To really get a good grasp on the dangers of Prometrium you should stop by the FDA website for & check out the Physicians Fact Sheet. Had I known that there was such a huge difference between the Patients Fact List and the Physicians, I would NEVER have begun to take the Prometrium. I suffer from Secondary Amenorhea and took Prometrium for 4mo. I gained 30lbs & became increasingly depressed with crying spells and intense anxiety. I already suffer from depression and it diminished the effectiveness of my current meds. I don't know why my doctor didn't inform me. But she didn't. I am going OFF the Prometrium on the advice of my Psychiatrist. What I mean to say is BE WELL INFORMED BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY MEDICATION. Read below. The most common adverse experiences reported in 5% of patients in all PROMETRIUM Capsules dosage groups studied in this trial(100 mg/day to 400 mg/day) were: dizziness(16%) breast pain(11%), headache(10%), abdominal pain(10%), fatigue(9%), viral infection(7%), abdominal distention(6%), musculoskeletal pain(6%), emotional lability(6%), irritability(5%), upper respiratory tract infection (5%) PRECAUTIONS - General -Patients who have a history of psychic depression should be carefully observed & the drug discontinued if the depression recurs to a serious degree. -The pretreatment physical examination should include special reference to breast & pelvic organs, & Pap smear. -Because progesterone may cause some degree of fluid retention, conditions which might be influenced by this factor, such as epilepsy, migraine, asthma, cardiac or renal dysfunction, require careful observation. -In cases of breakthrough bleeding, as in any cases of irregular bleeding per vaginum, nonfunctional causes should be borne in mind. In cases of undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, adequate diagnostic measures are indicated. -Any possible influence of prolonged progestin therapy on pituitary, ovarian, adrenal, hepatic or uterine functions awaits further study. -Although concomitant use of conjugated estrogens & PROMETRIUM Capsules did not result in a decrease in glucose tolerance, diabetic patients should be carefully observed while receiving estrogen-progestin therapy. -The pathologist should be advised of progestin therapy when relevant specimens are submitted. -Because of the occurrence of thrombotic disorders (thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, retinal thrombosis, & cerebrovascular disorders) in patients taking estrogen-progestin combinations, the physician should be alert to the earliest manifestation of these disorders. -Transient dizziness may occur in some patients. Use caution when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery. A small percentage of women may experience extreme dizziness and/or drowsiness during initial therapy. For these women, bedtime dosing is advised. WARNINGS -The physician should be alert to the earliest signs of thrombotic disorders (thrombophlebitis, cerebrovascular disorders, pulmonary embolism, & retinal thrombosis). Should any of these occur or be suspected, the drug should be discontinued immediately. -Discontinue medication pending examination if there is sudden partial or complete loss of vision, or if there is a sudden onset of proptosis, diplopia or migraine. If examination reveals papilledema or retinal vascular lesions, medication should be withdrawn. -The administration of any drug to nursing mothers should be done only when clearly necessary since many drugs are excreted in human milk. Detectable amounts of progestin have been identified in the milk of mothers receiving progestins. The effect of this on the nursing infant has not been determined -Retrospective studies of morbidity & mortality in Great Britain & studies of morbidity in the United States have shown a statistically significant association between thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, cerebral thrombosis & embolism, & the use of oral contraceptives. -The estimate of the relative risk of thromboembolism in the study by Vessey & Doll was about seven fold, while Sartwell & associates in the U.S. found a relative risk of 4.4, meaning that the users are several times as likely to undergo thromboembolic disease without evident cause as nonusers. -The American study also indicated that the risk did not persist after discontinuation of administration, & that it was not enhanced by long-continued administration. The American study was not designed to evaluate a difference between products. Other adverse events reported in -Autonomic Nervous System Disorders: dry mouth -Body As A Whole: accidental injury, chest pain, fever -Cardiovascular System Disorders: hypertension -Central & Peripheral Nervous System Disorders: confusion, somnolence, speech disorder -Gastrointestinal System Disorders: constipation, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic rectum, hiatus hernia, vomiting -Hearing & Vestibular Disorders: earache -Heart Rate & Rhythm Disorders: palpitation -Metabolic & Nutritional Disorders: edema, edema peripheral -Musculoskeletal System Disorders: arthritis, leg cramps, hypertonia, muscle disorder, myalgia -Myo/Endo/Pericardial & Valve Disorders: angina pectoris -Psychiatric Disorders: anxiety, impaired concentration, insomnia, personality disorder -Reproductive System Disorders: leukorrhea, uterine fibroid, vaginal dryness, fungal vaginitis, vaginitis -Resistance Mechanism Disorders: abscess, herpes simplex -Respiratory System Disorders: bronchitis, nasal congestion, pharyngitis, pneumonitis, sinusitis -Skin & Appendages Disorders: acne, verruca, wound debridement -Urinary System Disorders: urinary tract infection -Vision Disorders: abnormal vision -White Cell & Resistance Disorders The following adverse experiences have been reported with PROMETRIUM Capsules in other U.S. clinical trials: increased sweating, asthenia, tooth disorder, anorexia, increased appetite, nervousness, & breast enlargement. The following additional adverse experiences have been observed in women taking progestins in general: breakthrough bleeding, spotting, change in menstrual flow, amenorrhea, changes in the cervical squamo-columnar junction & cervical secretions, changes in weight(MORE or LESS), jaundice, anaphylactoid reactions & anaphylaxis, rash (allergic) with & without pruritus, melasma or chloasma, pyrexia, & insomnia. Luck,Wendy

