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Progesterone Cream Withdrawal - Wean or Cold Turkey?

by Anonymous
(USA)

Hi Wray:

If one were to stop using natural progesterone cream, is it okay to stop cold turkey or do you recommend weaning? I had read online that if you stop cold turkey after using it for quite some time it can cause withdrawal symptoms similar to benzodiazepine withdrawal. Is that true? Approximately how long does the progesterone stay in your system after you stop it?

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Jul 01, 2012
 hormonal rush
by: muriel

I stopped cold turkey...no problems
Jul 02, 2012
 Progesterone Cream Withdrawal - Wean or Cold Turkey?
by: Wray


Hi there I would always recommend weaning slowly over a number of weeks. But it depends on how much you are currently using. If it's only the 20-40mg/day normally recommended it will take a week or two. This amount of progesterone does not raise levels to that found in the luteal phase. There's more info about this on our Progesterone Misconceptions page. If on the other hand you're using 100-200mg/day or more, it would be necessary to reduce over a number of weeks. Although the benzo drugs affect the GABA receptors, as does progesterone, withdrawal from progesterone is totally unlike that from the benzos. For one thing it's not addictive, there are none of the appalling symptoms experienced while trying to withdraw from the benzos. Secondly it is possible to withdraw from progesterone, whereas it's often impossible to withdraw from the benzos. If one does achieve this, impairment of cognition and psychomotor performance are lasting affects. In fact it's these after affects which cause 30 to 70% of people to relapse, see here. No relapse occurs after stopping progesterone, and no impairment is experienced. If using high amounts of progesterone ie 400mg/day and over, which is the amount we secrete each day in the third trimester of pregnancy, going cold turkey could produce PND symptoms. Something to be avoided! Progesterone is broken down very rapidly into many metabolites, some are listed on the misconceptions page. Progesterone will never leave the system, as we secrete it every day. The ovaries making the highest amount. But once these stop secreting it when in menopause, the adrenals, brian and glial cells in women and men, plus the testes in men, continue secreting it. Take care Wray
Jul 02, 2012
 One More Question...
by: Anonymous

Thanks for answering, Wray!

I guess what I am asking is...how long do I have to be off the progesterone cream before I take a saliva and/or serum test to get a baseline of where my progesterone levels are at without being on any form of it? Do I need to wait a few months after stopping the cream before I can test??? My doc prescribed a high dose cream but never tested my progesterone level first. I haven't been doing well on it and am wondering if it is very well possible I was already making enough progesterone to begin with and didn't need the excess the cream was giving me. I am trying to find some kind of balance by starting over from scratch so I wanted to know how long I should wait to test after stopping the cream (how long it takes for the progesterone from the cream to completely clear my system)...Thanks!
Jul 03, 2012
 One More Question...
by: Wray

Hi there Ah I see why you needed the reply. It depends on how much you were using, you don't say so it's difficult to answer you. There must have been a reason your doctor gave it to you, were you having adverse symptoms? If so you're probably experiencing Oestrogen Dominance from it. Unfortunately this often happens, particularly if there's a high level of oestrogen present. As Muriel says it is possible to go cold turkey, but I wouldn't advise it if you're using a high amount. Once you're down to about 60mg/day you could have the test, as this will only be giving you no more than you'd be producing during the follicular phase, i.e. less than 1ng/ml. I would be interested in hearing how much you're using, and if you had any symptoms beforehand. Take care Wray
Jul 03, 2012
 Hi Wray...
by: Anonymous

I was prescribed a 10% compounded cream 100mg dosage. I am in perimenopause (mid-40's) and had symptoms of weight gain in belly and my breasts were enlarged (gained a cup size). My periods are very light, but also irregular. I couldn't get the weight off despite diet and a strong exercise regime. Doc said it was all signs of too much estrogen and that I needed progesterone cream. After being on the cream for a few months, I gained even more weight and I also started to get extremely bad acne breakouts (the painful bumps below the skin kind). My breasts swelled up even more. I felt depressed and moody. As I mentioned previously, I was given the progesterone script without being tested (just based on my symptoms)...so now I want to find out what my levels are without being on it and start over from scratch. I really feel like I made a mistake in not getting my baseline levels tested first before I went on it. What if my progesterone levels were normal to begin with and this dosage was just too much for me causing an imbalance in its own right? What if something else not related to progesterone could be causing these problems? I have had my free testosterone tested in the past and it is always very low. Maybe this could be playing a part in my not being able to lose weight, as well.
Jul 04, 2012
 Hi Wray...
by: Wray

Hi there I would agree with your doctor, oestrogen causes proliferation of cells, including subcutaneous fat cells. It also causes water retention, which would immediately affect the breasts. Irregular periods are very common in Peri-menopause, but no amount of progesterone will make them regular again. The weight gain was evidently due to oestrogen dominance, and the 100mg/day he suggested was too low. I have found on the whole that it is too low, initially it needs to be much higher to avoid the adverse symptoms. I actually prefer going by symptoms, as tests can only tell how much hormone is in the blood, they can't tell how we're feeling. One thing which doctors and labs rarely do and that's check the ratio of the two hormones. This is the critical factor, not the amount. If you do have a test done, please make sure the ratio is checked, or if you have to do it yourself, there's info on our Hormone Testing page. We've found from Saliva Tests we run, that the ratio should be 600:1 and over to feel well. Belly weight is directly related to testosterone levels, it increases visceral fat, see here and here. I would be interested to hear about your test results once they come out. Take care Wray
Jan 12, 2013
 Progesterone and Benzo withdrawal
by: S. W.

I was prescribed "low dose' Ativan for insomnia four years ago. Little did I know what I was headed for. I never used it addictivly yet last spring I found myself suffering from extreme anxiety and depression. At the time, I thought I was suffering from mental illness. I now know that I was suffering from rebound anxiety and benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. I started a slow taper in September of 2012 and completed the taper about four weeks ago. I also have been taking 200mg bioidentical progesterone and biestrogen cream. Three weeks after my last dose, I was doing pretty well. Because I was doing 21 days on and 7 days off with the progesterone, I stopped taking it for a week. During that period, my symptoms of withdrawal started to return including terrible insomnia and by the seventh day, they were horrific and I was very worried. After all, I had been feeling so well. Then I took the progesterone per schedule, and one hour later, I got very woozy, staggering when I walked, extreme muscle relaxation, but not a comfortable feeling. I had no idea what was happening. My husband asked me if I had taken an Ativan. Well, I hadn't, yet the symptoms were EXACTLY the same as if i had. So i got online and discovered that progesterone is cross tolerant with Benzos and that it can make withdrawing more difficult. No wonder I slept so well during my benzo taper; I had been taking "nature's valium" ; i.e. progesterone most nights. Has anyone else expreienced this and, is so, did you have to taper off the progesterone after the benzos and, if so, how did you do it? Was it as difficult? etc. et.
Jan 14, 2013
 Progesterone and Benzo withdrawal
by: Wray

Hi SW I never understand why benzos are still prescribed, the most additive substance known to us. It should be taken for no more than 2 weeks, if at all. There are plenty of natural substances which help Anxiety. One of which is progesterone. I'm really surprised you found that info about it, yes it is nature's valium. Both progesterone and the benzos affect the GABA receptor sites, GABA is our most calming neurotransmitter. And progesterone is therefore excellent for anxiety, see here, here, here, here and here. There are more papers on the anxiety page. It doesn't surprise me your symptoms came back when you stopped the progesterone, as this allows oestrogen to rise again. Oestrogen stimulates glutamate, our most excitatory neurotransmitter, see here. It increases free radicals, plus destroying beta-endorphin neurons in the brain, these produce endorphins which promote a feeling of well being and relaxation. Beta-endorphins also appear to boost the immune system, protecting against cancer, see here. This paper says "Although it is widely accepted that exposure to estradiol throughout life contributes to reproductive aging.... Recent evidence ..... of chronic estradiol-mediated accelerated reproductive senescence now suggests such a hypothesis. It has been shown that chronic estradiol exposure results in the destruction of greater than 60% of all beta-endorphin neurons in the arcuate nucleus .....This loss of opioid neurons is prevented by treatment with antioxidants indicating that it results from estradiol-induced formation of free radicals", see here. Continued below
Jan 14, 2013
 Progesterone and Benzo withdrawal Part 2
by: Wray

Hi SW Whereas progesterone protects against glutamate toxicity, it also increases BDNF (brain-derived neuroptrophic factor) in itself protective, see here and here. Progesterone also protects against calcium induced excitotoxicity during brain damage, see here. So far from making it harder to withdraw from benzos, it actually makes it easier, as it's 'replacing' the benzos. I have a recently acquired friend who's been on benzos for 25 years. She's trying to taper and finds the progesterone helps enormously. It's a great pity you stopped the progesterone, that customary break is entirely unnecessary, see our page on Progesterone Misconceptions. I would suggest you continue with the progesterone using it daily, without the added oestrogen, until you feel stable enough to begin following your cycle again, or to reduce it slowly. You could also consider taking the nutrients listed on the anxiety page. Please have a vitamin D test done too, a lack causes anxiety and depression, see here, here, here, here, here. and here. Continued below
Jan 14, 2013
 Progesterone and Benzo withdrawal Part 3
by: Wray

Hi SW A lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone, see here, here, here, here and here. And a lack of vitamin D also causes insomnia, see here and here. Take care Wray
Jan 29, 2013
 Long term user of benzo
by: Anonymous

Hi.

I have been taking 12mg of Diazapam since 2000. (long story and I tried to wean off and succeeded from 30mgs to 12mg but the withdrawal was HELL)

So I suspect the 12mg I have been taking for 8+ years is no longer serving its purpose and I probably am already experiencing tolerance symptoms anyway.

I started using Progesterone cream 3 weeks ago due to the obvious Estrogen Dominance symptoms... the last 7 years have just gotten worse and worse then I had a polyp removed from my cervix that just confirmed I was low on progesterone.

I am applying a LOT more than 20mg...possibly 50 to 100mg and my period started today despite not even stopping to use the cream...

Some symptoms have improved... no anxiety no insomnia no depression (which always played up 10 days before my period)

But of course, I am still having terrible clots and blood loss, nausea etc etc

Now I am reading on the benzo board "DO NOT TAKE PROGESTERONE CREAM" it is cross addictive and will lead to tolerance withdrawal symptoms from the actual benzo pill as soon as you become "tolerant" to the progesterone cream.

I am totally confused scared and disappointed as I was so hopeful that Progesterone Therapy was already working... at least for the mental issues I have suffered badly with for 4 years...

Now I wondering if what I am actually experiencing is relief from tolerance withdrawal symptoms from the 12mg of Diazepam due to the cream "topping me up"

Either way...I am not sure if its such a bad thing... I mean I would never ever increase the benzo but at the same time...staying on the same dose all these years was bound to have been causing me tolerance symptoms.

I am confused.

Are they over reacting at the Benzo Board?

In theory, could I not then use Progesterone cream to aid in the tapering off the remaining 12mg of Diazepam?

I am assuming if there is SUCH a massive cross addiction there would be a warning somewhere because millions of women take sleep aids and are going through peri and menopause .

Sorry for rambling.

