Pharmacy Expert
|
|
Pharmacy Expert |
|
Name: Monica
|
|
| Question: | |
|
I am a 51 year old woman who has been on Levlite BCP since I was 47 to control peri-menopausal symtoms. I no longer have a period during the week of being off the pills-which I don't understand. I am having numerous hot flashes and mood swings with irritability and crushing fatigue most of the time. Does Levlite contain even more estrogen than conventional HRT? I have been on synthetic hormones for most of my adult life and worry about breast cancer and heart disease. Thanks for your reply.
|
|
| Answer: | |
|
Hello Monica,
Thank you for your inquiry. Levlite contains 0.020 mg of ethinyl estradiol, which is similar to the amount of estrogen in a conventional dose of bioidentical hormone therapy. However, as you mentioned this is a synthetic form of estrogen and not bioidentical to the estrogen that occurs naturally in the body. You may not be having a period due to the normal fluctuation of hormones that occurs in perimenopausal/postmenopausal women. Your body may not be producing as much natural estrogen as it was previously, which could also be why you are experiencing the symptoms such as hot flashes as well as no longer having a period. Have you considered switching to bioidentical hormone therapy? Bellevue Pharmacy has a Patient Empowerment Program which was developed to assist women like you in getting started on the natural bioidentical hormones. To access this program click here: http://www.bpharmacysolutions.com/hormone/overview.asp and fill out the women’s consultation form. The patient empowerment program is a full in-depth consultation with a consultant pharmacist whereby we evaluate your symptoms and lab work of your hormones (if performed)via phone consult. We then make an assessment and write a clinical consult note that includes recommendations for natural bioidentical hormones that you can provide to your doctor. If you need us to recommend a physician, we will provide you with a referral to a physician in your area that will prescribe bioidentical hormones. Best Regards, Tiffany, Pharm.D. Consulting Pharmacists at Bellevue Pharmacy Solutions Information provided by the Staff of Consultant Pharmacists, from Bellevue Pharmacy Solutions is not intended as a substitute for a visit to and examination by your own personal health care practitioner. |
|
Return to Pharmacy Expert's Archive