What HRT meds have worked for you?

[Anonymous]

I’m 50 and started the combi patch 3 months ago. Since then, I’ve gained 8 lbs, injured my back and have random menstrual spotting. Of course, I have no idea if those things are related to the meds, but I definitely can’t say I feel “better” since starting the patch.

Any suggestions? What’s worked for you?

My ob/gyn’s next appointment isn’t for a month and I want to gather info before then. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Inner Balance (Oestra) was initially incredibly helpful to me -- it's a vaginal cream with both estrodiol and progesterone -- but because it's an all-in-one, once you get some good hormones into your system, you may need to go off it to fine-tune. (For example, I think I need more estrogen and less progesterone in my dose, but that's not an option.)

[Anonymous]

Was on Prempro for a few years then dr. said I shouldn't because of cancer risks with long term use. I want to ask her if I can go back on after a few years without it because of loss of bone density.

[Anonymous]

I have a 0.075 estradiol patch, applied 2x per week. 100mg of progesterone at night. My hot flashes are gone and my sleep is fixed. My doctor always asks about spotting but I haven’t had any. YMMV

[Anonymous]

I am on the .1 estrogen patch and 200 mg progesterone oral. I started on the 025. patch and kept going up. I don’t think I really felt better until I got to the higher level of estrogen. The progesterone without the higher estrogen actually might’ve made things worse. But now that I’m on the higher patch, I feel great.

[Anonymous]

Everything makes me worse low dose combo, patches, POP all of it

[Anonymous]

My symptoms improved when I went on the twice weekly .05 estradiol patch and nightly 200mg progesterone. I started at .025 patch and 100mg; dosage increase helped menopausal symptoms.

According to my gyno and the pharmacist at my CVS, not all patches work for everyone even if the active ingredients are the same. Right now, I have Dotti. It seems to impact me the same way as the generic I previously had, but the pharmacist warned me of potential changes she's heard of others experiencing.

I haven't lost weight or gotten amazing muscle tone or anything in the past couple years since starting, but hot flushes, emotional issues, and brain fog have gone away.

[Anonymous]

How do you know what patch dose?

[Anonymous]

For me, .0375 patch by Sandow and a Mirena IUD helped me feel somewhat normal again. I al 53. Weight- I am just accepting that I will not be a size 4 again and that is ok. I can legg press 290 though and easily curl 30 lb dumb bells now though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know what patch dose?

Start at a low dose like 0.025 and then try higher doses gradually if needed. It takes a few weeks to adjust and know if it works.