Jan 31, 2013
 Long term user of benzo
by: Wray

Hi there The more info I get the better, so I don't think you rambled! I usually recommend 100-200mg/day, more if symptoms are severe. So I don't think you're using enough. See our page on How to use progesterone cream for more info. Although I'm glad the Anxiety etc has gone. I've found 400mg/day is needed to stop heavy bleeding. Plus it's sometimes necessary to take at least 2000mg/day NAC (N-acetyl cystiene), 2000mg/day taurine and at least 5000iu per day vitamin D. The NAC inhibits the MMPs which cause the lining to shed, there's more info on our Menstruation page. Taurine is low in dysfunctional uterine bleeding, see here. And vitamin D is a potent antioxidant which stops cells proliferating. Plus a low level reduces the benefits of progesterone, see here, here and here. Please have a vitamin D test done. Nausea is caused by substance P, this neuropeptide also causes pain, and suppresses progesterone, see here, but if enough is used, progesterone suppresses substance P, see here. "Accumulating evidence indicates that the neuropeptide substance P is predominantly involved in neurogenic inflammation and pain perception...... Intriguingly, decreased pain sensitivity is found to be associated with high plasma progesterone levels. We hypothesize that progesterone may attenuate nociception and associated inflammatory response." Well apart from the comment above, I've never heard such a thing before, that progesterone is cross addictive! I've also never heard you become tolerant to progesterone either. I certainly haven't after using it for 16 years now. If I run out, I soon feel it, and if I do a top up occasionally with a great deal more, I get Oestrogen Dominance as everyone does. Benzos affect the GABA receptors, so does progesterone. One would have thought that using progesterone it would be a good substitute for the benzo and make it easier to wean off it, it's certainly safe. I've not heard it's contraindicated for any drug. Continued below
Jan 31, 2013
 Long term user of benzo
by: Wray

We have many women taking anti-anxiety drugs who've used it safely. And as I said to SW above, the friend of mine is still finding it helps her, she is trying to withdraw too. She's been using it now for about 8-9 months. At first 1000mg/day for a week, then she reduced slowly down to 500mg/day, she's now using about 200mg/day. It's a pity she can't use more, but cost is a factor. If you get your vitamin D levels up, and the taurine too, they should both help. Vitamin D is low in depression and other mental illnesses, see here, here, here, here, here. and here. These on taurine and anxiety here, here, here and here. Take care Wray
Mar 11, 2013
 Excessive Intestinal Bloating and Progesterone
by: Anonymous

Hi Wray,
I have been on about 40 mg/day of natural progesterone cream for about 4 yrs. I started off with about 100 mg/day of bio-identical progesterone for about a yr. before that feeling great but not able to continue the dosage due to cost. I started taking it due to estrogen dominant symptoms due to pre-menopause. About 4 yrs. ago I started getting bloating issues whenever I would eat. I found that grains, dairy products, beans and too much raw vegetables really bothered me and made the bloating worse. I have cut out all those foods from my diet. I have been trying desperately to find a solution to the problem. The only thing that seems to relieve the problem is massive amounts of probiotics and digestive enzymes. It is not fixing the bloating it is just helping me through it. Every few weeks I have to increase the amount of probiotics for relief. This month when I started my progesterone cream I applied the usual 40 mg and my face and back broke out, I had breast tenderness and worse bloating. This seems like estrogen dominance to me but so much I read says its the reverse effect that I should cut back. Can the bloating be associated with not enough or too much progesterone instead of what I am eating? Thank you for your insight.
Mar 15, 2013
 Excessive Intestinal Bloating and Progesterone
by: Wray

Hi there The bloating is caused by oestrogen. If you notice, it occurred when you reduced down from 100mg/day to 40mg/day. I've found this amount stimulates oestrogen, you need to use far more. At least 100-200mg/day. Please look here and compare the price against the cream you're using now. I'm glad you've cut out the grains etc, there's nothing worse for us, pity about the raw foods as they are good for us. You should find this problem goes once you increase the amount of progesterone. The face breaking out is excess testosterone, this is also stimulated by too little progesterone. We have more info on our Acne page. Plus a page on Breast Tenderness. You are right, those symptoms are oestrogen dominance, and testosterone too. It's just one of those Progesterone Misconceptions found all over the web. Take care Wray
Aug 01, 2013
 Progesterone Tapering after Benzos
by: Anonymous

Hi,
I have tapered off of Valium over a 14 month period. I am still having horrific withdrawal symptoms. I am also taking bio identical hormones. I really don't want to take them any more because of the entire benzo fiasco. If I taper 1/10 ml every two weeks will I still encounter strong anxiety problems? I am currently at 100 mg per day. I would really appreciate any help you can give me. I am terrified about experiencing more withdrawal symptoms.
Aug 02, 2013
 Progesterone Tapering after Benzos
by: Wray

Hi there When you say bio-identical hormones, what are they? Is it a combo oestrogen/testosterone/progesterone? Or just the oestrogen/progesterone? Either of these combos will make matters worse. If you are only using progesterone this would help, as someone I've been corresponding with for months now who's tapering off Klonopin, has found the progesterone helpful. But she is using a large amount, initially 400mg/day, now down to 200mg/day. This paper might be of interest to you about tapering off the valium, see here. Tapering off the hormones is best done very slowly. I'm not sure of the strength of the cream you have, 1/10ml is fine but would be impossible to measure. If it only has 16mg per ml, as many do, you could reduce by 1/4ml each time. If you can manage that it would be a good plan. Take care Wray
Aug 04, 2013
 Progesterone Withdrawl w/ Adrenal Fatigue
by: Amy

I'm also curious about coming off Progesterone every month and how it can have a similar effect to benzo's. I'm 36, peri-meno and I have adrenal fatigue, which was brought on by the use of a benzo (which I've been off for years). I'm now on progesterone because my hormones are all out of whack and we want to have a child. I've been on 200 to 300 mg the past two months - days 16 to onset of period (day 30). I've noticed the first week after coming off I feel horrible and then I start to feel better the week before starting the cream again. The last few days I've started to slide back into an adrenal crisis, which is coinciding with my period and coming off the progesterone again. I'm concerned that the monthly "withdrawal" is mimicking the withdrawal from benzo's which puts tremendous strain on the adrenals. Any insight?
Aug 05, 2013
 Progesterone Withdrawl w/ Adrenal Fatigue
by: Wray

Hi Amy I'm delighted you're using so much progesterone, unless it's oral? It's the least effective Delivery system, "The liver and gut region removed a mean of 96 per cent of the progesterone entering these tissues", see here. I often recommend using progesterone daily, through any bleeding, for at least 2-3 months to allow progesterone to become dominant. Once stable the cycle can be followed again. Progesterone should be used a minimum of twice a day, hourly if symptoms are bad. Those 'withdrawal' symptoms are due to progesterone stimulating oestrogen, leading to Oestrogen Dominance. It does pass if enough progesterone is used, but essential to use it daily for a few weeks to avoid them becoming worse. Please stick to one amount, and not 200mg to 300mg, it should be either/or, but if symptoms are bad, the 300mg/day would be better. You might even need more, especially the week before you begin bleeding. You might like to read these comments here, here, here and here. Please have a vitamin D test done, a lack of this reduces the benefits of progesterone. In fact if vitamin D is too low it barely works. For more info on vitamin D levels, test kits etc see the following websites, Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth and Birmingham Hospital. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml or 175-250nmol/L, and not the 30ng/ml or 75nmol/L most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. Continued below
Aug 05, 2013
 Progesterone Withdrawl w/ Adrenal Fatigue Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Amy Vitamin D is essential for a successful Pregnancy, there are excellent videos at the bottom of this page. This is another on pregnancy here. You are very young to be in Peri-menopause, this usually starts 5 to 10 years before Menopause. The average age of this is 51. Please consider taking about 2000mg/day taurine too, also essential for the growth of the foetus and breast feeding, see here, here, here, here, here and here. We also have a page on Menstruation, and another on How to use progesterone cream you could look through. The progesterone should help your stressed adrenals, as it lessens the Stress response. Take care Wray
Aug 05, 2013
 Progesterone Cream
by: Amy

Thanks Wray. I'm on a compounded 10% cream. I was just wondering if our bodies go through withdrawal of sorts when we go from using the cream to suddenly not using the cream every month - especially at a high dose. My adrenals do feel better when I'm on it, it's when I stop for those two weeks that they seem to go nuts again (aching in adrenal area, hypoglycemia, anxiety, heart palpitations, etc). I'd taper down every month, but it's kinda hard when you only have 14 days to work with and need the full benefit of the cream. I have been seriously considering using daily for 2 to 3 months, to reverse the estrogen dominance, then back to only using during the luteal phase. I'll have to see if my GYN would be willing to prescribe a bit extra for me to follow this schedule.

Yes, too soon for peri-meno. I was in an accident years ago that did damage to my hypothalamus and adrenal cortex and started a rapid aging process in my body - including my endocrine system. Working on getting all that stuff address. Thanks again for your input.
Aug 06, 2013
 Progesterone Cream
by: Wray

Hi Amy Yes we do go through a withdrawal, but the symptoms are related to oestrogen rising again. Progesterone withdrawal at the end of the cycle, allows oestrogen to dominate, hence PMS. If progesterone doesn't rise high enough prior to ovulation, then there is nothing to counter the oestrogen which surges then too. The same symptoms can occur, often worse. Progesterone withdrawal heralds the onset of labour, allowing oestrogen to rise, see here, here, here, here and here. Oestrogen causes hypoglycaemia, see here. It causes Anxiety. Oestrogen stimulates glutamate, our most excitatory neurotransmitter, see here. It destroys beta-endorphin neurons in the brain, these produce endorphins which promote a feeling of well being and relaxation. And it increases free radicals, see here. The paper says "Although it is widely accepted that exposure to estradiol throughout life contributes to reproductive aging.... Recent evidence ..... of chronic estradiol-mediated accelerated reproductive senescence now suggests such a hypothesis. It has been shown that chronic estradiol exposure results in the destruction of greater than 60% of all beta-endorphin neurons in the arcuate nucleus .....This loss of opioid neurons is prevented by treatment with antioxidants indicating that it results from estradiol-induced formation of free radicals". Whereas progesterone protects against glutamate toxicity, it also increases BDNF (brain-derived neuroptrophic factor) in itself protective, see here and here. If glutamate is too high, it allows calcium, an excitatory mineral, to enter the cells. Continued below
Aug 06, 2013
 Progesterone Cream Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Amy Progesterone also protects against calcium induced excitotoxicity, see here. And oestrogen causes the heart palpitations. It causes prolongation of the QT interval, which results in palpitations, arrhythmia, Torsades de Pointes and sudden death. Whereas progesterone shortens the QT interval, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. These symptoms occur far more frequently in women who naturally have a long QT interval, rather than men who naturally have a short QT interval. I would hope the progesterone helps the accident damage, it's certainly effective for Traumatic Brain Injury. It regenerates neurons and the myelin sheath. Plus it helps the adrenals as it lessens the Stress response. If your gyn won't increase your script, you could consider adding another cream. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Aug 12, 2013
 2months post benzo, told to take progesterone
by: Anonymous

Hi, I am 2 months post benzo/Valium. It took me 16 months to taper off of it.
I went to 2 directors and they both said to take progesterone, now I still habpve normal levels of progesterone jutpst not optimal levels.
I am on 4.8mg of remeron, which I was initially out I. To help with my benzo taper and I am trying to co e off that too!
My doctor started me on 10mg of Valium at 1st b/c I am super sensitive to meds... For example when I started on remeron I started on 1/8th of the lowest dose pill and it knocked me out to sleep within a few minutes,etc.
My goal is to come off of it. I was only in progesterone for 8 days and during the time I still had underlying anzpxiety.
For the 1st 2 nights I didn't sleep well.. The I started to sleep sooo good!
But then all the talk about becoming dependent on progesterone and also it causing tolerance w/d symptoms I got scared and stopped it.
I saw my doctor today and she said u probabky weren't taking enough and she suggested I take 2 10mg and I told her I would wait before I'd do that aging.
Has anyone here on this forum taking bioidentical progesterone pills and been on and off benzo for 14+ yrs and done well on progesterone?
I just don't want to screw things up and go back on the Valium/benzo.
I also felt wired a little on the progesterone.
Plus I forgot to mention 10 days before my period I get reall bad anxiety, like paniky.

Please help advise.
Aug 13, 2013
 Cont. of last post
by: Anonymous

I am sorry for all the typos, I wrote it from my ipad and it must of changed some the spelling of some of my words..
I am a 37 year old female and I have had 2 children. I went to 2 doctors that said my progesterone levels were not ideal.. I was still within the normal range but on the lower side of normal.
I don't want to have to take progesterone forever so mayber I should wait a little while longer since I am only 2 months off the benzo which could effect my progesterone levels as well, correct? I was thinking to wait until I was 6 months post benzo then get my blood work done again and then start progesterone.
Does that make good sense?
I just know that 10 days before my period/girltime I have horrific aniety and panick.
Also while I was on progesterone I was loosing some weight. Now I'm not since I stopped it.
Could you please help me to understand if what I was feeling while on it was normal.. I felt a positive in mood, which was nice.. but I felt some underlying anxiety and I felt a little jittery.
Was my dotor correct by saying I was probably on too low of a dose and we should increase the dose and that would help me.

Thank you so very much for you help!
Aug 13, 2013
 Learning
by: Anonymous

Just wanted to add something I've learned in the past few days. If you already have insulin resistance - which is often accompanied by hypoglycemia - and you add progesterone cream (even in small amounts), you may make insulin resistance worse and increase hypoglycemia. This of course depends on your body. I knew that I felt worse in some respects on the cream and was having overly dramatic hypoglycemic episodes after coming off. Apparently it's just making insulin resistance worse in my body, which is making the hypoglycemic episodes worse - which puts more pressure on the adrenals. Boy, we are complicated beings!

If someone is considering going on Progesterone and has had prior issues with blood sugar, they may want to consider getting tested for insulin resistance prior to supplementing.
Aug 13, 2013
 2months post benzo, told to take progesterone
by: Wray

Hi there Am I correct in thinking you are taking oral progesterone? And only 20mg/day? It's the least effective Delivery system, "The liver and gut region removed a mean of 96 per cent of the progesterone entering these tissues", see here. Progesterone is produced by the body daily, in both men and women, so there's no chance of becoming dependant on it in the sense you mean. We are dependant on it, it's a vital hormone, the precursor to many hormones, see........
There are three main groups of steroids.... mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and androgens. The three oestrogens are all converted from testosterone by the enzyme aromatase.

