generic estrace

[bee]

What results have post menopausal women out there had with estrace cream or other vaginal cream- is there anything better- or are there other therapies/products to increase flexibility and strength of vagina? For women over 60, pap tests can be painful and intercourse can be painful due to atrophy and thinning walls.

[cheryl]

I'm so glad to have stumbled on to this forum because I've been thinking that I'm going crazy. I was switched to the Barr Labs version of Estrace a month and a hald ago and I began to have problems almost immediately. I'm having the worst headaches I've ever had in my life, plus hot flashes on the 2mg pill. I haven't had hot flashes since recovery period from my total hysterectomy! After reading the posts here, I'm in total despair - I don't know what I'm going to do or where to begin to find something to replace the old Estrace.

[bbok]

Merrie-Anne wrote:

<quoted text>
Charlotte Ann, I got the patches when I first started to have to use a medication, that was a nightmare, I gained all kinds of weight, my cholesterol went off the charts.... talked to my doctor about it did alot of research and found out that they were the cause of my weight gain & my high levels of Cholesterol. With in two weeks of getting off them my levels dropped by 50 points a week, and dropped two sizes! so when I found estrace with his help(not generic) they have helped me for years, now this! I even got a rash from the patch, so watch yourself.
M

My Dr. just gave me a script for Estrace... I might as well not bother..I have been so sick with a my head about to explode form Premarin!! Now what will I do?? I am desperate!!:(

[rksue]

bbok wrote:

<quoted text>My Dr. just gave me a script for Estrace... I might as well not bother..I have been so sick with a my head about to explode form Premarin!! Now what will I do?? I am desperate!!:(

One of the things I noticed in change between companies and products is the FD&C yellow no. 5 (tartrazine) aluminum lake in 2mg. There a lot of people allergic to this product. Maybe you can try the 1mg. Also I see the information on Shire Labs from Canada. I would try that formula first as it seems to be much closer in content to the original estrace.

[rksue]

If you read post #17 the comment that they use sodium starch glycolate. I do not know if this product contains gluten, but if it does there are a lot of people who cant really tolerate Gluten. Also for the people that are lactose intolerant, I see that this new formula contains another form of lactose. I wonder if this is having impact.

[carolgilx]

Wow, I've been suffering with an ITCHY rash for about 6 weeks. I've been to the dermatologist 2x and he's given me a shot and some cream which has helped, but it's coming back. My husband suggested my generic estrace might be causing this. I'm so glad I found this website because after reading this I believe that it's my medicine causing this. It all started about the time I got my scrip refilled with this new oval Barr pill. I itch so bad, sometimes there is nothing there and in other places it almost looks like hives. I'm going CRAZY!! I'm stopping the estrogen to see if it helps. I'd rather have the hot flashes than this itching.

[Laina L]

I read that generic Estrace is 30-50% subpotent than the real stuff. It is very true because I've tried switching before (due to the big change in price), and all I get is emotional and sweaty at night. I am perfectly happy otherwise, so when I turn "moody" a few days after starting generic hormones, it's pretty obvious what the culprit is. My pharmacist assures me it is the same ingredients, but I am not an idiot. Why does the cost differ from $22 generic to $98 brand name per month? More importantly, why does my body react positively to the real stuff and poorly toward the fake. Somebody said if this was a man's problem, there would be a cure...no kidding, Sister!

[Priscilla Walters]

Barr generic estrace did nothing for me, and I called the company and told them. Does the
FDA read our comments? They hopefully do.

I am on a second month of Angeliq, which is not as good as estrace round pills, and natural progesterone suppositories 1-2x weekly. I take 2 St. Johns wart pills daily to counter glum feelings and Estroven Max strength. I had an ablation of my uterus because I was noncompliant taking progesterone. Progesterone makes me feel fuzzy headed. I am thin--5 ft 5 and 120 lbs. I lost 2 inches in 3 years--I thought estrace was supposed to help prevent bone loss. Any others with my condition that found a cure?

I think I will go back to Estrace with natural progesterone suppositories, and minimal Testosterone-natural.

[sunnygirl]

You all are not crazy. Generics can differ in bioavailability 80% to 120% of the reference (name brand) drug. The generic can also have different "fillers" than the reference drug.

Why the fear of Premarin? Horse urine is as natural as bark.

Also watch the natural herbal supplements you are taking as they can interfere with the potency of Estrace and/or any other drugs you might be taking. You know never to drink grapefruit juice while taking meds--it is the same with some herbal supplements.

[laura in san leandro]

Wow, so nice to see this site. I had a hysterectomy (full) in July and am feeling well. I only need to use a cream at this point to fight dryness and low sex drive. I have been given premarin cream to take once a week. Haven't started due to concerns of side effects. Wondering if anyone has used Estrace cream? thanks.

