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Sleep is still an issue on progesterone cream

by Diana
(UK)

I am 43 and about 6 months ago I started having insomnia, anxiety, mild depression, heart palpitations - it went on for a few weeks and I went to see a menopause doctor. Based on my symptoms and an initial consultation (no tests) she prescribed a compounded progesterone cream, 10mg twice a day.
I began seeing an improvement, slowly, over 4-6 weeks.
After 6 weeks she upped my dose, at 20mg twice a day.
Symptoms improved even more, slowly, my sleep became so much better, no anxiety, I was my old happy self.
This went on for a month or two and then I had a stressful few weeks with work and other things that happened in my life and slowly all my symptoms came back: very sore breasts, sleep disturbances, anxiety, heart palpitations.
I upped my dose on her advice, I am now on 80mg per day, split morning and night.
It has been about a week on this dose and I am not having any relief.
I know the general advise is to increase even more, but I am kind of scared to do that.
I just can't figure out how I was doing so well on a small dose of 20mg twice a day and now even this higher dose doesn't seem to help.
I would appreciate any advice.

Comments for Sleep is still an issue on progesterone cream

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Dec 17, 2019
 Sleep still an issue
by: Rachel

Probably because progesterone effects accumulate and intensify as you carry on using it. Someone will come and probably say that’s not true but my bio identical hormone specialist told me that was what was happening to me, and my symptoms were exactly as yours. She was also horrified that I was using so much.
Also, your adrenals use progesterone to create cortisol, and it seems for some people with tired adrenals, they just keep making more cortisol, from progesterone.
I became an insomniac on as much p as you are using. And the awful thing was, I never even felt that tired. My cortisol was sky high.
It is quite ridiculous. Your body never requires that much progrsterone!
Natpro is a fantastic hormone cream, but I completely disagree that we should keep piling it on and upping doses.
Dec 18, 2019
 Sleep is still an issue on progesterone cream
by: Joy

Hi Diana

You are not using enough progesterone. Between 100-200mg is needed. Anything less will aggravate estrogen receptors and add to Estrogen Dominance symptoms. Please read the How to use Progesterone Cream page for more information.

Stress destroys so many things including progesterone, more needs to be used during stressful times. The Anxiety page may also help you.

We are all different, what suits one may not suit another. You will have to experiment with the amount of cream to suit you, you may even need to use more the 200mg.

Vitamin D3 is very important, a deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone. Nothing less than 5,000iu's per day is needed. Optimal range is between 70-100ng/ml. Magnesium and vitamin K2 with no soy are important co-factors needed when taking vitamin D3.
Dec 18, 2019
 Thank you
by: Diana

Thank you for your replies.

Rachel- I agree with your comments regarding high doses of progesterone cream.
The reason my doc started me low and slow on progesterone is because she was worried it could convert into cortisol, making my symptoms worse.
That didn't happen initially and I was really pleased. I do feel that progesterone accumulates in the body and the effects increase as the time goes by.

I forgot to mention I take some supplements: holy basil, L Theanine, Taurine, a multivitamin, vitamin D 3000.

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