Mineralocorticoids…..
Cholesterol → Pregnenolone → Progesterone → Corticosterone → Aldosterone

Glucocorticoids…
Cholesterol → Pregnenolone → Progesterone → 17-OH-Progesterone → 11-Deoxycortisol → Cortisol → Cortisone

Androgens…..
Cholesterol → Pregnenolone → Progesterone → 17-OH-Progesterone → Androstenedione → Adrenosterone → two further hormones
Cholesterol → Pregnenolone → Progesterone → 17-OH-Progesterone → Androstenedione → Testosterone → DHT
Cholesterol → Pregnenolone → 17-OH-Pregnenolone → DHEA → Androstenediol → Testosterone → DHT
Cholesterol → Pregnenolone → Progesterone → 17-OH-Progesterone → Androstenedione → Testosterone → Oestrone ⇄ Oestradiol → Oestriol (also Oestrone → Oestriol)
Continued below
Aug 13, 2013
 2months post benzo, told to take progesterone part 2
by: Wray

Hi there Many things can cause it to decrease, which is why so many are finding they need to use it. These are a few things which cause progesterone levels to drop......
lack of or drop in vitamin D
dark days, especially winter, probably because vitamin D drops in winter due to lack of sun
high oestrogen
high testosterone
low SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin), this binds testosterone and oestrogen making them inactive
high LH
high FSH
high stress
high adrenaline (comes from Stress or excitement, and a drop in blood glucose), this stops progesterone entering the cells
sugars of any kind
large meals, because of the increased metabolic clearance of progesterone
alcohol, this reduces progesterone levels and increases the androgens, ie testosterone
high insulin
high level of phytoestrogens in the diet
oestrogenic herbs
oestrogen mimics or endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
contraceptives
HRT
insulin resistance
a defective luteal phase
high copper/low zinc
high prolactin
Aug 13, 2013
 2months post benzo, told to take progesterone Part 3
by: Wray

Hi there If you get bad Anxiety before your period it's evident your oestrogen is too high and progesterone too low. So you would need far more than the amount you are now using. We do have a few pages you could read, How to use progesterone cream, Menstruation, Oestrogen Dominance, Peri-menopause and Stress. Take care Wray
Aug 14, 2013
 Cont. of last post
by: Wray

Hi there Our replies seem to be crossing! It's such a bore that correction thing, it happened to someone else and her name kept changing. Left me very confused! I hope the previous replies have helped a bit. But to answer the new ones, it seems they didn't check your oestrogen levels too. Or did they? If you have them I can work out your ratio, this is the critical factor, not the actual level. You might like to look at Saliva Tests we run, you'll notice the ratios are all over 600:1. I have no personal experience in coming off benzos, but as they activate the GABA receptors in the brain, you should find progesterone of great benefit, as that too activates them. This is the reason progesterone is such a potent anxiolytic, and far safer to give people than the benzos. I did make a comment on your horrific symptoms prior to bleeding. Both progesterone and oestrogen should rise during the luteal phase, but it appears your progesterone is not. Which of course leaves oestrogen very dominant, hence your symptoms. Do you know if you ovulate? Because it could be you're not doing so, or if your corpus luteum is defective it would produce insufficient progesterone. Progesterone does give a positive mood, it's a calming, anti-inflammatory hormone. Whereas oestrogen is an excitatory, inflammatory, mitogenic hormone. Being a mitogen it causes cells to proliferate, including fat cells. It also causes water retention, which increases weight rapidly until it is excreted. Progesterone is an excellent diuretic, it prevents mitosis, and speeds metabolism slightly. The anxious/jittery feeling was due to using too low an amount, as this stimulates oestrogen leading to Oestrogen Dominance. I feel with your symptoms, and needing something to help your GABA receptors, you should be using about 400mg/day progesterone possibly more. I'm assuming the benzos were given for anxiety in the first place? If so it's a pity they didn't recognise the symptoms, this page might be an eye opener for you, see here. Gay has given some excellent links to other sites you might took through. Continued below
Aug 14, 2013
 Cont. of last post part 2
by: Wray

Hi there I never know where people find these extraordinary Misconceptions about progesterone. You've added another to a growing list, that it worsens Insulin Resistance. There's too much evidence it's oestrogen and testosterone which cause it, there are plenty of papers on the link I've given you, here's one of them. And this paper here shows oestrogen destabilises blood glucose, whereas progesterone does not. A lack of Vitamin D causes IR too, plus a lack reduces the benefits of progesterone. Please have a test done, it's low in most of us. It's particularly important to get it high if considering progesterone. It's also an anxiolytic. Take care Wray
Aug 14, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Thank u for commenting!
I naturally have low vitamin d and am prescribed 50,000 iuds to take each week.
I was taking only 10mg of valium per night and it was bioidentical. Why is there so many ways to take progesterone?
I don't want to have to take any medication... Especially something ill have to take forever.
I believe it is hormonal fluctuations!
I am on a small amount of remeron 4.8mg. I want off this stuff too but now I'm feeling like crud so my plans of continuing to come off that have been postponed.
My hormone levels have all been checked and all of them are in the normal ranges, progesterone is on the lower side but not deemed low.
I have the progesterone pills and my doctor says I should take (2) so I'd be on 20mg of bioidentical progesterone. What do I think?

Also while I was on it I felt my mood was elevated, but I felt some depression. Also I felt anxiety deep below all that.
Let me know ur thoughts, should I be taking it all month or off and on during the month.

Thanks! M
Aug 14, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Hi, I have my levels for progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. Would those help?

Thank you so very much!!!!!
Aug 15, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi M It seems our replies have crossed again!, as I did ask you for your test results. I'll guarantee your ratio is way out. 50,000iu vitamin D per week is too low, it gives you about 7,000iu/day. If your level is low you should consider taking at least 10,000iu if not 20,000iu per day. See here. Do you know your level? I did say oral progesterone is no good in my first reply to you. You will be getting about 2mg progesterone a day, laughable! I also explained about the Oestrogen Dominance affect of taking too little. I do feel you should use it all month, but let me see your test results first. Take care Wray
Aug 15, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Test results from: 7.3.13 (21 days after 1st of period)
Vitamin d: 70 out of 30-100 normal range
Progesterone: 3.2 out of 3.0-31.4 normal range
Estrone: 55 out of 16-173 normal range
Testosterone: 25 out of 2-45 normal range

Test results from: 8.1.13 (little after 21 days after 1st period)
Vitamin d: 70 out of 30-100 normal range
Progesterone: 6.3 out of 2.6-21.5 normal range
Estradial: 72 out of 56-302 normal range

I hope these r the levels u were looking for!
Aug 17, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi there Yes they are thanks! Well your vitamin D is in the good range, which is 70-100ng/ml. Interesting, as you obviously absorb it well, and don't appear to have much inflammation. I've found in some people with inflammation their level doesn't rise, even with high doses. One woman has been taking 20,000iu/day for weeks, and yet her level was still only 28.8ng/ml, very low. But she has a great deal wrong with her. If you have a 28 day cycle, then your test was done at the right time. Both progesterone and oestrogen peak mid-luteal phase, which in all women is ±7 days after ovulation or before bleeding. The luteal phase is always, in all women, 12-14 days long. Your first progesterone to oestrogen ratio is 58:1, your second is 87.5, both very low. We've found from Saliva Tests we run that they were all over 600:1. So it would be up to you to decide if you would like to use more, but in a form which is absorbed well. The low ratio certainly accounts for any Anxiety you've had in the past. It appears they've only tested for total testosterone, which is pointless. It's the active portion which should be checked for. If bound to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) testosterone becomes inactive, progesterone raises levels of SHBG, see here, so preventing the rise of free testosterone and severe PMS. Sugars and large meals drop progesterone levels, see here. Plus insulin drops levels too, see here. This means SHBG also drops, testosterone rises, severe PMS can occur, another vicious cycle. Take care Wray
Aug 17, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Hi not cycle is more like 31-34 days.
I also believe I ovulate late b/c my pregnancies seem to show that. I have had a few miscarriages, a total if 3. But they never went past 5-7 weeks. Last miscarriage I had was in December and I know I ovulated late b/c there's no way I should of gotten prego that late in my monthly cycles.
So r u saying my estrogen and progesterone r on the low range? My testosterone has been tested as low as 8 before.
I believe u was also given the bioidentical progesterone pill b/c it helps with sleeping as well.
I'm currently not taking any progesterone, but will look to do so again.

About my D levels, I have been prescribed 50,000 iuds per week. So they r a prescription and that's why I'm absorbing it, otherwise I really don't.
My mom also has low D and she also takes D.
My 8 yr old son tested low in D as well. I've just started giving him children's D gummy vitamins, 1000 iuds per day. Any suggestions on if that should help him?

U r wonderful and I really appreciate u!

The progesterone u have, is it bioidentical?
Aug 19, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Hi, hope all is great. When you can please get back to me from my last post. Hope you enjoyed your weekend!
Aug 21, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi there The Contraceptive manufacturers did women a great disservice. Now everyone, including doctors, think women should have a 28 day cycle. This is the average, which is why the companies chose it. Our cycles range from 21 days up to 35 days, add these together, divide by 2, and you get 28 days. So you are not ovulating 'late', but normal for your cycle length. If it's a 31-34 day cycle, ovulation would take place from day 17 to 20. Your oestrogen might be 'low', but that's immaterial, it's the ratio which is all important, and yours is low. If you had 3 miscarriages it sounds very much like your progesterone is too low. Stress also causes miscarriages too, because it drops progesterone levels. I had five miscarriages because of stress. Low vitamin D causes miscarriages too, see here, here and here. Oral progesterone does help some women sleep better, but as they are getting so little it's a waste to take it. Other forms also help sleep too. So pleased the vitamin D is really being absorbed, and that your mother and son are taking it too. It's so rare for a mother to check her children's level. The chances are if she has low levels so will her children. You can increase your son's dose to 2000iu'day, Dr Cannell recommends 1,000 iu for every 25 pounds of body weight for children. Or 2,000 iu/day if weighing 25-50 pounds, see here. And yes the progesterone we have is bio-identical, see here. Bless you for your kind words. Sorry about the late reply, you were right I was taking time off. I usually work all weekend, thanks for your consideration! Take care Wray
Aug 21, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Thank you for your reply.. I'm sorry for your miscarriages!! It's hard I know! But I know God knows what’s best.
I'll up by son's chewable D vitamins to 2,000 IUDs each day. I will continue my prescription D's.

Do you think my levels could be low b/c I slowly weaned myself off of benzos and that my levels could go back up on their own?

Also once I start taking progesterone will all my levels go up, including estrogen and testosterone?

And how much progesterone should I be taking in capsule form and how much in your cream form?

I've already spent money on the pills and would like to use those up first... and they did help me sleep! Would that be ok?

I did however experience a heighten in mood and outlook but felt underlying anxiety... I didn’t like that.. Plus I was only on it for 8 days, but started feeling deep depression feelings which I never have.. I'm usually a positive person.
Can you help make sense of all of that?

Thank you again!
Aug 22, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi there Thanks for your kind thoughts about my miscarriages, I'm a very phlegmatic sort of person, so never thought I wouldn't fall pregnant again and have a chid, which I did. Like you they were all very early, the oldest 8 weeks. In hind sight, I realise I only had my daughter because I gave up work. One less stress to deal with! I wished I'd known about progesterone then, but no one mentioned it to me. I think your progesterone has been too low for a long time, which is why you had all the anxiety. If you or your doctors had known about progesterone, you would not have needed the benzos. Plus of course your vitamin D was too low, that would have contributed considerably. So I don't know if your progesterone will go up now you're off them, somehow I doubt it, as nothing has changed. Do you know if you ovulate each month? This has a bearing on things, as without this occurring, no ovarian progesterone is made. If you do try the progesterone again, your level will go up. It should keep your oestrogen and testosterone down, a good thing. It's very difficult to say how much you should use. I suggest sticking to the same number of pills you took for the sleep issues as that seemed to help. And then it's trial and error on how much progesterone in cream form you should use. Your vitamin D is at a good level now, so you should find you respond far better to it. Please read these comments from others who used high amounts to overcome their symptoms, you might get a better understanding of how to use it, see here, here, here and here. I can't remember if I gave you this comment here, it should help too. I would hesitate to suggest less than 400mg/day, after all you've been through. I wouldn't want you to have a set back, but read those comments first before you start it again. And do let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Aug 22, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Hi and thank u again! I'm not sure if I ovulate, i must if I can get prego, right?
It's Ben 13 days since I stopped the progesterone and I was only on it for 8 days, but the past 4 nights I have been sweating a lot at night. Any thoughts on that?
When I started progesterone for those 8 days I had lingering anxiety.. Do u think it could be b/c I was on too low of a dose?
Can u please also explain our systems during our monthly cycles, when our progesterone is highest when it is lowest?

