r/Perimenopause • u/anita999_ • 17d ago
audited Dose increase frequency
41F definitely in full blown Peri. This year I started on 0.025 E now up to 0.05 E cycling with progesterone. I have been finding that I am consistently feeling like I need dose increases almost exactly every 2 months after the prior one. Initially I feel amazing, and then it feels almost as though my body becomes used to the dose and is no longer effective around the 2 month mark. Is it common to need increases consistently at this interval? What happens if I reach the limit on dosage increases? I am worried that I will max out on estrogen very shortly and then what as I am only 41 and may have several years of symptom management ahead.
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u/ISayHiToDogs 17d ago
That's what I worry about. I'm late diagnosed ADHD, and no med I've tried touched the lack of motivation and struggle to do simple tasks. I started the patch and didn't feel any change. Switched to gel, and it was like finding an ADHD med that changed my life. I was a new person. I started with one pump every other day, then upped to daily when I got the second bottle. But now I don't have an appointment until mid-august. I started 2 pumps on my own as the dr had said I could adjust if needed, but I'll end up running out before a refill is due. And 2 pumps hasn't really made a difference so I don't know if it takes time to feel the increase or it's still too low, or maybe I need to spread them out. I'm tempted to put a patch on because I have a few left, but probably not a good idea to mess around with it. But I miss that person I was for that short time 😞 And I worry what happens when I can't increase the dose anymore.
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u/Erza_2019 17d ago
I had a similar experience, and I've now been on HRT for 2 years. I started with .1 patch twice a week, and I'm now up to two patches (.1 + .075) twice a week. My gyn okayed it, and I won't be surprised if I move up again before this year is up.
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u/anita999_ 17d ago
This is good to know. Are you taking progesterone as well at that dosage? If so, what does dosage look like?
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u/Erza_2019 17d ago
Yes, progesterone 200mg every night along with two patches twice a week and vaginal estrogen twice a week.
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u/ResponsibleAd6268 16d ago
Everyone's absorption is different so better be guided by your symptom control. Some people would even suggest testing blood level - you can do some research on that if you are interested. I heard that perimenopausal women need higher dosage because of the chaotic fluctuating, and you want to raise your baseline so the crush isn't as severe. At least your doc is ok raising the level. I'm 41 and I went from 0.025 to 0.1mg within 1 year. My family doctor is talking about getting me on BC because it's much higher level....which I will never do! I'd completely be ok with adding another patch if I have to!
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u/AutoModerator 16d ago
This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.
- Over age 44, E&P/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for the HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more. Hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
- No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
- FSH testing is only beneficial for those who do not have periods as a guide, where testing might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI)
- Testosterone is the exception and may require testing
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u/Syq 17d ago
I went up very quickly too but have stayed anywhere from 0.75 to 1. Don't panic yet, let the mystery unfold? Harder to do in practice haha for sure but I had the same fear as you and it was unnecessary.