Does Progesteron make depressed?

[rusalka]

Since one week I'm using progesteron, first as a cream, since yesterday as a capsule, 100 mg. ( I'm on estrogel too). I have a feeling that since then I feel depressed, more then just usual PMS. It's strange, because I'm on an AD (valdoxan) for 6 weeks now and I actually shouldn't feel depressed. But I do, mixed with anxiety. Anxiety is my old symptom, but depression isn't really my issue.
It is possible that this is a side effect of P? I have read on the package leaflet that depression is one of the most common side effects Great! I don't need this, I have enough to do with my anxiety.
Any similar experiences?
Thank you!

[jacksfullofaces]

Rusalka
It is easy to get a side effect if you read the packaging when starting the medicine. Try it for another few ays and see how you feel
Jacks xxx

[susan]

I think it is probably to early to say Rusalka, maybe stick with it for a while longer as it could just be a coincidence that it has come on at this time, or even if it s the initial introduction of the progesterone it could very easily level out after a week or two as your system gets used to it. Here in the UK we are recommended to try everything for a minimum of three months to get over any initial problems as its after that the real benefit of the product itself takes over. ( unless it is making you really sick like vomiting etc hen we would stop). Sometimes you just have to ride out the initial changes in mood to get to the good things.

xxxx

[rusalka]

Thank you for your answers! Normally I felt during the PMS little bit sad and down with the mood, bit not really depressed. but since few days I feels like really depressed, which is scaring me and causing me severe anxiety. Yesterday I didn't take the capsule and today I feel anxious, but less depressed. Will see how I will feel during the day.

[susan]

What progesterone is it rusalka ? I think the one that is most associated with PMT, mood change is called norethisterone.


xxxx

[rusalka]

Oct 10, 2012 7:52:07 GMT susan said:

What progesterone is it rusalka ? I think the one that is most associated with PMT, mood change is called norethisterone.


xxxx

It is called Utrogestan, 100 mg. bio identical progesteron.

[jacksfullofaces]

I did very badly without adequate amounts of progesterone.Pre menstrually I suffered headaches, irritability and depression during my late twenties. I spoke at length to my GP (at the time Dr Katerina Dalton was pioneering progesterone treatment) the doctor gave me dydrogesterone and I knew things were better when I was playing a chess tourney and noticed my period had started. It was a complete life saver.
Then a couple of years ago I was aware that again I was suffering progesterone deficiency symptoms - heavy menstruation and cramping. The Pro Gest wasn't cutting it and I was constantly irritable and suffered headaches.
The Utrogestan was complete bliss and if I have a day pre menstrually and show signs of needing progesterone I take a second capsule in the morning.
Uzzi Reiss's book Superwoman has plenty of valuable information about supplementing with progesterone and he believes there is no standard dose - all depends on the individual female.
Frankly if I had a hysterectomy I would still take Utrogestan.
Jacks

[Gelis]

I took dydrogesterone alone for many years to sort out my very erratic cycle, and to help with PMS symptoms. It was a life saver for me. It certainly didn't cause depression & low moods - quite the reverse.

Gxx

[jacksfullofaces]

I found that when my progesterone dropped my cholesterol rose. When I started using Utrogestan it fell from 6.2 to 5.0 I don't think this is coincidental as cholesterol is produced in excess by the liver when a hormone is low.
Jacks

[susan]

I think dydrogesterone was the progesterone in the Femoston-Conti tablet HRT I was on Gelis and I did well on it in terms of mood. I would have been having a small dose everyday.

xxxx

[Gelis]

Yes, it would have been, Susan. I took it alone for a long time, as I said, and then as the prog part of Femoston 2/20

Gxx

[rusalka]

Oct 10, 2012 9:18:28 GMT @bellaciao said:

Hi rusalka

I was trying to find out if you are progesterone intolerant - to explain whether your feelings of depression could be caused by the progesterone.

Normally during the scond half of the cycle progesterone starts to rise just after ovulation and then keeps going up to a peak and then beings to fall again. The drop in progesterone stimulates mensturation.