One other question about the cream, I thought u needed a prescription for bioidentical progesterone, can u clarify that?

Also thank u for all the links I have read them all.
Aug 22, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

One more thing I was going to order a saliva test kit... Which one do u suggest and what should I have tested?
Just progesterone, or all hormones, or hormones plus ?

Thanks again for everything!

Coral Ashley
Aug 22, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi there It does seem you ovulate, as you say you get pregnant. But there are some months when we don't, and when reaching about age 35 we begin getting anovulatory cycles. These increase in frequency through Peri-menopause. I'm not sure how old you are now. We do have a page on sweats and Hot Flushes, you might find this of help. And yes I do feel you were on too low an amount, plus of course it was oral. This would be enough to give anyone anxiety! The best page to answer your question about our monthly cycle is our page on How to use progesterone cream. Another is our Menstruation page. Our page on Pregnancy and this one here too, gives an idea of it's role when we're pregnant. If you live in the States you don't need a script for progesterone. In some countries it's banned! But the women living there still manage to get it. Governments think they know better than the women who have to suffer all the symptoms we get. Some countries won't let in high doses of antioxidant complexes, we make a few ourselves and the women have told us it's been stopped at their customs. I feel this is wicked, for instance PCOS needs very high doses to reverse the condition. Thanks so much for reading the links, makes my job worthwhile! Take care Wray
Aug 22, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Hello, thank you again for posting back!
I am 37 years young :-) and I do live in the states, Florida to be exact.
My doctors office called me back and thwy told me to go on double the amount of progesterone I was on before.. so 20mg.. I'm thinking I may buy your cream too just so if I need more during a stressful event I'll have it.. would that be o.k to do? Can I use the cream during the day like that?
I believe some months I don't ovulate, but that is my hunch I don't know for sure about that.
What do you think about doing the saliva hormone test, do you think it's pointless right now and a waste of money b/c I have all the symptoms.

Real quick, by increasing my progesterone, will that decrease or increase my estrogen and/or testosteron?

Thanks again and have a beautiful day!
Aug 23, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral It's important to find the ratio of progesterone to oestrogen, so definitely those two. I always like it if total and free testosterone are done too, as high levels of free do affect us adversely. If you can afford the testosterone too, it's most important they do the free testosterone, as that's active. If bound to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) testosterone becomes inactive. So they usually check the SHBG level too. We do run Saliva Tests on our cream, so you might like to see what levels progesterone can get to, and the ratios. Would love to see the results, and please don't forget to have a vitamin D test done too, the most important test. Take care Wray
Aug 23, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Ah, so you are in that transition phase between age 35 and Peri-menopause. There will be some months you don't ovulate, which would have a bearing on things. Doubling oral progesterone means you will be getting about 2mg if lucky, I would be interested to hear if this helps you. My suspicion is it will make matters worse, let me know! Using progesterone ad lib is not a good thing. It can upset the monthly cycle, and each time you stop it will allow oestrogen to rise and symptoms worsen. Plus each time you apply it it will initially stimulate oestrogen, which will also make matters worse. I have covered the hormone testing in my latest reply to you. I'm not against them, but rather go by symptoms as a test cannot tell how we are feeling. The tests are of interest and merely confirm the symptoms. If enough progesterone is used it suppresses oestrogen and testosterone. If too little, it will increase levels. And have a lovely day too! Take care Wray
Aug 23, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Hi and thank you, going off the blood test I sent u what amount of ur product would u suggest taking each day. And how should it be taken , in the am, midday or pm?

Also can I use both the pill and the cream? And use the cream when I'm in a stressful situation?
Thanks!
Aug 23, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Anonymous

Hi :-)
If I buy the cream you all have, have much do you think I should be using?
I don't want to screw things up for me and not take enough of either the pill or the cream.
I have a doctor that had some bioidentical progesterone capsules made for me that have liquid in them.. He said those absorb best in the system... Will that make them more absorbable?
They are 25mg and I have yet to use them.. but now I'm considering it.
Aug 24, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Coral Ashley

I also wanted to ask real quick I have bioidentical testosterone too, it's a cream u insert in ur girl area.. Is it safe to take with the progesterone?
Aug 24, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Coral Ashley

I did want mention in my blood work my free testosterone level was 1.7 and on another report .7.
I did have a blood study done about 2 yrs again where my estrogen was lower than the lowest normal level.

But I know I don't want to start messing with estrogen!

I also want to mention I have osteopenia so progesterone and testosterone sounds like a good mix to combate that. Ur thoughts?

Thanks!! :-)
Aug 25, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi there I think I've addressed some of these issues in my last reply, we seem to be crossing each other. You'll get more benefit if you open the capsules, add the contents to a small amount of skin cream and apply that. But I think I said you'd probably need about 400mg/day, which means you'd need 16 capsules per day. Take care Wray
Aug 26, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral If you have osteopenia it means your vitamin D is too low. But your level when last tested was good, so maybe you are low in magnesium. This is the most important co-factor for vitamin D, with insufficient, vitamin D does not work as well, it also means calcium won't be deposited in your bones, but in soft tissue. Or it will circulate in the blood. High blood calcium and low blood magnesium causes depression, see here. Please try taking about 800mg/day magnesium and see if that helps. You could also be short of vitamin K2, this is another co-factor, and is involved in calcium deposition into bones. I wouldn't use the testosterone, see here, here, here, here here, here, here, here and here. And here and here. Take care Wray
Aug 26, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: CoralAshley

Hi Wray!
My magnesium levels have been checked and they're good.
I went and saw my doctor and instead of taking the Vitamin D prescription (which is a steroid) I'm going to start on 15,000mg of vitmain d3 per day. Does that sound right?
I spoke to him about the pill and its absorption rate and he said where he has our progesterone compounded and b/c it is a liquid base it absorbs much better.
He did suggest maybe I go on a vaginal progesterone cream, what do you think about that method?
I feel tired today and spacey.. Had some anxiety b/c of those things. Still not sleeping through the whole night, wake up several times but its getting better.
What r ur thoughts?
I have my compound made at:
Pharmacy Specialst they're located in Maitland Florida. They're voted as the 1 of the top 10 compound pharmacy in the nation. So they must be good.
Anywho I mentioned to my doctor about taking more and he said lets check your levels in a month and then we'll decide from there.
I just don't want to screw myself up with all this!

Thanks for all ur help!! C
Aug 28, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Good heavens, did he give you the vitamin D hormone, i.e. 1,25 OH D3? That's usually only given in severe cases and has to be monitored extremely closely. I'm relieved he's changed the vitamin D, 15,000iu is a very good dose too. It's not that progesterone is not absorbed in the gut, some of it is. But then the liver metabolises it and you excrete it. If you have problems with your uterus, then the vaginal route is good, as most of the progesterone ends up there. But you haven't mentioned this to me, most of your symptoms seem to be emotional/mental. I agree, let's see what your levels are in a month, let me know please. Take care Wray
Aug 28, 2013
 2 months post
by: Anonymous

Hi Wray thank u!
Last night I slept great and I woke up feeling great but then blam I am not doing well. I'm not sure if the is pms related anxiety of anxiety from the progesterone but it isn't good. I am light sensitive, blury vision, internally have have anxiety, and my boss poped by to say hi and I felt like I was going to have a panik attack. Uggggg... What should I do I'm on 25 mg of progesterone. Can you provide me anything to show my doctor as well?
Thanks!
Aug 28, 2013
 2 months post
by: Wray

Hi Coral PMS is caused by the withdrawal of progesterone prior to bleeding. This allows oestrogen to become the dominant hormone. The same reasoning applies if using too little progesterone, it's stimulating oestrogen. I did tell you too little was not a good idea. I'm not sure what you want to show your doctor? There are thousands of papers on this site about progesterone and it's effect, on oestrogen and testosterone too. I gave you the page we have on Anxiety, get him to look through all the papers on that. 12-14 days before bleeding women ovulate. ±7 days later progesterone reaches its peak level, so too does oestrogen. It appears you're not ovulating, or if you are, your corpus luteum is defective and not producing sufficient progesterone. This would make oestrogen the dominant hormone, hence your symptoms.Take care Wray
Aug 28, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Coral Ashley

Hi, sorry to post again so soon. I believe I feel like this because it is once again 10 days before my girl-time. I wonder why this happens every month. I thought during this time my progesterone was at it's highest. Am I correct in thinking that. I also notice during this same time I have amazing sleep the night before a bad day like this.
I'm sure you will know why and thanks!
Aug 29, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi Wray, I hope all is well with you!
I am going to go and talk to my doctor again. I am scared about taking the 100mg of progesterone but I also know that I need to have some kind of relief!

I was looking around your website and I am slowly weening myself off of remeron.
I was put on it to get off of the benzo. As you know 10 days prio to my period I have bad anxiety and then sometimes I have anxiety during and after my period.. but then 7 days before the 10 days post period I feel GREAT! Maybe that is when my progesteron is at it's highest? Not sure, but I'm thinking that's right!

But I saw your write up on natural antidepressants. My psychiatrist told me I could take 5HTP while coming off of the remeron b/c I am only on 4.75mg (almost just a quarter of a 15mg tablet of remeron). I've tried 3 other times to come off the remeron while still on the benzo and I didn't have much luck.
What would you suggest taking? I'd like to go ahead and jump the rest of the way off the remeron as it is not helping with much! And I've gained weight while being on it. I've been on it for a little over 1yr now.
What method would you suggest I use to get off of it, could I just jump off the rest and take Tryptophan? Should I wait till I get the progesteron thing right? Should I use the tapering method you have on the site under natural antidepressants?

I really want to be med free (which this is my 1st time on an anti-depressant for any length of time) Again I only took it b/c it was supposted to help me get off the benzo.

I'd like to privately email you on these kinds of things, but I can't find a place to email you on your site.

As always thank you for your help!
Aug 30, 2013
 2 months po
by: Coralashley

Hello, I went and saw my doctor yesterday. I brought so much info with me from ur site. He increased my dose to 50mg and said he never starts anyone on 100mg, he likes to gradually increase peoples doses, ect,
I took the 50mg last night, I feel calm but have so much light sensitivity. I had the same thing yesterday, ect. I wonder if this is normal and if it will get better as the days go on?
Or maybe I should just not take this stuff at all.

Let me know ur thoughts.

Thanks! C
Aug 31, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral See what your doctor has to say, you are under his care after all. If your psychiatrist recommends the 5HTP then try it, but very low dose to begin with, gradually building up. I do recommend using progesterone for at least a month before coming off any drug. And it's best you reduce the drug very slowly. But ask your doctor. You've got me completely foxed by your "then 7 days before the 10 days post period I feel GREAT" 7 days before 10 days after your period would bring you to day 3 in your cycle, when both progesterone and oestrogen are at their lowest. I feel 100mg/day progesterone is not going to help you. But chat to your doctor. Take care Wray
Aug 31, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi I will wait one months before coming off the remeron. Thanks!
What I meant is on day 16-23 (give or take a day) I feel great then the 10 days leading up to my period are horrible.
So I got my girl time in July I got my period on the 4th and on day 16 after my period I feel good for about a week. Then 10 days leading up to my period it's really hard.
I hope that helps.
I am on 50mg of progesterone now so I'm feeling calm, spacey in my head, but calm.
We shall see.
I want to again thank you for your help. I will spread the word about your site on benzo buddies. :-)
Sep 01, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Carol That makes sense, thanks. It's usually the few days prior to bleeding that PMS occurs. But I suspect you're not ovulating, or if you are, your corpus luteum is not making sufficient progesterone. You'll find info about a defective luteal phase on our Pregnancy page. I feel you need more progesterone, I believe it was this which lead to your anxiety in the first place, but see how you get on. I think I gave you this comment before, but please have a look at it again. Especially the websites she gives. They should help your doctor, as they are written by doctors, see here. Thanks for your kind words. Take care
Sep 01, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi Wray, I believe you are right about the girl time, etc. I am retaining water (which i was hoping progesterone would help me lose weight) and I can't think straight. Most people say they feel great on progesterone, I feel calm but as I had mentioned spacey and can't think straight.
So I may go ahead and just buy your cream and if so how would I transition from the pill to the cream? The pill is taken at night. Will the cream help me with sleep too if I put it on in the morning and evening?
How much cream would u suggest I start out with? And with that dose how long will a tube last me?

