oh wow I didn’t even see this comment. Thanks for asking I’m not really sure yet even though I only took 100 for 3 days I still had some really good improvements.

I was a little nervous to try again so soon so I decided to wait til the next month. I took 400 for 2 days cause that’s all I had enough for on March 26&27 and the 1 night I didn’t wake up and the 2 night I did but it wasn’t as long.

I did get my period as expected on 31 but I actually got my period again on April 13 and I never took anymore progesterone? Im trying to figure out why that would happen but next time I think I’m gonna try 600 and see what happens.
Apr 23, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Joy

Hi Ashley

If I may interject here. I see no reason why you should increase to 600mg. Stick with 400mg and give it time to work. You only used 400mg for such a short time. Your body needs to adjust. Once it does, then your monthly cycle will return to normal. Your body will go through all sorts of changes and strange things while it adjusts. If after 2 weeks or so, 400mg doesn't help, then increase. Why use more when it is not necessary.

Please don't forget to take nutrients mentioned on the anxiety page, especially Vitamin D3 and the co-factors mentioned. This is so very important.

Best of luck.
Apr 23, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Ashley

Thank you please interject ALL you want I can always use the help. And that makes a lot of sense I will try that sticking to 400 for two weeks and see what happens.
Apr 26, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Joy

Hi Ashley

Please let us know how you get on. Feedback is always useful to others who are trying progesterone therapy. As long as it's used correctly, you can't go wrong.

Take care.
May 09, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Ashley

Hi I just wanted to let you know your advice worked!! I stuck to taking 400 and this month that I took it I experienced no insomnia or anxiety, I actually slept even better! My doctor says to take it on day 14-28 of my cycle every month and so while I was still experimenting I took it starting on day 21 so I took it for about a week but still a huge accomplishment.
Good to know it does work for me all thanks to you and this website.
May 10, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Joy

Hi Ashley

Oh how wonderful. Thank you for your kind words and trusting in me enough to use progesterone correctly.  Your doctor is correct.  If you are on a 28 day cycle then you would start to use on day 14 as explained on the How to use Progesterone Cream page.  It pleases me to read that there are doctors out there who know how to use progesterone correctly.  Seems your doctor is a keeper!

We do find that most women benefit more by using progesterone every day especially if they are battling with adverse symptoms like your anxiety for example, but if you are finding that using it during your luteal phase is working for you then that is great. What works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another. That's why you will notice that I always suggest that people should experiment. It's only if one is TTC that it must be used by following the cycle.

Just something to make a note of.  Stress destroys progesterone levels.  If you find that you are dealing with a lot of stress, then simply increase the amount of progesterone used until you get over a stressful period.  It's as simple as that.

Keep going.
May 11, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Ashley

Thank you I will keep that in mind. I do have one question, you know how a lot of people say progesterone can build up in your system and it causes crazy symptoms? I remember reading on here that it can’t do that so what would you say is actually happening when people experience this?
May 13, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Joy

Hi Ashley

The only 'crazy symptoms' are those who are misinformed.  Our body makes progesterone all the time, male and female.  Please read Progesterone Misconceptions.

To answer your question.  People who are experiencing 'crazy symptoms' as you put it, are those who are not using progesterone correctly.  They are either not using enough, you have proved this yourself.  They could also be using estrogen and testosterone which defeats the whole purpose of progesterone and their Vitamin D3 level is way too low.  
May 18, 2021
 Insomnia and anxiety am I not taking enough?
by: Ashley

Thank you I’ve just heard a few stories of people taking progesterone and it working for about 6 months and then they start getting adverse symptoms and when they stop taking progesterone the adverse symptoms stay for even a few months after. But maybe it’s from not taking enough for too long?