[pattij]

I had a complete hysterectomy eleven years ago and had done great on the Estrace years. I can't remember how long now the pill switched to that oval thing. Walgreens insisted it would be the same. I gradually started having hot flashes again and yeast infections. I switched to generic to save money but felt even worse. Then switched back to the Brand name a year ago even though it costs 5 times as much. I just googled to see if anyone has found a difference between the two and stumbled across this site. Wow! I just knew all along there had to be something going on with this, I don't feel crazy anymore. Question.. has anyone who does not have ovaries anymore tried taking progesterone and estrogen, I'm always told I don't need progesterone if I don't have ovaries.

[lhc]

I've been prescribed Estrace cream for pain and dryness, but it's $400 for a month supply and I don't have prescription coverage! Anyone have any other suggestions as to what to do or to use?

[concerned]

I just read up on Acacia (which was in the old round Estrace pills and not in the new oval pill formulation by Barr). It is psychotropic in humans, and is filled with tryptamine. Tryptamine is what they make the anti-migraine medicine sumatriptan from, so those headaches you're having...that's probably in part due to the lack of acacia in the formula. Also, tryptamine is a neurotransmitter that is closely related to serotonin...the feel good hormone!!! No wonder we all feel like crap on this stuff!!!

[concerned]

From a research article on tryptamine: "The most well-known tryptamines are serotonin, an important neurotransmitter, and melatonin, a hormone involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Tryptamine alkaloids found in fungi, plants and animals are commonly used by humans for their psychotropic effects. Prominent examples include psilocybin (from "magic mushrooms") and DMT (from numerous plant sources, e.g. chacruna, often used in ayahuasca brews). Many synthetic tryptamines have also been made, including the migraine drug sumatriptan and its relatives. The tables below list some commonly encountered substituted tryptamines."

Jones R.S.(1982). "Tryptamine: a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter in mammalian brain?". Progress in neurobiology 19 (1–2): 117–139.

Effects of tryptamine mediated through 2 states of the 5-HT

[concerned]

For a thoroug listing of all of the active chemical components & effects of the various varietals of acacia see this site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia

I know it's wikipedia, but the references for the content on this page are actually good.

[Teresa]

pattij wrote:

I had a complete hysterectomy eleven years ago and had done great on the Estrace years. I can't remember how long now the pill switched to that oval thing. Walgreens insisted it would be the same. I gradually started having hot flashes again and yeast infections. I switched to generic to save money but felt even worse. Then switched back to the Brand name a year ago even though it costs 5 times as much. I just googled to see if anyone has found a difference between the two and stumbled across this site. Wow! I just knew all along there had to be something going on with this, I don't feel crazy anymore. Question.. has anyone who does not have ovaries anymore tried taking progesterone and estrogen, I'm always told I don't need progesterone if I don't have ovaries.

I had surgery 11 years ago also and I take Premarin .9mg. I have been told estrogen is all I need. I was thinking about trying bioidentical hormones because of risk factors of HRT, but after reading some of the posts I'm not so sure. I have been assured by my doctor since I have no history of breast cancer, heart problems, not over weitht and don't smoke that the benefits of Premarin far out weigh the risks.

[Mary In Ma]

Wow, i can't beleive all the negative comments on the oval estradiol. I am glad to see that I am not the problem when taking this. I have been on and off of it for several years because it makes me feel so lousy. I thought it was me. Now i find it is because I am not taking brand name estrace. I have the headaches and knee pain, neck pain and shoulder pain. It all goes away when i stop taking it, but menopausal symptoms come back ofcourse. After reading the posts on this site, i think i am going to have to try a different kind or brand of estrogen.
I cannot take premarin, it makes my heart race, but i think i may try the menest which is the same as the old estra-tab. It's just nice to know it is the oval pills making me feel lousy. If anyone finds out any info about the old "estrace" being back on the market, please post...I thank you all for sharing for now i know why i feel lousy all the time...

[Mary In Ma]

laura in san leandro wrote:

Wow, so nice to see this site. I had a hysterectomy (full) in July and am feeling well. I only need to use a cream at this point to fight dryness and low sex drive. I have been given premarin cream to take once a week. Haven't started due to concerns of side effects. Wondering if anyone has used Estrace cream? thanks.

I had a total hysterectomy 4 months ago, am taking 1 mg oral estradiol, generic for estrace, and it sucks. The dr also gave me estrace vaginal cream. I've tried it several times but everytime i use it, i can feel it get into my system and I am always very dizzy the following morning and also have horrible anxiety the following day. I also noticed that it caused a slight burning in the vagina and i didn't notice any changes in the atrophy. But this is just me, and it very well may work for you and seeing how ur not using anything else, maybe you won't feel it in ur system because you will be getting less estrogen than i was. I would try it if i were you, you can always stop it if it doesn't agree with you.

[happy]

I started using the estrace cream about a month ago and its like a miracle drug for me so far. Also..the hot flashes stopped. I didnt expect that at all! Coincidense? Maybe, but the pain and burning I had is gone!Only using it once a week. No other side effects at all.

[Monique]

Anyone use Vagifem?