U have been so helpful and I pray u will be blessed for it!
Sep 02, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral You say such lovely things! I feel you will need to use the progesterone cream with your doctor's help. You've been on benzos, still have some anxiety too. I know the progesterone will help, but as I said you will need high amounts to do this, about 400mg/day possibly more. When initially starting it you can get an oestrogen reaction, which is exactly what happened when you took the pills. This will be confusing, unless you're prepared for it. I would actually prefer it if you increased your vitamin D level first, to between 70-100ng/ml. Too low a level of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. And a lack of vitamin D can also cause anxiety and depression. You could also try the calming, anti-anxiety amino acids too, taurine, glycine, GABA and tyrosine, plus vitamin B3 and inositol. Once you feel stable you could then start the progesterone. Take care Wray
Sep 03, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: coralashley

Hello.. yes my d levels are 70, which are good!
I am still on 50mg and I may go ahead and go up to 75mg. (I have a 25mg prescripition I could get filled along with my 50mg)
Not sure quite yet what to do. Yesterday I felt good and today, I again feel light sensitivity :-(

I don't think it's a good idea to stop the pill now since it is helping me with sleep.

I've given my doctor all the info and I've expalined everything to him but he still feels I should stay on 50mg for 1 month and then we will retest my hormones and then if my progesterone isn't too high then we will increase to 75mg. Per your article on your website, during pregnancy your progesterone can raise up to 300mg, so I don't know what he is so scared up with regards to increasing my dose? can you offer any insight on this?

I know my progesterone levels were still in the normal range when tested last before starting any progesterone.. but they were on the lower than normal ranges. Maybe I should of waited a few months longer post benzo to of started the progestereon to see if my levels would have gone back to normal before post benzo. Any insight on this?

I'm only 37 I know I'm not post/pre-menopausal. So is it still o.k to start progestereon for something like Anxiety?

I am so nervous b/c I don't want to screw anything up for myself. I know I don't want to be on any anti-depressants either. Which I never was until tapering off the benzo..
Sep 04, 2013
 Progesterone withdrawal?
by: Anonymous

In April 2012 my GYn placed me on 200 mg Prometrium (progesterone), I felt great for that year. Towards the end my symptoms that originally put me on Progesterone escalated. So my Dr increased it from 2 weeks on/2 wks off to 3 weeks on. I had horrible dizziness, etc. I called my dr's office to explain & they said he is out of the office for 3 mths! The fillin Dr ran my levels & said I was good so took me off cold turkey. I also take Xanax. I was on less than .25 mg daily but since this I'm on 1mg to help the symptoms-headache, dizziness, panic attacks. I've been to 2 endocrinologists also who said my levels are fine. Does this sound like a withdrawal to you?

Sorry about the rambling, I just think something may be going on under their "radar" & unable to help. A Benzobuddy sent this link to me & said you would be able to help.

Thank you!
Sep 07, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Yes the drugs do seemed to have messed you up, and now you're faced with weaning. I agree with you, go slowly. Although this is not what I normally suggest, as I've found it the worst thing for increasing adverse symptoms. But if it's going to add to your anxiety by increasing rapidly it's not worth it. Actually progesterone can rise to over 400ng/ml during Pregnancy, see our page on Hormone Testing. They use over 1200mg/day via IV transfusion for Traumatic Brain Injury victims. And in a study on neuroblastoma, a brain tumour, they used up to 5000mg/day, see here. The level of the hormones is meaningless, it's the ratio which is important. I did say in an earlier reply, that I thought some of your anxiety was caused by low progesterone. So I don't know if your level would have increased much after stopping the benzo. Besides which, surely it's best to help the body to heal as quickly as we can by using natural substances. Take care Wray
Sep 07, 2013
 Progesterone withdrawal?
by: Wray

Hi there I'm amazed you felt well for a whole year, as the amount of progesterone you were getting was minimal, at the most about 20mg. Oral progesterone is the least effective Delivery system, "The liver and gut region removed a mean of 96 per cent of the progesterone entering these tissues", see here. And why two weeks on, two weeks off? Do you have a 28 day cycle, if not this was incorrect. If following a cycle it should be started at ovulation. And to take you off cold turkey was criminal. This has allowed oestrogen to rise and the return of your symptoms. It doesn't surprise me you had to increase the dose of the Xanax! Interestingly it's the withdrawal of progesterone just prior to bleeding each month, that causes PMS. It's also the withdrawal of progesterone just prior to birth that causes so many women to get PND. And to check the levels and not the ratio between the two hormones is pointless. If you have them I can work out the ratios for you. We run Saliva Tests on our cream. From these we've found the ratios rise to 600:1 and over, then the women feel well. We do have a page on Anxiety you could look through. There are many nutrients which help. Please above all else have a vitamin D test done. A lack of this not only reduces the benefits of progesterone, but causes anxiety and depression. Maybe you could get your test results and send them to me. Please thank your Benzobuddy, I will try to help as much as I'm able. Take care Wray
Sep 09, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi Wray! You know I have to tell you something very cool..
As I had mentioned I was being prescribed 50,000 IUDs of vitamin D to take 1x a week..
But I decided I'd try and take a D3 supplement instead and I was taking 15,000 IUDs a day or something high like that... well I did that for 14 days while I've been on the 50mg of progesterone.
Well I can tell you that for days now the progesterone pill was not making me as tired as it once had and then I noticed on my feets/heals that they were drying out again.. so I decided to take the prescription D (50,000 IUD 1x per week) yesterday and I tell you what, when I took my progesterone last night I got sleepy again.
Pretty cool, huh? So I was not absorbing the vitamin D3 supplement I was taking.. But I will absorb the prescription D. So I can attest that Vitamin D is soooo important to take while on progesterone.
I have a couple questions for you:
1) I have an appointment with a board certified hormone specialist on Wednesday. My homeopathic doctor (he is not board certified in hormone replacement) put me on 25 mg of progesterone and then after I had to ask him to increase it.... he then put me on 50mg of progesterone pill. But he won't put me on anything higher till we get my blood levels checked in a month.
So my question is do you think it's best to see someone who it board certified in hormone replacement (I have to pay quit a bit extra to see her) or do you think my doctor who isn't board certified in this but has been helping lots of patients with this is competent in this?


2)My pdoct told me since I'm on such a low dose of remeron and I'm weaning off of it that I could take 5 HTP.. so I've been taking 100mg of 5 HTP at night in a supplement that is called "Mood Boost" for the past 3 nights. I am on a UK tapering plan that cuts the dose 1x each week.. so I took my remeron dose down by 25% on Friday night and I felt so good the next day. I didn't get much sleep (low D I'm guessing), but I felt a big mood boost. Then went back up to my regular dose the last 2 nights, per my tapering plan.
Anyways what I'm trying to get at it is, I felt such a mood boost when I lowered the remeron and you mentioned something like you feel a slow tapering plan only prolongs the side effects. IS that correct?
I know I don't want to take it anymore and I'm only on 4.78mg.. which is almost a 1/4 of the lowest dose remeron pill.

So would yu suggest I see the Board Certified Hormone Doctor and hopefully she will have enough sense to put me on the right amount of progesteron?
And would you suggest I continue the 5 HTp and cut the remeron out 100% or just continue on a slow tapering plan?

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Thank you!
Coralashley
Sep 10, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral That is so interesting about the vitamin D. From all the stories that come into this site, I would stick with the homeopath. One thing about 'hormone' doctors is they'll run blood tests, might find you low in testosterone and oestrogen and want you on those too. They very rarely if ever check the ratios of the hormones, which is far more important than the amount of each. In fact I know of only two labs which do check ratios and they are ZRT Labs USA, Genova Diagnostics UK and Genova Diagnostics USA. You're getting muddled between increasing progesterone, and remeron or progesterone tapering. It's essential I feel to reduce any drug slowly, as you're doing. The same goes for progesterone, too great a reduction allows oestrogen to rise again, with it's adverse symptoms. But I have found increasing progesterone too slowly prolongs the side effects. But if you're happy doing that then continue. I would continue with the 5-HTP as it seems to be helping, but go slowly on the remeron, there's no point in undoing your good work thus far. If you wanted to use a higher amount of progesterone there's nothing stopping you getting some yourself. Let me know how you get on. take care Wray
Sep 13, 2013
 3 months post benzo now :-)
by: Coralashley

Hi Wray, I hope all is great! Happy friday..I went on Wednesday and saw a Board certified hormone doctor and she was quite helpful! She feels I have food alergies and I had a test done to check against 150 foods for alergies towards them. At 1st I was like I don't think I have any food alergies, but then yesterday I had limited dairy and wouldn't you know I lost 2 pounds already. So I may have food alergies.
She feels the reason I don't absorb vitamin D and and other vitamins is b/c of this food alergy. She also believes that is why I am low on my hormones because I am not absorbing my nutrients and that's why I am not able to make sufficient amounts of hormones. So she said I probably wont have to take hormones forever. Pretty cool, huh?

She does want me to continue on teh 50mg of progesterone capsule... here is what she has done for my meds:
Estrogen: none
Vaginal Estrogen: none
Testosterone: Hold for now
Progesterone: 50mg capsule
Progesterone: Progesterone Cream 20mg – 1/2ml d1-10 (2 clicks), 1ml d11-28 (4 clicks)
Thyroid: none
DHEA and Pregnenolone DHEA: 12.5mg/Pregnenolone 50mg – 1 capsule daily
Ferritin: Hold for now

I was told that DHEA and pregnenolone will help me naturally make more hormones.
I hope those would be safe to take!


Another thing: for the past two days I've been getting a strong feeling in my head of feeling like I'm either fainting of going to fall asleep. It's hard to expalin, but it's like I'm just going to shut down in my head.
Do you think it's b/c I'm on too much progesterone in capsule form?

Thank you so very much Wray! I hope to hear from you soon on these things. xoxoxo
Sep 16, 2013
 2 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Well it seems as if the doctor knows what she's about, very happy about that. We can be allergic to foods without knowing it, the test results should be interesting, very comprehensive too. I'm relieved she hasn't given you oestrogen. You forget, it's not the amount, but the ratio between oestrogen and progesterone which is important. So your oestrogen could be rock bottom, but if your progesterone is too you will feel like hell. Some women do well on pregnenolone, I'd be interested to hear. The DHEA will raise your testosterone slightly, so see how it goes. The head feeling could be your blood glucose has dropped too quickly. This would occur if you'd eaten something sweet or starchy, can you recall if you had eaten/drunk something sweet before it happened? Or keep a look out next time you eat something sweet. Take care Wray
Sep 16, 2013
 Coralashley
by: 3 months post benzo

Hi Wray, I only took the pregnenolone and DHEA for 1 day, I got a little headach and it did calm me but then I fel seom anxiety..
I'm not sure but it could be from the vaginal cream progesterone that I've added..
I tried the pregnenolone and DHEA on Saturday and didn't take it Sunday or Monday and I'm still not doing well.
I have visual issues, anxiety and tummy issues!
I did cut my remeron down on friday but went back to the normal dose on Saturday. I am following a tapering plan that has you cut down 1 dose each week for 1 to 2 weeks then cut down on 2 doses the following few weeks then cut it down by 3 doses, and so on and so forth..
So how I'm feeling could be a number of things.. :-(
I'm thinking tonight I could cut out the vaginal progesterone cream to see if I felt better, or would you suggest I increase the vaginal progesteron cream? I called the doctor but she's not in the office until tomorrow. :-(

Thank you so very much..
Sep 17, 2013
 Coralashley
by: 3 months post benzo

Hi I had posted that I was experiencing some anxiety and I wasn't sure what it was from.

I wanted to give you an update, last night I didn't use the progesterone cream and I feel better with less anxiety. So maybe the pregnenolone and DHEA weren't causing me anxiety, but the progesterone cream was.
I feel this is a sure sign that the progesterone cream is not enough. Because whenever I took too little of the progesterone pill I felt the same thing, anxiety!
Currently I'm still on 50 mg of progesterone pill and I was on progesterone vaginal cream only for three nights.
You'll see the progesterone cream dosage on two posts back that I put. I guess I wasn't on enough. Or do you think taking the pill and the cream is too much.
Thanks!!!'
Sep 19, 2013
 Coralashley
by: Wray

Hi Coral The anxiety is from the progesterone stimulating oestrogen, causing Oestrogen Dominance. This invariably happens when too little is used. Although I prefer it if people use far more, I was concerned about the benzos you've been on. All I can suggest is play around with the amount. I suggest trying the cream on your skin, using it in the vagina means most of it is absorbed by the uterus. This is fine if there are uterine problems like heavy bleeding, pain, or pregnancy, but not if there are emotional issues. One study says "vaginal administration of progesterone can induce higher concentrations in the uterus, despite low concentrations in the systemic circulation." See here, here, here, here and here. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Sep 19, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: coralashley

Hi Wray, thanks for getting back to me.. I understand... But No I'm not on any benzos and haven't been for over 3 months now, PRAISE the LORD!
I hope the ostrogen dominance thing goes away soon!

I got my allegin test back and it was reactive to 27 foods, of which most I was eating... Lots of green veggies (spinae, brocolli, peas, green beans), most beans, calliflower, garlic, vanilla, yeast of any kind, wheat, pork (which I don't eat anyway), soybean, etc.

