Prometrium vs. Progesterone - what are your experiences?
Question posted by Snotori on 11 June 2012
Last updated on 22 November 2021
I was on Prometrium for several years and switched to the generic Progesterone when it came available a couple months back. Now I'd totally swear by Prometrium cause it worked for me and as far as side affects go there were 2 and they weren't that bad and only lasted a couple hours after I took the pill so I took it at night and everything was fine. Progesterone however I've taken for 2 months now and it doesn't work exactly like I'd hoped and the side affects are well let's just say I stopped counting almost. I'm dizzy almost all day and don't get me started on it messing with my sleep. My nails were never anything great or long but on Progesterone they grew weak and can't stand up to anything so they break off all the time. I want to know other people experiences with Prometrium vs. Progesterone and if I'm the only one who's considering switching back.
And before anyone smartalecly points out that Prometrium is actually progesterone... I'd like real answers. We all know it's all progesterone I'm talking the names of the meds not what they are made of.
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33 Answers Page 3
SN
Snotori
19 June 2012
I use to take Prometrium for bleeding. Use to bleed nearly 300 days a year and now am considering going back to that then continuing on Progesterone. I use to look forward to taking my pill every day cause I knew it made me normal and the side effects were minimal now I dread it. My husband use to tease saying Prometrium was my sanity pill but these are in no way even close to sanity. I'm going to take 1 more 14 day round but am going to go to the dr. about the 10th day and can't wait to see what she says. And this morning I woke up with the worst though that I'd have to drive 3 hours to get to my dr. which isn't anything trust me but what was scary was that I'd be on the pills which at any moment makes me dizzy which makes me scared to drive so I decided I'm going to quite the pills a day before.
I mean how stupid that we have to think of something as simple as driving true I couldn't drive with the other ones for a few hours after I took them but that's why I took them second before I went to sleep but these ones side effects last all day and can hit me suddenly ugh! Thankfully my mother in law is coming with me so she can take part of the driving :P
I'll let you know what I do. Thanks for letting me know I'm not crazy or the only one feeling this way about Progesterone.
Votes: +0
SN
Snotori
26 June 2012
changed my mind about 1 more round of Progesterone. It's so not worth it so I'm going back on Prometrium starting July and will talk with my Dr. about it but I believe this is the right decision.
NA
nancycarson
19 June 2012
Same! Approx 6 weeks on generic. I took prometrium primarily for severe PMS headaches. Headaches are again debilitating and I have missed work. Also affected: sleep, mood and skin (rashes and itching). I am working with my insurance company to switch back. They seem to be willing - just dealing with the paperwork for now. I can't wait to get back on the Prometrium
Votes: +1
SN
Snotori
19 June 2012
Since being on them even when I'm not on them I'm gotten these horrible headache. Never thought they could be tied together but I guess they could be a latent side effect from several months of doing this now couldn't they? Yea as long as you have a dr. note or something you shouldn't have any problems switching back. I'm going to be on it 1 more month sadly in the beginning of July and then I'm going to go to my dr's and talk it out with her see what she thinks and then probably no matter what switch back. Keeping my fingers crossed for your switch back!
NA
nancycarson
21 June 2012
And I mean to say Snotori that the Prometrium made my once sever pms headachs very tolerable. On the generic I am having headaches like I did before finding Prometrium
SN
Snotori
26 June 2012
Yea I understood that nancy :) and after talking with my husband about it we think giving it 2 months try is long enough and I will be going back on Prometrium starting July so totally can't wait.
NA
nancycarson
26 June 2012
Good luck to you. My insurance company, Medica has refused to continue to cover the name brand. Does anyone know resources to get the Prometrium at the best price? I am looking at $600 per month out of my pocket though I pay about $7500 a year for my medical coverage. Can Medica do this? My doctor has informed them that the generic is not working for me. Any help appreciated!
SN
Snotori
6 Jan 2013
$600 a month wow... that's a lot sorry it's so much! Before I went on my insurance I paid $60 a month and now they don't pay much but I pay $50 a month if I get it through my pharmacy each month or if I get it from express scripts I can only get it 3 months at a time but I only pay $100 for 3 months which works out to be about $33.34 a month. Hope that helps.
I am having terrible side effects from the switch... no sleep, sweats etc not what I bargained for!!
Votes: +1
SN
Snotori
19 June 2012
I had the same problems sleeping but figured out if I took it a few hours before I went to bed the problems were less sever. Sorry you had these horrible effects.
FI
Fitness8888
4 Aug 2014
I had a bad experience using the generic progesterone. There was irregular bleeding with estradiol .025 patch until I switched to prometrium 100 capsules again. My pharmacy told me prometrium was discontinued when I ordered a one month supply august 1st.
I do not know what options I have.
MA
magaret
1 Dec 2014
My friend just went through bleeding issuesthat sent her to urgent care after being switched from Prometrium to Teva Progesterone. It has the same leven of progesterone but NOT the other ingredeinats are not the same. Watson is a generic that has the exact formula as Prometrium... insist on that. One of the ingredients in Teva is indicated to have estrogenic properties so that could be why. I had been switched to Teva too and had issues with it too and now they have no Teva in my chart and I get Watson and it works great
BI
Biers72
18 Aug 2021
I had bad side effects too after insurance demanded I switch to a generic... tried several generics but the one by TEVA was the worst. I did my own research and found that progesterone manufactured by VIRTUS is pretty much identical to the BRAND Prometrium (in fact the pill reflects the same color & markings-SV) and it works the same for me! I have to have my physician write my yearly prescription to state "no substitutions for the manufacturer VIRTUS"... only Walgreens (so far) that I have found will order from that mfg for me... insurance does cover for a cost as it is "generic" but I had to jump through hoops. But is so much less expensive than the BRAND which is hundreds of dollars. Now my latest prescription from VIRTUS is "delayed" from the manufactuer... at least 2 weeks... really??? So out of desperation I am trying the generic made by Aurobindo..a white round pill with the code P1 that looks similar...
has anyone tried this generic and is it without those regular other generic side effects that we all have had. I do hope the my VIRTUS progesterone pills come in soon... and that has not been discontinued, etc... as it works! A shame as women for our HRT we have to put up with pharma & insurance companies trying to put us in their box of what they want us to order for our prescriptions for their agenda... in other words if they can't make enough money on what we want then they move us to what they want. Same thing happened to me a few years ago with the estrogen product "OGEN"... not only did the factory burn down... the generic identical formula was eventually "discontinued" as is was so cheap to make they could not make enough money... frustrating!
