Progesterone is also classified as a neurosteroid; it stimulates normal brain processes and helps the nervous system to function properly. It eases anxiety and promotes memory. Doctors recommend that Progesterone be taken before bed since it has a sedative effect and helps resume normal sleep cycles.
Progesterone comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day in the evening or at bedtime. You will probably take progesterone on a rotating schedule that alternates 10 to 12 days when you take progesterone with 16 to 18 days when you do not take the medication.
When you usually take progesterone? Depending on the dose, taking a progesterone capsule can make you drowsy, so it is best to take a night before bed. We typically prescribe a 100 mg progesterone sustained release capsule, so the best time to take is at night about 60 to 90 minutes before bedtime.
Known as the “relaxing hormone,” progesterone has a mildly sedative effect.
DIZZINESS AND DROWSINESS (CAPSULE FORM ONLY)
It is best to take progesterone (Prometrium) right before you go to bed, so that you are less likely to feel this way during the day.
Doctors recommend that Progesterone be taken before bed since it has a sedative effect and helps resume normal sleep cycles. It is important to note that Progesterone is a bioidentical hormone, and not a drug treatment. A bioidentical hormone replenishes the chemicals naturally made in your body.
While progesterone doesn't directly cause weight gain, it does increase your hunger levels which may make you feel like you're eating more and therefore gaining weight. But progesterone is just a small player in hormone balance and weight management. There are other hormone imbalances that may cause weight gain.
We know that progesterone stimulates the production of GABA, which can help you sleep. But, GABA also helps to boost your mood, making you feel good and relaxed. When your progesterone levels drop, your GABA levels drop as well.
In all these effects note that progesterone does not directly cause weight loss. Instead it reduces the effect of other hormones in the body which are causing the weight gain. Think of it as allowing rather than causing the body to lose weight.
In clinical practice, micronized progesterone (MP) is frequently recommended to treat signs and symptoms of skin and hair aging in menopausal women.
Take this medicine with food. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may change the amount of this medicine that is absorbed in the body.
Progesterone increases libido, improves mood, promotes the breakdown of fat,increases energy and aids thyroid function. It plays an important role in reducing or helping prevent motor, cognitive, and sensory impairments in both men and women.
Your progesterone levels are usually highest in week three of your cycle. This can make you feel more tired. But you might notice that you're sleeping better, which can boost your energy levels.
Aging. Women who are pre menopausal or menopausal are prone to an increase in the growth of hair. This is because of the hormonal changes that are going on within their bodies. If there is a disruption in the balance between estrogen, testosterone and progesterone this can cause hair to grow.
It also acts as a natural diuretic, encouraging your body to expel excess water - aka water weight and swelling. That's why, low progesterone can in turn lead to weight gain as there are minimal levels of this hormone to prevent estrogen levels from going haywire and high progesterone can result in rapid weight loss.
During peri-menopause, the first hormone that decreases is usually progesterone. This can lead to estrogen dominance, a common symptom of which is weight gain, causing you to store more fat around your stomach area.
Progesterone can help increase your mood. Progesterone and mood go hand in hand. Progesterone acts as a natural antidepressant to lower anxiety, help with mood swings, and can even aid in relieving postpartum depression. Progesterone can relieve menopause symptoms.
Progesterone acts as a natural antidepressant, enhances mood and relieves anxiety. It has a calming effect on the brain. It stimulates the brain's GABA receptors, the feel-good, calming neurotransmitters. So it is easy to understand why anxiety can surface when your progesterone levels are low.
This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy or drowsy. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine.
Progesterone supports metabolic function and increases your metabolic rate. This can translate to an increase in core body temperature that ramps up your metabolism and appetite. Since estrogen suppresses the appetite, if levels are too low and progesterone is too high, you may experience hunger.
Finally, progesterone has been linked to the famous “pregnancy glow.” Progesterone increases sebum (oil) production in skin, which can bring that nice shiny glow. Another study showed natural progesterone could be an effective option to help slow the natural process of aging.
Utrogestan is a natural sedative so can sometimes cause drowsiness. It is therefore recommended you take it at bedtime. It is best to take Utrogestan on an empty stomach because eating food can actually increase its absorption (though this is not detrimental).
Usually, progesterone supplementation is begun three days following ovulation. It is therefore important to accurately document the day of ovulation, as starting progesterone too soon may increase the risk of a tubal pregnancy.