So I have elliminated those from my diet, etc.

I am a little scared to go back on the bioidentical pregnenolone and DHEA>.. but my doctor says to take them and I may feel worse before I feel better..

I thank you as always for your dedication, help and an ear to hear/listen!
Sep 22, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Oh yes I know you have been off the benzos for three months, which is such good news! It was because you had been on them I was concerned not to upset things. If you have allergies to those foods, my guess your vitamin D is still needing to be higher or have time to work. It's often a lack of this which causes them. High oestrogen can also make us sensitive to foods etc. I don't think you should eliminate the green veggies from your diet, they are so vital for our health. Wheat definitely should go, all grains in fact, and sugars too. Why not stick to the progesterone for now, and get stable on that before introducing the other two. I feel it's safer that way, no need to upset things too much, you've done so well up to now. Thanks for the kind words! Take care Wray
Sep 24, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi Wray, I am taking the dhea plus pregnenolone and things r ok for now.
I was on 5 htp and l-theanine but was having some adverse reactions to it. So my doctor told me to increase the progesterone cram by double. So I'll be on 50mg pill and 40mg vaginal cream.
My mom had cancer of the ovaries/uterus and I think that's why she put me in the vaginal cream.
Tonight was my 1st night of doubling the dose. So I hope it makes me feel really calm tomorrow.
Do you know anything about time release progesterone capsules and whether or not something like that is a good idea?

Also when u said u had concern about me being post benzo what did u men? Like maybe progesterone wasn't a good idea (which I'm pretty sure u didn't mean) or were u referring to something else?

Thank u!!!
Sep 25, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hello, I hope you're doing well. So last night I doubled my progesterone cream and today I felt calm but I still had lingering anxiety towards the end the day.
I really cannot stand taking all these bio identical hormones and they are not working 100%, plus they're expensive.
So I am considering Stopping all of these hormones and going on a new antidepressant that will work good for me. I have anxiety and from that I have maybe a little depression but u wouldn't know it if u saw me. It's more internal b/c I want to feel normal and get my weight/size back.
i haven't been on progesterone but for about five weeks or so do you think if i decide to discontinue it I can just stop taking it and I'll be okay?

Thanks! C
Sep 26, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: coralashley

Hi Wray, ok.. I've not been feeling good and now I know why..
I'm having inter dose withdrawls from the progesterone.. I take my progesterone each night between 8pm and 9pm.. and then by noon I start feeling anxiety.
it's like the benzo thing and now I'm having withdrawls from progesterone.
Can I stop the progesterone cold turkey since I"ve only been on it for 6 weeks at the max.. or would you suggest I continue on it and how should I continue it..
I didn't know taking progesterone was going to be like a benzo and I'd feel this way each afternoon.

Any help would be most helpful and I'm going to stop the Dhea/pregenolone too!
Sep 27, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Ok, see how you get on with them, just watch for any excess testosterone signs like Hair Loss or Acne. I'm pleased she's doubled the progesterone. Vaginal application is good if there are any uterine problems, as most of the progesterone is sequestered there. Vitamin D is also essential to prevent cancer, so too is taurine. I don't know anything about time release progesterone, unless they are implants under the skin. My concern was just that your body is now very sensitive. The benzos stimulate the GABA receptor sites, progesterone does too. But it's meant to, i.e. it does this naturally and no harm comes of it, I wasn't sure how you would react to slowly increasing it, as this usually makes matters worse. But evidently not in your case. I'm delighted everything seems to be going so smoothly for you, and that your doctor is helping you so much, unusual! Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Sep 27, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral This is precisely why I was concerned about you. Progesterone does activate the GABA receptor sites, as do the benzos, which is why they are given for Anxiety. And as I said early on, this is what you should have been given in the first place, and not the benzos! You have probably been short of progesterone, and had excess oestrogen for many years. I also said it should be used a minimum of twice a day, never only once a day! It doesn't surprise me you are getting anxiety. Levels of progesterone begin dropping after about 13 hours, it has to be used at least twice a day. I feel you should use it at least three times a day, 4 or 5 times would be good, just to top you up. I still do this, 17 years after having started it. Please avoid the antidepressant, it will only send you back to square one. You are doing so well, and haven't been on the progesterone long. It can take 3-6 months to come right, a small amount of time. Please read this comment here for encouragement. And are you taking those nutrients I suggested for anxiety? They are all listed on the anxiety page. You do need them as all your levels will be low. And don't forget the vitamin D. Please hang in there. Take care Wray
Sep 28, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Thank so very much! I've been on progesterone now for 1 month.
If I'm on 50 mg pill and I have bioidentical progesterone cream... What's the minimum u suggest I take?
Plus how much if I'm to take it 3x a day?
My metabolism is fast and I've always had trouble with meds working long enough for me and that's why when I was younger they had to change my ridaline to the time release kind b/c I would crash at the end of the day on the regular kind.
I could increase my capsule to 75mg and then how much should I take at night? And then as I had asked the other 2x what should I take for cream?
I'm ready to really give this a go and do it right.

Here r some weird things that have happened since on it, my nipples r sore, I get tingling thru my head, in my right hand fingers, in my right lower leg it feels like its going to go to sleep at times.

I stopped taking the pregnenolone/dhea capsule b/c I wasn't sure it was good and I think it was making me irritable.

I tried 5htp and l-theanine for a few days but I was getting so hungry and it made me gain like 2 pounds.

I've alas ways been so physically fit and right now no matter what I do I cannot lose weight and I cannot get back to my normal size which is 2 sizes smaller than I am.

I want this this to work for sure.

You r an angel to me and I appreciate your help!

Thanks!
Sep 28, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Oh I forgot to mention I am also a little more emotional (usually I'm not).. And moody later in the day.
And last night I took:
75 mg bio progesterone pill, plus 30mg vaginal cream.. Today I haven't had any..
This morning I woke up in not so happy of a mood..
Thanks!
Sep 29, 2013
 3 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral I don't like oral progesterone as you know, you're not getting much as it's mostly destroyed going through the gut and liver. So if you increase it would be better to use the cream. At least this can be applied any time you feel you need a boost. Particularly as you metabolise things quickly. Three time a day would be better, but better still, as and when you need it. Stick to the 50mg pill at night, and rub the cream on during the day, maybe up it by 30mg/day. Weird things can happen! It's not an easy road or a quick one, but so far you seem to be doing pretty well. If you took ritalin when younger, then you are short of tyrosine, which means you do not need 5HTP. Please try taking 100mg/day, it's best to start off very low to begin with, and work up very slowly. If you can't find 100mg capsule, then open the one you do find and take what you think is 100mg, it's not critical to get it accurate, it's only an amino acid, not a drug! It sounds like you have Insulin Resistance if you have difficulty loosing weight. Benzos can upset blood glucose and insulin sensitivity, see here. There are several nutrients which help reverse it, all listed on the page. You could try the Ketogenic Diet. It not only helps weight, but stabilises blood glucose too. You might like to read this comment 'Update on using Progesterone Creme and Weight Loss with Low Carb diet' here. Take care Wray
Sep 29, 2013
 3+ month post benzo
by: Coralashley

I simply adore u! Thank u!
I will get those supplements at my health food store and try them today..
So I should take my 50 mg progesterone pill at night with 30 mg progesterone cream? Or skip the cream at night?
And during the day 30 mg cream 3 x a day or
10 mg cream 3x per day.

I never used to have a problem with weight gain until I started taking remeron.. I'm now only on 4.20mg of remeron.. So after I get my period around the 9th of October I will cut my dose by 1mg... And hold there for 2 weeks before cutting again..
I'm getting so close to getting off it!

I'm excited about all this and will keep u posted!

May God richly bless you my beloved friend!
C
Sep 30, 2013
 3+ month post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral You do make me laugh! Bless you for those words, I'm not helping much, it's all your own doing. I suggest stick with the pill at night as it helps you sleep. And not use the cream at all, but use it during the day. Try the 30mg/day split into say 3 times. I know that's the amount you have been using, but see how that protocol works before increasing it. Then if you're happy with the result, increase the cream only by say another 30mg. Still taking the 50mg pill at night. This will give you 60mg in total during the day, also split this into three. You need to use it more frequently than just once a day, as it seems to disappear very quickly with you. Then see how you feel on that. Don't forget each time you increase by a little it will make you feel a bit wobbly, as it's the progesterone stimulating oestrogen. It will be so good to get off the remeron, you don't need drugs you need the nutrients. Please hang in there, you've come so far please don't let a wobbly day upset you. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Sep 30, 2013
 3+ Months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Thank u!
I've been taking the 50 mg pill at night and 30 mg progesterone cream for about a week now and I've tried 10mg or even 20 mg of progesterone in the morning..
I don't think that is enough during the day..
When I take the 50 mg pill and the 30 mg cream at night I feel pretty ok (not 100%) until about 11am - noon... Then I start getting dizzy a little, etc. I manage the anxiety but its not easy.
Yesterday later in the day I tried 10mg prigesterone and it made things things worse...
Would 30mg cream 3x a day work with the additional 50mg pill?
Or I could try 20mg 3x a day with the 50mg pill.

I'm was going to order that supplement u suggested on ur sitr but there not in right now on ur site. Then I remembered the new protein I bought "sun warrior protein" has a ton of amino acids in there and it has 800 or so grams of tyrosine. I just started using this protein b/c it is super good for u and its rice based which work with my food allergens.
Do u think its be wise to still order the supplement u have on ur site? If so I will.
i am going to order some of ur progesterone cream just so in case I am low, like I am on my cream, I have a back up! Would that be wise?

I started the ketogenic diet last night and I feel this may be what I've been needing.. I also am a student of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and one of the many books I was told to buy was "Why we get Fat" which was written by Gary Taubes... He was kind of the founder of that diet.. I started reading the book last night and its quite interesting... I had a delicious dinner (ketogenic) And then this morning I weighed myself and I lost 1 pound already! I respond very quickly to things and this is a good sign!
Plus it's nice to be able to eat Fat! I'm excited about the food today and ill keep u posted on the weight loss!

Thank you and let me know about the progesterone amounts I posted on above!

Thank you so very much!! :-)
Oct 01, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi Wray, so I spoke to my doctor and she wants to try something a little different with me..
taking a 100mg regular release progesterone capsule at night and a 100mg time release progesterone during the day.. plus up to 20mg of cream.
So she feels I may metaboliz thigns a little differently and I agree, b/c I have a fast metabolism, and my liver processes things a little differntly then most.
So I'm going to try this and see how I do..
If we need to increase, then we will.. put I feel good about this. Because when I've used the cream during the day it only aggreviates my syptoms.. So she said everyones metabolits metabolizes things a little different..
I do feel better once I've had the capsul at night, so I'm thinking this just might work.
I'll keep you posted!

Hugs!
Oct 02, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Using too little progesterone will make you feel worse, this is why I advocate using much more. But this concerned you, so I chose to follow your instincts. You are reacting to the topical progesterone as everyone does, badly if the amount is too low! There's info on our Oestrogen Dominance page. I'll be very interested to hear how you fare on the doctors protocol, as you know I don't have much faith in oral progesterone! It's giving you so little, although it does help sleep. So please let me know. I'm so delighted you're trying the keto diet, it is brilliant and makes so much sense too. Please read that link I gave you above 'Update on using Progesterone Creme and Weight Loss with Low Carb diet'. She's added more to her comment which has made me laugh! She's a firm believer in the keto diet, and amazingly her endocrinologist suggested it to her. Taube's book is excellent, so pleased you've started reading it. It will come in handy when advising others of what to eat. Don't forget you can get a detox reaction when starting the keto diet. It lasts about a week, and you feel tired, lethargic, foggy brained, maybe achy and flu like. It's nothing more than the body adjusting to very little glucose, and using ketones for energy. Please don't think it's the progesterone causing this! Hugs to you too! Take care Wray
Oct 06, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi, so yesterday I took 100 mg of regular progesterone capsule at night then during the morning I took hundred milligram sustained progesterone capsule. And I felt so good yesterday and I was like wow this is great.
But then today I did the same thing and I don't feel as well.
My jaw was clinched and my jaw is sore from it..
Could it be estrogen is already fighting the progesterone?
Is this always going to be like this?
I am about to want to say forget this progesterone stuff.. Is it really worth it?
I told my doctor before she prescribed me more oral capsules about the cream, etc but I had told her that the cream caused me not too feel as well.. That was before your last comment on this page that if I'm not taking enough I'll feel that way. So I'm at a loss. I spent so much money on the darn stuff, I don't even know what to say.
At least when I wasnt on the progesterone I had more good days than not.
Maybe because I was on benzo for so long this stuff is messing with my GABA receptor sites too much and maybe i need more time to heal. What do you think about that thought?

I want to feel good all the time!

