Climara Patch dose too strong?

Hi!

Well, let's see. Last week I posted that I thought my Climara Patch was turning me into a zombie. I read later that you are suppose to wait a week if you have been taking oral estrogen (which I had) prior to starting the patch. My doctor did not tell me to wait. Boy, did it give me the worst migrane in my life!! It also made me very sleepy. I read somewhere that it takes a week for the stored estrogen from the estrace to leave my body. I wonder if not waiting a week caused the monster headache? I could not function very well last week due to the headache and lethargy caused partly by the headache. The patch does keep me on an even dose which I like, no spiking like I had with the pills. However, as the week wore on I started feeling more like myself again and not so tired, even napped today which I have not been able to do in a month. Could it be that the dose was too high for me? I am using 0.05 Climara Patch. Should I try cutting it in half and see if it helps with the tiredness? I'm afraid of getting another horrible headache and being tired all of the time. Just starting to feel like myself now that it's time to change the patch. Any information would greatly appreciated. Thanks ladies!

Joan

Hi!

I hope somone out there can me hlep me with this. I got bumped before there were any replies. Thanks.

Joan

Joan,

I too am on Climara patch .75. I lowered my dose from 1.0 after I had some unpleasant side effects. I too suffer from tiredness and lethargy at times. I was wondering if I am getting enough estrogen! LOL

I am sure someone will be along that is much more knowledgeable than I am concerning estrogen dosage. Although I think the .5 patch you are using is a relatively low dose.

I look forward to hearing the suggestions from the jungle hormone ladies. They are the greatest!!

Sandy
tah/bso/bladder tack

I started out on Climara .05mg the day of surgery (2/28). I had a constant headache, but not a migrane, and I could not sleep. The Dr increased it to .1mg and I have been on that for 2 weeks now. I get a dull headache in the evenings some nights. I am also sleeping better. Last week on Wednesday night I had a hard time sleeping. I change my patch on Thursday evening. I am curious to see how I sleep today. I was wondering if the dose was starting to get to low. Will have to wait and see.

Other than that, I have no other signs. No hot flashes, mood swings, etc. Sometimes I wake up with night sweats but not really bad.

Are you aware of the Climara website? You can also get refunds from them if you sign up of the rewards program. Take a look at
http://www.clearlyclimara.com/home.html

Good luck, Nancy

Thank you Sister Sandy, and Nancy. It really is a jungle out there! I too have noticed that I can sleep a little better since I started on the patch. Hope it continues! I had been an insomniac for a month because I wasn't absorbing the estrogen like I should have. Next week I see my GP and will ask her about raising the dose on the patch. My GYN is to hard to get into so I go see the GP, and she is very willing to help. Thanks for the suggestion.

Joan

Hi!

Just wanted to let you know I changed the patch and put a new one on last night. I did not cut the new one in half. Slept much better last night. Still working on sleeping all night, but when I see my GP next week I will ask her about increasing the dose of the patch. The lesson I learned is that I should have waited a week after taking the last estrace pill before starting the Climara Patch!! It gave me the "Mother" of all migranes because I didn't wait nor did the doctor tell me to wait!! Luckily, no headache after applying the new patch!

Now my question is, can the Climara Patch be changed more than once a week? (how do you take the adhesive off? ouch!) Or would I have to switch to something like the V Dot? I would love to hear from ladies who use the Climara Patch or the V Dot. Anything good or bad about them. So far I love using the patch. You all so wonderful! Thanks!

Joan

Joan,

I usually remove my old Climara patch before my shower. Then while I am showering I use the hot water and plenty of soap and sometimes my fingernails to remove the adhesive. After the shower I thoroughly dry the area where I will be attaching the new patch. I have yet to notice that I need to change the patch sooner than the 7 days. I don't experience an "estrogen" surge either when I apply the new patch. All in all it is a very even method of receiving my estrogen.

I found the upper part of my bottom is the best area to place the patch for me. It doesn't catch on my underwear and seems to remain attached more solidly shower after shower during the week. Everyone is different and finding the place on your tummy or backside which affords you the most stability for the patch is what matters.

Hope you have continued success with the patch.

Sandy

I recently went from Bi-est cream to the Vivelle Dot .05; I didn't know either that you should let the former estrogen get out of your system before using patch...WHAT A HEADACHE! Anyhow, I cut my second patch in half and that helped get my body used to getting estrogen this way. I'm now on 3/4 of a patch and will use a whole one when I change next time. Headache is gone. About sleeping...I have had terrible insomnia since my hyst in Nov. and my DD prescribed Prometrium 100 mg. before bedtime; this is a natural progestrone in pill form. It has really helped w/ the insomnia. I can now go to bed and actually fall asleep! Yeah!

Thanks ladies for your feedback! I will take the suggestion for taking off the patch next time. My next order of business is to find a doctor who will prescribe progesterone. The Gyn and the GP I see now don't think that women without a uterus need progesterone. Sounds like it might help me sleep better at night. I have located a compounding pharmacy near me and hope to get names of doctors who work with compounded hormones. Other than not sleeping well I have no other complaints after the hysterectomy. I would like to go back to work, but not until I can sleep better than I do now. Thank you so much for your replies!

Joan

Joan- The first thing I did was look at your surgery date. People say it takes a good 6 mos. to feel good. The lethargy etc for me was all post op and I kept screwing around with hormones trying to fix it. I ended up back on my original 0.5 Climara patch and waited to feel great. Trust me, it does come! I have read that baby oil on the adhesive, then shower works. I use a loofa. I have also read that putting baby powder on top of a fresh patch will keep the adhesive from collecting lint. My only suggestion is BE PATIENT with yourself. Ann