Could someone please help me with this Progersterone/Estrogen question?

[[su...]]

Maybe it's my fog.  I've read the links to the Ashton Manual and have been researching on this, but I don't get the bottom line.

 

Since I cold-turkeyed low dose Ativan on Feb 13th I have realized that applying my transdermal compounded hormones (progesterone and bi-estrogen) somehow affect my withdrawal symptoms.  I realize there is a connection with progesterone and GABA A.  However, what I can't figure out is whether I should continue with the hormones or stop them also.

 

Anybody?  Thanks.

 

Sorry to be so dense.  It's kind of tense at my house....my husband and his family think I'm just crazy.  Maybe I am, but it's not helping.

[[pi...]]

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=47259.0

 

Hi Sunnyside,

 

Here is a link to some information that perseverence found when doing research into benzo withdrawal symptoms and how other medications affect withdrawal and recovery.

 

I was also on the transdermal patch when I jumped off the benzo last June. To avoid additional withdrawal from hormones it is best to taper them also.  What I did is trim down the patch each week until it was pretty tiny.

No you are not crazy, this whole process is sometimes though. Its really hard to understand all the reactions and relationships that benzos have with respect to our bodies. By the way, congratulations on being benzo free. You are very early in the healing process, I hope it goes smoothly for you.

 

Hugs,

 

pianogirl 

[[su...]]

Thanks, Piano Girl.  I had seen all the links...but am having a hard time staying on focus.    I think I blew it.  Tuesday I decided I would also stop my progesterone and estrogen cold turkey.  I used the morning dose, skipped evening doses and used none yesterday and today.  It's not going so well.

 

The tingling in my feet and legs and patchy numbness or mushy-feeling foot soles that I started having with interdose withdrawal (didn't know what it was back then...) really raises my anxiety and makes me think I have something horrible.  I noticed after stopping the Ativan, that the progesterone seemed to calm this down for awhile...so I figured it was messing with my withdrawal recovery and thought I should just stop them since the Progesterone is a benzo agonist.

 

I guess I should go back on the hormones and  gradually wean, then????

 

Thanks.

[[pi...]]

Hi sunnyside,

 

I would just say that anything to make this process kinder on your body would be the way to go.  Its hard to say just how bad the ct from progesterone will be but others have had some strong symptoms from the withdrawal.

 

pianogirl

[[su...]]

Sunnyside,

 

How are you doing?  I'm also going through something like this.  I have a progesterone/testosterone cream that I have decided to taper off of.  I couldn't find any research on HOW to taper and my doc recommended what I think was too big of a step.  Had a big increase in symptoms.  Am still feeling a little lost as to how quickly I should be doing this.  I think I will make a cut in the dose per month but am still unsure as to how big of a cut.  I'm a mess - am having frequent and heavy bleeding.

 

I guess benzos can cause menstrual issues which is why I was on hormones to begin with.  So my goal is to get off of them while I'm in benzo w/d anyway and then see if my hormones regulate themselves.  <Fingers crossed>  I feel like I haven't been able to notice any decrease in symptoms from benzo w/d but I think it's because I'm still getting off of the hormones. 

 

Don't really have any advice, just wanted to share my story.  You're not the only one dealing with this and struggling with learning the complexities of it. 

 

Good luck!  Keep us posted...

 

Sunny girl

[[Pe...]]

Don't know how I missed this thread...sorry to chime in so late.

 

Thanks Pianogirl for providing that link.

 

Sunnyside, here is another link for you...it is a success story of a member who weaned off both benzos and progesterone you might want to check out.  If you read through it she explained how she weaned off the Progesterone.  And as Pianogirl pointed out, it is best to wean off and not go CT.  Best of luck to you!

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=43744.0

 

 

[[su...]]

Thanks for the link Perseverance! 

[[su...]]

Well, I am trying this now:  Reduce my dosages by 0.27% and spread them out over the day in 3 doses, not 2.  Seems to work better than none.  Thanks for your kind replies....it helps soooo much.  Hugs.

[[su...]]

Hello Sunnyside,

 

I wanted to let you know that I saw your question and am providing a link that has information on tapering from a benzo or recovering from a benzo and how control pills and hormones play a role. Here is the link:

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=41461.msg571313#msg571313

 

As you can see from my signature line, I ran into really big trouble going off of birth control pills for just a few weeks. My Dr. increased my Klonopin from .125 mg to 1.5 mg. And my gynecologist put me back on birth control pills. This has given me a second chance to taper. I now understand that birth control pills and hormones are interconnected. For me, that means I need to taper off of Klonopin first while I remain on birth control pills. Then when I become benzo free and have successfully unlinked the two, I will then look into how to taper off of birth control pills.

 

I am not sure exactly how I am going to do that because I am not there yet. I do know that from what I understand about tapering, I will find out what the half-life is and go from there.

 

So if it were me, from what I have read and from what I have experienced, I would remain on birth control pills or hormones until I am healed from the benzodiazepine.

 

Summer

[[su...]]

Summermeadow, got your PM, and also thanks for adding to this thread.  I did try to cut dose of bhrt yesterday and had a really horrible day.  Maybe the worst one in the past month.  Today I went back to my original doses and am having a much better day.  I don't know/remember if I said this, but about a year ago when one of the docs I saw missed my benzo withdrawal SX and chalked it up to being on bhrt and told me to stop cold turkey the progesterone....I literally fell apart.  Sobbing, nausea, hand tremors, internal tremors, insomnia, increased BP......

 

So, since I am having more of the same withdrawing from benzos, I guess I might as well shoot myself in the foot if I quit the bhrt now, too.  I'm getting support from a couple of people I PM'd about that...so I think I will listen up and keep on.

 

Right now I wish I had degrees in neuroscience and endocrinology!  LOL.  May not have the answers, but sure would make for some interesting research.

 

Hugs......sunnyside.

[[su...]]

Summer,

 

I saw your post to Sunnyside and am more confused than ever.  I tried reading the link you shared but I just can't focus or comprehend anything right now.  What do you mean by "unlinking"?  I'm benzo free right now (after having gone c/t) and am only 4 mos out...should I not be tapering my progesterone cream yet?  My cream also has a very small amount of testosterone in it.  Because I knew that the progesterone is cross-tolerant I thought that staying on it would prevent or slow my healing.  Is that incorrect?  Also, my period became very irregular after my c/t while still on my normal dose of progesterone anyway, which was why I was taking it to begin with.  Am I wrong to think that once I'm off the cream my hormones will eventually go back to normal?  I'm sorry so many questions - very lost here!  Am wondering if the hormones are the reason I haven't had windows and feel like I'm in a wave. 

 

   

[[Pe...]]

Sunnygirl,

 

I hope you don't mind if I chime in here...but all that you have said is correct.  Your hormones should eventually even out once you are off the exogenous hormones, provided there is nothing else going on (like an underlying condition), and cross tolerant drugs, like progesterone, can interfere with recovery from benzos.

 

Because of benzos involvement with the HPA Axis hormone levels are effected- both while on benzos and during WD, so it is not surprising that your periods became irregular after your ct.

 

It is important to be aware that it can take a very long time for the HPA Axis to recover, and thus, hormone levels to normalize.  Also, once you begin to taper off the progesterone you may notice an increase in WD sx's...but in the end this should all even itself out...I just wanted to make sure you knew this beforehand.