Many women feel the effects of progesterone to some extent during this part of the cycle - ie feeling increasingly tired, perhaps some fluid retention or a bit of bloating - but nothing too bad.

Most women though feel the effects of the sudden drop in progesterone which leads to the classic pmt feelings of tension, irritability, anxiety, headache, tearfulness, fuzzy head etc - but this is not due to the progesterone itself.

A few unlucky women feel tired, lethargic and depressed for the whole of the second half of the cycle for most of their fertile life - and are progesterone intolerant.

So if you just felt a bit low just before your period then you are probabaly not progesterone intolerant.

if you did not feel depressed during your cycle then also you are probably not progesterone intolerant.

100 mg is not a very high dose.

Having said all of that progesterone is a sedative/relaxant so you will feel more tired and therefore you could be more receptive to other things causing depression.

Sorry I can't remember where you are with menopause - how regular your periods are, how old you are and whether you are definitley in peri-menopause?

However if you are peri and not post-meno - why not take the utrogestan on a cyclical basis - you don't need to take it every day - and you will still have a monthly bleed. This is what is recommended anyway for peri-menopasal women - and you would be able to see how the progesterone is affecting you.

I take 200 mg (Utrogestan) for 12 days every two months which gives a light bleed even though I am post-meno - because, although I am not progesterone intolerant, I don't like the feeling of tiredness it gives so don't want to feel like that all the time.

Hope this helps

xx

Thank you for this informations! I'm almost 47, still periods, but irregular since one year, my FSH is still low-8.
The estrogen was very low, less then 20, so that's why my doc suggested HRT.
Normally I had a PMS already short after the ovulation ( since last few years), I was down with the mood, irritable, I had cravings for sweets and I felt unwell. When the period started I felt better.
During the last cycle I felt good in the first two weeks, then slightly PMS symptoms started and when the period was missed, ( since almost 3 weeks now) I feel worse and worse. I could jump out of my skin. Also my breasts are tender and the nipples too, but less as usual. Since I started with Progesterone cream few days ago, the depression is getting stronger and since the first capsule I felt really bad the next day, totally hopeless and despaired. Yesterday I didn't take any progesterone and today I feel less depressed. But still very anxious. My endo told me on the telephone that I have to give the HRT time to find the balance in my body, which can take few months, not only weeks.
I'm afraid to take another Utrogest tonight, but probably I have to, otherwise I can't continue with Estrogen.
Tomorrow I will see the gyno too.

xoxo

[rusalka]

I was at the gyno today and she examined my uterus lining- it's just fine, 0.9 cm and she also said there was no risk with only estrogen, the risk is rising after few months.
But she said to me that she thinks I'm estrogen dominant, because my progesteron is very low compared to estrogen level. My symptoms are very similar to those of the ostrogen dominance and I should give progesteron a chance and hang on with the capsules for one week.
I will do it and hopefully I will soon feel better. I still feel very anxious, depressed, hopeless and nervous. Please, wish me luck!

[rusalka]

Yesterday I took another capsule of Utrogest and I woke up with anxiety, but till now I don't feel depressed, knock on wood... I remember that in the past few gynos told me that I have low progesterone, the first time after my 1 miscarriage 15 years ago, and 5 years ago too, due to PMS and spotting few days before the period. This gyno was specialized on bio identical hormones and he prescribed me progesterone cream, which I didn't use more then few days, I wasn't enthusiastic about hormones then and I have rather tried with some herbs. So maybe it's true that I'm estrogen dominant, although my estrogen levels are low, but progesterone is even lower. I think I just have to try to stick on progesterone one week and wait if I will start bleeding ( the period is missing 3 weeks now). The gyno yesterday told me that my symptoms like anxiety, depression, insomnia, tender breasts, missing period, craving for sweets are also the symptoms of estrogen dominance, if this is true.
She also said estrogen without progesterone would be a risk for the uterus after more then 3 months, so I didn't have a reason to be worried about this.
I hope that soon I will see some light at the end of this tunnel...
Thank you for your support

[menomale]

I wish rusalka had kept posting...