I did want to mention I had progesterone made by 2 different compound pharmacies, one was accredited and one wasn't. I have now found that the one that's not accredited their progesterone capsules make me not feel so good. So I don't use anymore and I only use the one I got from the accredited pharmacy. They say that their capsules are absorbed 50% of it is absorbed. They've done studies shows that it absorbs much better because they use an olive oil base.

Anyways, I look forward to hearing from you and what you think on why i might feel this way and should I stop taking the dose during the day?
I just don't want to have to take anything!
Oct 08, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi I'm here to make an update.. So Monday and today, Tuesday, I took only 100mg progesterone capsule at night and 10mg progesterone cream.
I feel better but what I'm thinking is I was on too much b/c it made me way hyper and high strung. I didn't even sleep well on that much, 100 mg progesterone day and 100 mg night plus 10 mg progesterone at night too.. But stores I've read though when they were on too much they were way tired, well I was just the opposite.
So here's my thinking, I should try 50mg at night with 10mg cream (rotating 10mg 1-10 during menses and then 20mg cream 11-till period), 50mg in the am and another 50mg in the afternoon if I need it.

I was supposed to get my period on the 9th of the month but I got it in the 3rd... And u still have it.. So it's lasting longer than normal.
My nipples were really sore but now they only are slightly. Before my period I got a some cramps, which I haven't gotten in years.. And my breasts/nipples hurt which they havent hurt since my pregnancies.

I keep going back and forth with whether I should stay on this or not. I hate being on any medicine! I'm sooo afraid of how hard it was for me to get off of the benzos and now I'm back in something that effects my Gaba..

Just so I know if I wanted to stop taking the progesterone and I've been on it for 6-7 weeks now, could I just stop it and how long with the side effects from stopping it last?

Thanks agsin for ur help and support!
Oct 09, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral I know how you're feeling, but it's not a quick fix. And of course you know my views on oral progesterone! The small amount you're getting is stimulating oestrogen which is why you feel bad. You do need to use a topical progesterone to get it's full benefit, and you do need more. But you could stop using it and see how you get on. You could instead take the nutrients listed on the Anxiety page. Why not try that? Take care Wray
Oct 10, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral It's oestrogen again, it does upset things. It's so essential to stick with one amount of progesterone, and not go up and down. Each time you increase slightly, oestrogen will be stimulated. Each time you reduce, oestrogen will rise. I think I have just suggested in my last email that you try the nutrients to help anxiety, and give progesterone a break. But you must reduce it slowly, do not go cold turkey off it. This will cause oestrogen to shoot up and you'll be back at square one. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Oct 11, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi Wray, I only took the 100mg at night and during the day twice... So u think estrogen can shoot up that quickly?
I dropped back down to 50mg in the pm and I'm trying it during the day... This is my. 2 nd day during that and
My jaw is clinched so hard that its super sore..
I don't want to try those supplements b/c I know the progesterone must be the right thing..
Every time I use the progesterone during the day it's not so good.. Ill have 1 great day and then by the 2nd day it's not s good.
If estrogen does go up as u decrease how long does that happen till u feel normal again?

I'm so upset about all this..

I am also about to go on treatment for Wilson's temperature syndrome.. That will start late next week.. Which could also be why all this isn't working for me.. It's a thyroid thing.

But I do want to get the progesterone right..
I have the oral, so how do u suggest I take it?
Also if I come off it, what tapering schedule do u suggest?

Hugs and thanks!
Oct 14, 2013
 3+ months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral It's so difficult to advise you. I do know playing around with the amount in the early days, also plays havoc with how we feel. It is essential to stick to the same amount. In your case you felt happier increasing it slowly, although as I've said it can cause adverse side effects, as it stimulates oestrogen. I always prefer going very high to begin with. But I respect your anxiety about doing this, so was happy to try to guide you the slow increase way. The problem is you also go to a naturopath who also gives you advice. I really think it's best to stick with one person, you will get into such a muddle if not. If you have a problem with your thyroid, I suggest you have an iodine test done, selenium if they do it. I know it's very rare to check for tyrosine, you could try. These three supplements make up the nutrients needed to make T3 and T4, without them, no matter how well the thyroid functions, it won't be able to. So they remain low, this then sends a message to the pituitary to send out TSH to tell the thyroid to make more, but it can't. So the pituitary keeps pumping our more TSH. This is what they tat for, and if it's high, and T4 is low, they'll want to give you thyroxine. When in fact all you need are the three nutrients. A lack of vitamin D impacts on thyroid function too, see here, here, here, here, here and here. Please keep your level up high, it's essential to have a test ever 6 months. Take care Wray
Oct 15, 2013
 4 months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi wray! I just got off the phone with my doctor and she wants me to try just the progesterone cream now.
So I'm going to play with the doses as she's given me free range to do so.
Like you she said each form of progesterone is absorbed a different way. So I'm going to try just the cream tonight.
Also she is going to start me on the T 3 therapy for Wilson's temperature Syndrome.
Plus she is ordering me a test to have my supplements and neurotransmitters tested. This way we can zone in and find out where I may be lacking.
Yeah, she is a good doctor that is for sure!
:-)
Oct 17, 2013
 4 months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Well I'm very pleased about this! I'm pleased she's going to do those tests, please get her to check your iodine level. If this is too low, the thyroid slows down. Without iodine we can't make T4 or T3. It could be this is all you need and not T3, unless your body is deficient in selenium, which is needed to convert the T4 into T3. And of course tyrosine. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray
Oct 20, 2013
 4+ months post benzo
by: Coralashley

Hi Wray, I wanted to update you. I started that Wilson temperature syndrome treatment this Saturday and I'm already feeling pretty good.
This is what I've been searching for and I know once I reach my 98.6 temperature all day long I will of succeeded in this quest. A lot of my symptoms were the same as Wilson's temp syndrome.

I do want to mention that since I just went on the bioidentical progesterone cream 40mg, I got my period again. I had my period earlier this month and as I just mentioned I got it again. So I'm not sure what that means if I'm on too much or if I'm on too little. My my nipples are a little sore and tender. Also when I sleep during the night I do wake up some and find it harder to fall back asleep and I was sweating some during the night.
I did start my t3 thyroid treatment This Saturday so I take it two times a day, one at 7 AM and one at 7 PM. so I understand the thyroid bioidentical capsules will and can affect sleep.
All of what I just mentioned was prior to me starting the thyroid treatment.

Thank you for your help!! Hugs!!
Oct 21, 2013
 4+ months post benzo
by: Wray

Hi Coral Well I'm so pleased you are being helped by the treatment for your thyroid. Progesterone can upset the cycle, it's usually only during the beginning stages of using it. But you have been changing things quite a lot over the time you've written in here. Amounts going up and down, cream and pills, it's all too confusing for the body! See how you get on in the coming weeks. I feel you will need more, but stick to the 40mg/day for now. Besides you've also only just started the Wilson's treatment, if the thyroid improves, it will help the progesterone. So please give it a bit of time to all settle down. But this so delights me....4+ months post benzo! Hugs to you too! Take care Wray
Jan 07, 2014
 Weaning...
by: Anonymous

When is the best time during the cycle to wean from progesterone cream? I have been taking 200mg for two months and feel so much better, all of my symptoms are gone.
Jan 09, 2014
 Almost 7 months post benzo
by: Corlashley

Hi Wray!! Big hugs!

I posted wrong I'm almost 7 months post benzo!! I'm almost 2 months post remeron!

I feel much better since I started applying the progesterone cream around my vagina again! It's crazy that by applying it to my skin I started having withdrawals bc I had been applying it to my girl area for months.
Things are going well and I appreciate you soooo much!!

I take 30 mg progesterone cream and 50mg progesterone pill, 1x each night… Do you think that is a minimal amount? In an ideal world what would be the best amiunt I should take and should I divide it up between 2 times in the day. I do like the 50mg pill bc it helps my sleep too!

The Wilson temperature syndrome therapy has been a life saver! I now know my mild axiety is due to my thyroid. Even though my thyroid blood test came back normal, my levels were lower than ideal... But now I know the reason the Wilson temperature syndrome therapy works for me bc my t4 wasn't converting to t3 properly.
S
ometimes on this therapy I experience NO anxiety whatsoever and that is when my temperature is 98.6, etc.

Hugs again to you for all you do!!!
Feb 18, 2014
 Progest - Come off or stay on?
by: Anonymous

I am a little late to jump in but I was hoping maybe you all could give me some insite to what’s going on with me.

I am 42, I have take 1 packet of progest (Emerita pre-measured packets) on day 14- of my cycle until I menstruate – There has even been months
I have taken it all month and only stopped on the days I menstruate. I have been taking this for 3 ½ years now.

About 4 months ago I started to get anxiety like symptoms (which I have never had before in my life) that made my heart rate race and my mind would not shut off, I went 5 days with absolutely NO sleep what so ever. Went to the Dr. TWICE, had full up hormone levels checked and she said everything is “in range”. She gave me lunesta to help me sleep.

And that’s about it. (I only take the lunesta on the days I cannot get to sleep after 2 hours in bed, I do not want to become addicted to it). So, fast forward, this still happens every month and I’ve also put on about 8 pounds despite the fact that I have maintained my weight for the past 17 years through clean eating and exercise 6 days a week. I’ve been doing some reading and I have read that at some point your body / fat becomes saturated with the Progesterone Cream and it no longer works.

So, this month I was thinking about quiting cold turkey, I’m scared to use it anymore worried that I may have messed up my hormones. The main reason I started taking it 3 ½ years ago is because I have breast cancer history on both sides of my family and I know it’s caused by estrogen dominance so to be pro-active I started taking the progest to keep my estrogen low.

Would love to hear your feedback and what I should try?? Should I come off the Progest? Ears are open. Thank you .
Apr 18, 2014
 Stop or continue progesterone cream during pregnancy
by: RT

Hi,
I am 13 weeks pregnant have been on the bio-identical progesterone cream Progensa Plus since 4 months before I got pregnant. I am doing 10mg twice daily. My first pregnancy was a miscarriage at 14weeks and that is the reason my ND put me on this cream. I got my progesterone tested at 8 weeks and it was 21.5 which my doctors said was good but my ND was concerned as it should be higher due to supplementation. I was planning on weaning off the cream during my 16th week but am unable to decide whether I should actually get off of it or should continue using it for a longer time or through out my pregnancy. My ND would rather wanted me to wean off at 16th week but said I could stay on it if I wanted to. But my only concern is would it be masking an abnormal pregnancy if any and if there would be any issues after pregnancy if I continued to use it through the end of the term.
Unable to decide if I should wean off and stop or continue, and how do I decide firmly on one, would any testing before stopping help. My Ob-GYN says that after 10 weeks there is no point as the placenta takes over and this supplementation does not aid the progesterone that the placenta produces, which does not make sense to me since anything consumed into the body reaches the baby via the placenta !! Progesterone supplementation is one thing I have been so confused about and now this just adds to the already confused state.
Thanks.
Sep 02, 2014
 CONFUSED IN SOUTH CAROLINA
by: Saundra Sharp

i AM 70 years old. I've been on estrogen therapy 2 mg. esterol since I was 40 and had my overlies removed. I've been on Lorespam 1 mg.for 25 years. I was using progesterone cream (don't know the MG. for about 6 months and stopped when I broke out in hives, 6 weeks ago. My body feels like its a car on low idle. My left arm and hand are tremoring through motions. In somnia is worse. I've read that estrogen has some protective benefits for the brain, so now I don't know what is causing what. HELP!
Sep 20, 2014
 progesterone weaning
by: Jen15

I had a baby 16 months ago and after, I was experiencing depression, fatigue (more than normal) couldn't connect with my baby do my doc put me on zoloft in July 2013. On Dec, I started experiencing more fatigue, pelvic pressure, mem PO ry loss, extreme sensitivity to stress, bad acne breakouts, & many other symptoms so my doc checked my thyroid, said it was low and prescribed levothyroxine which I refused to take because I wanted to know what the root problem was so I want getting any answers from my doc nor did they feel it necessary to explore possibilities so I went to a natural path doc who checked my patuitary, cortisol, thyroid and hormone levels. I had quit eating gluten as I know that affects me a lot not to mention thyroid function and some energy returned. The test results then showed that my thyroid was fine but my cortisol is low and I am estrogen dominant which serms to be hereditary in my family. He put me on bioidentical compound progesterone cream 100mg daily. Slowly, the symptoms started to go away. In june we decided to get eesure biryh contr so...the doc gave me a shot of depo which is 15/ ml of progesterone to make sure I dont bleed during the procedure, I started spotting on june 29th and the procedure was scheduled for august 8th, I hadnt stopped bleeding so they couldnt do the procedure, sent me home with another shot of depo to try again in 10 days plus some progesterone pills, didnt work, cancelled and took it as a sign its not meant to be. So...im still spotting, some days are heavier than others, I still wake up drenched in sweat between the breasts and I wake up every night between 2-3am & cant go back to sleep, I feel exhausted, kind of depressed and gaining weight due to increased appetite. By my estimation, the shots will last until november 8th but in the mean time, ive been taking "non-habit forming" sleep aid which I still wake up but I wonder if all this is due to the progesterone and if I should wean off the 100ng cream, if so how? can anyone help me?
Jan 16, 2015
 Help
by: Anonymous

