Hi Traci
Are you Tracey E that was?! Sorry to hear you're having palpitations and other symptoms too.... but it is very unlikely to be down to vagifem. As the others have said far more likely to be due to other things as the amount absorbed systemically is minute and palps also are a sign of low oestrogen.
Great that you've tracked down a study Traci! It's always good to look into these things. However being a study it will benefit from a bit more in depth scrutiny as it can be easy to read stuff into what might at first glance appear to say what you think it says - if you see what I mean! "Not rocket science" but definitley science!!
I managed to track down the study (we are asked to give links when we provide information but I did some Googling!) and actually it doesn't say that these are definitely common side effects from Vagifem. In fact what was studied was Vagifem, a different vaginal product and placebo and the figures give the incidence and percentage of a whole range of common symptoms ( which will have been a self-reported questionnaire). Although the results were not analysed statistically (or rather the results of this not shown in the study) it is easy to see from the figures presented for one of the studies that the incidence of these side effects are very low, and occur at a similar frequency in those taking vagifem to those taking placebo and are therefore VERY UNLIKELY to be caused by Vagifem.
Of course - the other studies might show a slightly different picture and depends partly on the design of the studies but although all the data from all the trials are not presented in that monograph they draw the following conclusion:
"
Overall, Vagifem® is well tolerated, is comparable to placebo in overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events, has not demonstrated a potential for causing adverse events associated with endogenous levels of estrogen that differs from other topical hormone therapies and has not demonstrated a potential for causing adverse events associated with cumulative dosing in long-term therapy extending to 64 weeks. "
https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00013717.PDFI know you are very sensitive and worried about HRT and its effect - and sorry I can't remember how old you are and where in menopause re natural periods/cycle length before starting HRT - but I think you're worrying too much about vagifem and attributing everything that is happening to you to estradiol and now vagifem. You might be one of the rarer exceptions but your symptoms may equally be down to other causes -and if you are suffering from VA then local oestrogen ( or similar hormonal product) is the only thing that will treat it.
Why not reduce to the now standard amount of twice per week and then at least you are acting to control the VA which will only get worse if left untreated - or try one of the other products eg estriol cream?
Hope you're feeling better today
Hurdity x