I trust this website though it’s just nice to have a little reassurance just so I don’t make any mistakes but I’ve been doing everything as this says and it’s been working great:)
Jul 16, 2021
 Irregular periods
by: Ashley

Hi I just have a quick question. I’ve been taking progesterone every 2 weeks before my cycle and I got my last period on 4th of July and not supposed to start progesterone again until 17th of July. But I just got my period today the 16th so do I count today as day 1 and wait until day 14 to start it or should I just start it tomorrow? Also can taking progesterone while on your period help cramps?
Jul 18, 2021
 Irregular Periods
by: Joy

​Hi Ashley

I do recall stating that it is best to use progesterone every day until your body adjusts to progesterone and your periods become regular again, then and only then can you use progesterone by following your cycle​ which would be your luteal phase. There is a fundamental error in advising women to start using progesterone on day 14. This is only appropriate for women with a 28 day cycle​ as already mentioned. All this has been explained on the How to use Progesterone Cream page. I have found and I agree totally, that unless one wants to conceive it really is best to use progesterone every day. That is a woman's​​ choice however, but I endorse it. If in Peri-Menopause (PM), the cream really should be used everyday anyway. You don't state your age unless I have missed it. Please read the PM page.​​

Progesterone is an excellent aniti-inflmatory. Rub the cream on any painful area. You could also be suffering a little with Endometriosis, again, please read that page.
Sep 19, 2021
 Progesterone
by: Ashley

Hi I am just wondering if you have to increase the dose of progesterone with more physical activity? Since taking it I have felt so much better and way more energy and have been doing a lot more and for awhile it was great but slowly I am not back to where I started but I don’t feel as well at all and just feel mediocre but I never stopped taking it I take it day 14-28 of my cycle just wondering if I can get a better opinion.
Sep 20, 2021
 Progesterone
by: Justine

Hello Ashley,

You would not need to increase your progesterone dose with increased physical activity. As Joy stated further up on this thread, stress can be a cause for progesterone levels dropping so if you are currently experiencing anything particularly stressful then this could be the reason. I guess for some increased physical activity could be stressful!

Also, with women, changes in our hormones happen with age transitions, how old are you currently?

How much progesterone are you currently using? and what percentage of progesterone is in the cream you are using?
Sep 20, 2021
 Progesterone
by: Ashley

Thanks for responding that sounds right I am 20 and I am taking 400mg and the concentration is 10% so I get 100mg per pump. I’m also wondering can someone take too much progesterone and get symptoms from having levels that are too high?
Sep 21, 2021
 Progesterone
by: Justine

Hello Ashley,

Have you checked with the supplier of your cream that one pump delivers 100mg progesterone?
On this website we advise according to a 3.33% cream, so one of our pumps delivers 50mg of progesterone. You will need to clarify with your cream supplier the exact dose you are receiving with each pump of a 10% cream.

High dose progesterone has been used successfully when it has been required, for example with traumatic brain injuries and severe psychosis brought on by post-natal depression, see these pages: TBI, FAQ conception and Progesterone and conception

I see no reason for taking a high dose if it is not needed but as has been said before, only you can tell what works for your body, some people need more to feel balanced, some less.
Sep 21, 2021
 Progesterone
by: Ashley

Hi yes I am sure the cream I take is 100mg per pump and I have tried 20, 100, 200,300mg and they all gave me adverse effects the lower I dose the worse the adverse symptoms. 400 is dose that give me no adverse symptoms. But I am just curious do you know if progesterone levels can be too high? Like is it possible over time to take too much and can it cause negative symptoms?
Sep 22, 2021
 Progesterone
by: Justine

Hello Ashley,

Ok good, and I am glad you have found the dose that works best for you.
In answer to your other question, no, it is very difficult to overdose on progesterone.
Dec 20, 2021
 Prometrium?
by: Ashley

Hi I am just wondering while taking progesterone cream is it okay to be prescribed a progesterone pill like prometrium or some other brand and crush it and mix it in with the progesterone cream? And if yes do you know what the best brand is for a doctor prescribed progesterone pill?

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