I was prescribed compounded progesterone pills and bi est cream. Can I quit cold turkey. Insurance won't pay for compound any more

Yes you can, no harm is done although you might experience some Oestrogen Dominance symptoms. Unpleasant but not harmful. Take care Wray
Sep 29, 2015
 Confused as what amount is right for my balance.
by: Julie

Hi Wray,

I had a total hysterectomy 10 tears ago and did not go on HRT at that time - my intuition was against it. I just bared out the uncomfortable symptoms. Now I have started progesterone cream at 20mg twice a day - and have been doing this aprox 2 months. I have felt a bit better over all, but it has not been a life changer (fatigued, acne, bloating, stubborn weight loss). I am 52 and live an active lifestyle. I eat very healthily and I go to the gym and do a combination of treadmill and light weight training. I understand that having progesterone missing for a decade it's probably needed at a higher dose for awhile but I'm not sure what how long that is until I need to back off, or even how much to begin with. Please help!
Oct 27, 2015
 Do not cold turkey from cream!
by: Anonymous

Thank goodness for valium - never thought I would ever write that! Was on 20mg prog cream per day - spent a fortune at a private clinic in London that supposedly provides bespoke treatments. In perimenopause, prescribed progesterone despite having no blood test taken to verify. After 2 months started to have dry falling out hair, itchy skin and 40+ hot flushes a day. Got capillary blood tested (check BMJ article gives more accurate readings for transdermal than saliva or venous blood which can show normal levels even when showing toxic symptoms). My progesterone levels were over 10 times the maximum expected in the luteal phase - not a surprise when (I am a biochemist) researching progesterone to discover how lipophilic it is and so builds in tissues and releases unpredictable amounts into the blood - I knew there was no way of weaning off such an item and levels were already high so I just quit. The following 3 days were ok just had a weird pressure feeling around my brain. Felt wired the two days after then all hell broke loose days 5-7 with vomiting, nausea, burning skin and severe agitation (with no ability to sleep just 'crawling the walls'). Having being through benzo cold turkey 8 years earlier this was frighteningly similar and knowing progesterone is also a GABA agonist pretty much to be expected. The half life does seem to be very similar to valium too. people mistakenly think you will 'feel better' when the product leaves the body, no this is untrue its a case of your synapses and nervous system repairing itself and starting to naturally produce its own GABA which can take months if in cold turkey. I am now on 10mg valium for a week and feel drowsy but a million times better and will now go through the taper process I did 8 years ago (it was fine and I managed to work through it with the exception of a few bad days). I feel stupid for having used progesterone cream despite my scientific knowledge but no-one is infallible and many people can probably happily metabolise it.... but many like myself cannot and should be careful.
Nov 28, 2015
 Blood clots seen in period
by: Anonymous

Does progesteron cream causes clots
Dec 19, 2015
 Males Tapering from Progesterone
by: Mike

Hi... I was prescribed compounded Progesterone Cream, 100 mg twice daily (am and pm).

I would like to start tapering off as I will have to start tapering from a benzo at some point in the future, and don't want to subject myself to a dual withdrawal.

What would be a good tapering schedule from 100 mg twice daily?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Mike
Jan 10, 2016
 What happened?!
by: Greta

I am 31. Recently I decided to take charge of my hormones by eating organic and exercising. My period started on its own for the first time in years. Previously I would have to be on birth control to regulate due to the polycystic ovarian syndrome. I went to a new doctor who gave me 400mg progesterone to take on days 1-10 of the month to start a period. I told her that my cycles had started on their own but she still wanted me to take it. She never tested my levels to see what they were. So in December I started taking them. On day 8 I started to get very anxious and would feel light headed. My cycle started on day 11, and I started to feel better. Although I didn't feel like my normal self until christmas. In January, I start the 400mg(orally) and the first night, I woke up feeling anxious and crying. So the next night I only took 200mg and felt worse. The third night, I stopped all together and it was awful! I had anxiety attacks I cried and was shaking. It was a nightmare. I call the doctor and she says that progesterone doesn't do that and to stop taking it. She said that all progesterone does is make you bleed and that I may have a mental health issue. Ithe has been 5 days since I took progesterone and I have to stay on prozac 20mg and xanax .5mg just to make it through the day. I have never had anxiety and I've never suffered from mental illness. This all started when I took progesterone. My question is, when will I feel like normal again? She never took my labs so maybe 400mg was too much since my cycles were starting on their own? Where do I go from here?
Feb 05, 2016
 Funny feeling in my Head
by: Anonymous

Hi, I am almost 47 and in peri menopause,I have been taking progesterone cream for about 4 month now. I started the cream due to the fact that I thought I had estrogen dominance. Since I am unable to see a doctor I had done some research on the Internet and all signs pointed to estrogen dominance. About a month ago I was reading on this website to take more progesterone cream even though I am on my period. However, since I started using more cream I have been feeling funny such as heart palpitations, as well as my head feeling funny. The feeling is very hard to explain, but I' will try. I feel like I am somewhat tipsy, dizzy, lightheaded, poor concentration and just an overall not feeling well. I am afraid to go places because I have been feeling this way 24/7 for about a month now. I was thinking of stopping the cream in hopes that it might stop. I am just not sure what causes this and I am getting frustrated. I know the progesterone cream helpful in many menopausal issues but I am wondering if I should start from scratch. Any suggestions would help. Thank you Petra
Feb 06, 2016
 After a year on high dose progesterone
by: Anonymous

For post
I was able to keep myself from bleeding out and narrowly escaped a blood transfusion with a hemoglobin of 7.3. I am now no longer anemic after several years of anemia. Note my dose was 340 mg a day of progesterone for one year. 300 mg applied vaginally (100 mg capsules of generic prometrium 3 times a day) and 40 mg applied to the skin (two 20 mg dose from over the counter bioidentical progesterone creams). Despite sideeffects i think it was a good decision compared to my remaining alternatives. A lower dose did not work and i posted before a coupke of times- once right before i started the year on it.

I have been off it now for two months - but my saliva progesterone level seems alarmingly high - its at 3500! Note that after i had been on it for 4 months, my progesteone level was 530 and before i started any it was extremely low. All 3 times tested at same lab same time of day. My estrogen level now is extremely low at 0.7 so my progestetone/estrogen ratio is in the stratosphere)

How long until this amount of progesterone will go back to pre-supplement levels? Its making me sleepy constantly, is suppressing eosinophils , possibly suppressing other immune components, and is probably keeping extrogen from getting where it needs to given the relation between the hormones (other symptoms may be due to de reasing extrogen including repeayed nightime hot flashes). Interestingly i am sleepier now that i am off it. When on it, had different side effets ((made me stupid and unmotivated and not like myself at all andWorsening "brain zaps"

The question is not how to treat symptoms but just how long til my progestetone levels goes back to pre supplement levels. Thanks for input (btw, i am now 55 but with my luck, once the progesterone levels are low enuf to allow estrogen to do its thing, i might even start cycling again...)

In case it matters for the answer, the heavy bleeding requiring progesterone seemed to be a combo of intracavitary fibroids and then in the last year, estrogen dominance as well)
Apr 05, 2016
 Stopping Progesterone
by: Anonymous

Hello, I saw my MD today and he wants me to stop my bio identical progesterone 200mg daily so we can start from scratch and get a baseline of my hormones. I was started on 100mg about 7 months ago. My saliva tests ahowed my progesterone was 19 and my estrogen to progesterone ratio didn't even exist because the hormones were so out of whack. Less than 0 is what the person said that gave me my results. The 100 mg wasn't enough because I was still having a lot of hot flashes and extreme exhaustion so it was increased to 200mg. Well about a month ago I started losing more and more hair and developing acne again. Much edema throughout the month especially in my breast area and stomach. Should I go cold turkey cutting out the progesterone? My MD doesn't want me to suffer a lot with symptoms so he said go off them about 1-2 weeks and we will test to see what my baseline is. I've already cut back. I'm taking 200mg every other day and boy can I feel a difference. Thanks so much in advance!
Apr 06, 2016
 To the person who posted April 5th
by: Anonymous

Not sure your age but I took Progest cream for 3 years and it did me wonders but then one day it was just to much for me, my hormones went CRAZY and I had severe I insomnia - it really ended up messing me up, I went COLD TURKEY, I was fine, nothing crazy happened, been off of it 15 months now and I too had VERY low other hormones if not ZERO on my blood and saliva tests.
My face is totally clear thanks to this product: http://www.amazon.com/Estroblock-Capsules--Anti-Estrogen-Aromatase-Inhibitor/dp/B00GZRH5Q4/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1459951146&sr=8-2&keywords=estroblock

I don't have high estrogen but this product makes it so I don't have acne (totally clear and I have never been clear) and my breast no longer hurt or swell, it's been a life saver.

GOOD LUCK!!! hang in there, you are not alone.
Apr 19, 2016
 Bruxism and Neck Spasms at Night-teeth shattering
by: Anonymous

I had blood tests and showed very low progesterone . I have been on 300mg day of bio id transdermal cream. I feel it has a calming effect. However, now on it for several months, I have developed teeth shattering bruxism and severe neck spasms at night which I have not had before. I have literally broken teeth. I have been to dentist, bite is correct. Is it possible the bruxism and spasming is from the progesterone? i started at a lower dose and worked up to this higher dose. After a few months+ on it, the problems began. Thank you.
Apr 19, 2016
 What is PND symptoms?
by: Anonymous

I started low dose oral troche, then moved to transdermal about 300mg day which I have been on for since Feb 1 to April 19, so 2.5 months. I developed severe bruxism at night and wonder if though odd it may be, it is the cream and I need to eliminate it. Being at 300 mg for two+ months and a very low dose prior for 3 months, is it safe to just stop, or should I taper, if so how? What is PND symptoms? Thank you.
May 23, 2016
 Weight Gain
by: RONDA

I had started progesterone cream about two years ago because of low progesterone levels. Along with that had got on Zoloft for bad anxiety I had at the same time. During the first year I have gained 20 pounds that with better eating and exercise cannot seem to lose one bit of it. I weaned off Zoloft thankfully because I was feeling better. I figured that was the cause of my 20 lbs weight gain and that it would start shedding off. Months later, the 20lbs is still on me, and I am beginning to wonder if my progesterone cream is to blame for the weight gain instead. I was on 150mg, and asked the doctor to decrease due to my weight gain. Have been on 100mg since January, and still no weight loss. My saliva tests showed that my progesterone was at 23,281, when the range is supposed to be between 145-797. Given this result, am I using way too much progesterone at this point? And is this the reason I have gained weight?
Sep 03, 2017
 Want to stabilize progesterone at a lower level
by: Ava

Took 107mg progesterone cream for about 1.5 years for sleep (post-menopause). Helped wonderfully until 3 months ago. Then I developed insomnia again (waking after about 2 hours sleep & unable to sleep). Wondered why the progesterone had stopped working. Labs indicated my progesterone is right in the middle of the range now. Found an article which said progesterone can interfere in some people with adrenals, etc.

I don't want to go off entirely because I figure I'll just end up too low again, and want to balance out my estriol cream for vaginal dryness. But I figure my body does better at a lower level than current. Any particular way to wean to a lower dose? And since it's a hormone, is it best to continue daily, just at less?

I skipped two days for a jump start, then took half a dose last night. The article suggested that it's quite complicated to reduce effectively if your adrenals have been affected.
May 17, 2018
 Surgery - stop progesterone cream
by: Anonymous

I am having surgery and was told to stop the progesterone cream two weeks prior.

First do I have to stop for surgery - DVT risks?
Second, how long to wean if I am taking about 20mg per day?
Dec 30, 2023
 Help
by: Nix4u23

I’ve been taking about 400mg for years now. When I attempt to wean off I end up with severe migraines. Menstrual bleeding and a host of unpleasant symptoms! Why do I have such a severe reaction to weaning off?
Dec 31, 2023
 Help
by: Joy

Hi Nix4u23

I am assuming the 400mg that you are using is a cream and not oral. How much cream are you reducing by? Natpro progesterone dispenser delivers 50mg per full pump at a time. I suggest you reduce by 50mg and stay on that reduced amount for about a week. Continue to reduce if you feel stable. Should your adverse symptoms return, then 400mg progesterone cream such as Natpro which is a 3% cream is the amount of progesterone that your body needs. You will have to experiment to see what works for you best.

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