Hi All, (new here)
Not sure if this the right spot to post? I've searched heaps & gave up sorry.
I started Estradot this year, tried several dose levels by testing 25's (over 4weeks), starting at 25 for a week, then 50, then 75, by adding additional patches to change dose levels & checking symptoms. This was not consented by my GP though. I just found that there was no change on 25, real benefit on 50 but feel asleep on patch change over day, till finally 75 seemed to be the dose level for me. GP then prescribed 75 patches. I've been happily using the actual 75s for 2 months. Except a month ago chronic cystic acne broke out like never before which is so disfiguring and painful, with spider veins too, but only on my face. So I had two months on patches and no side effects at all. The acne struck in month 3.
Point to note is that a month ago when on 75 (when acne started) I had also tapered off a migraine medication that was known to interact with and reduce the affects of Estradot. This medication is Topomax (epilepsy/migraine medication). Strangely Topomax is known to cause chronic cystic acne but which I never had for the 1.5yrs on it, just perfect skin. (Yes there's a Topomax/Epilepsy chat room/website but no one as reported getting acne coming off Topomax and many have dropped it due to the chronic acne).
So I want to ask if anyone else has suffered painful cystic acne on Estradot or on high (for them) eostrogen dose?
Am I now getting too much oestrogen? So should I lower my dose?
Yes I will be calling my GP to discuss my dosing too, I've never had acne like this in decades. But I'm loving Estradot. Plus kiwi GPs want you on the lowest dose asap like 25 or 50. Any advice?
Many Thanks & Kia ora. Kia kaha.
Age 50 (51 in July)
Hysterectomy - ovaries kept at 47
Elective due to chronic cyclic migraines, constant periods that worsened my IBS.
Perimenopause symptoms for 6+yrs
Blood test confirmed 3 months ago that I was not post menopausal yet as oestrogen levels still high.