I have been on Prempro for four years .625-2.5 dosage, Qty 28. The cost of this med increased from $50 to $125 and it was difficult for me to pay this cost. I unfortunately decided to stop taking it without my heath provider's advice. I started to feel horrible withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and of course hot flashes and massive night sweats. I am also Bipolar so these symptoms are 10x worse. I called my heath provider's office who gave me an appt. for the 27th of this month-May. I did purchase the prempro and after two weeks the symptoms went away, however, I am now experiencing menstrual bleeding, spotting and pain in my lower abdomen. I am fearful at this point until the 27th. If anyone has any related issues or advice, please feel free to reply. Thank you for being available, Rae

I'm sorry you were feeling down. I don't know about the Premarin cream--never used it--but I swear--the estriol cream does brighten my mood. I don't usually mention it--because I don't want anyone to tell me it is my imagination--but there's no doubt it corrects the dryness. (Just getting rid of the dryness is enough to lift my mood!) Oh, and by the way--you are not the only one with the dryness problem. It's just such a personal problem--some people find it hard to discuss. Many people aren't even aware that it is a problem--like I was. It took several UTIs for me to finally find out on the internet what was wrong. I was doing everything they say to avoid another UTI--yet they seemed to be happening more and more frequently. The estriol cream put an end to the UTIs. No doctor (and I saw several) told me about estriol cream--I had to find it out for myself on the internet and ask for the cream. For other women who don't yet sense the dryness it can be recurrent yeast infections that cause them to seek help. From what I have read--the lower estrogen levels in our systems can cause the pH to change in our bodies-especially in our urinary tracts and vaginas. (both are made up of similiar tissues). The different pH creates an environment where things like yeast and bacteria can flourish. We always have those things present--but the different pH allows them to grow to the point where they can cause an infection. (Sorry if that's more than you wanted to know :) I have read that this (menopause and it's symptoms) will pass. Even if it doesn't--at least now I know the solution to the problem. Also--it might help you to know that estriol cream is bio-identical and very weak. It's even thought by some to have some protective properties. I've even read that in Europe there are some age-defying skin creams that contain estriol. Anyway, I hope you are feeling better soon (physically and emotionally). I know how bad it can be when you think you're the only one--believe me--you're not. Dryness is a common problem--check out the net for other meno message boards and you will see. Bullsigh--55

Hi everyone! My story is horrible. I bled for 3 months, half of it heavy with large clots. I lost half my blood over that time and became severely anemic. I was measuring ALL the blood plus clots and it was about 3-6 cups per "period" which is about 3 to 4 blood donations worth! I was sick as a dog. Did my research and started eating chicken liver every day. It is the MOST EASILY ABSORBED IRON AVAILABLE and not a pill. So that has helped but I dread the next one. I know I have a cyst on my ovary, you can tell if you have breast pain and cervical mucus. This is a common issue in perimenopause. The cyst will continue to grow and release estrogen so that you have far too MUCH estrogen which then makes the uterus linking thick and then the heavy periods! It is beyond compare. I cannot wait until the estrogen finally dr op s. I don't care about the osteoporosis or hot flashes. Anything BUT the heavy bleeding would be preferable. It is not healthy to bleed cups of blood at a time! I have been 48 days since the last bleed stopped and live in fear of when the next will hit. No invasive treatment for me and no pills, just chicken liver and lots of fortified cereals for the iron and hope for the best. Ladies before us survived. Then again they weren't exposed to the same toxins and stress that we modern gals are! I'm 46 and and had an AMH test at age 41 which predicts my full menopause should hit between ages 45 and 47.5. You can get the AMH test and it will predict with good accuracy when you will hit menopause. This is the most miserable and scary thing ever! I thought I was going to die, seriously. I could barely crawl up my stairs or even drive. My hemoglobin was a level 7 and my iron was a 19! I don't know what the level is now my dr said wait 6 weeks and recheck bit after 3 weeks with no bleed I started feeling better. I'm tired of my stupid ovaries. They are what produces the extra estrogen and that is what causes the heavy bleeds. They will not stop doing that until the egg follicles are used up and simply cannot produce any more estrogen. That is when you hit menopause. The AMH test measures how much eggs you have left. I will post some links here that explain all this. Your body wants estrogen so badly that it will do ANYTHING to get it. It will expend the ovaries till they are finished. Then it will take from your fat and cortisol. It will also steal the last of your progesterone and then finally it will raise your cholesterol and use THAT to make estrogen! It is like a desparate drug addict. .. the brain is what is trying so desparatly to give the body estrogen but it hyperstimulates the ovaries and that causes the cysts the thick lining and heavy bleeds the breast pain and cervical mucus etc. Not to mention pms headaches and all the other BS. I am so sick of it. I started having weird symptoms and irregular cycles at age 38. Intensified at age 40. Heavy bleeding and missed periods at age 45. So it seems I would be getting closer but who the hell knows? It's like a cruel twist of fate and design that our last remaining "good years" would be plagued by this crap!