how often to take progesterone

[Scout8601]

I should have asked my doctor this, but forgot and now it's the weekend so thought I'd ask here:  I'm on 200mg progesterone orally 2 times a day.  Do I have to take the doses 12 hours apart?

I've been taking it at 5 in the morning and then 5 in the afternoon, but it makes me really sick and dizzy. When I take it at 5 in the morning I'm able to go back to bed for 2 hours so that works out okay, but the 5 p.m. dose leaves me flat on my back on the sofa until 7 or 7:30pm bc I'm that sick.  I would love to take one at around 9 pm and and go ahead and go to bed and then take the other around 6 am, but is that too close together, or rather, does it leave too big a gap between the 6 am and 9 pm dose?  Anybody ask their docs about this?  thanks

[Scout8601]

Thanks everyone.  I had called my cousin and asked her because she is a nurse and she said every 12 hours, but she's not in ob. She just said that's how they did it in the hospital. I'm going to call the pharmacist in a minute and ask him (thanks..I'd never thought of that).

Switching to vaginal sounds like a good idea to me.  I'm going to call my doc on Monday and ask them to do that.  I was hoping my body would kind of get used to them and I wouldn't be so sick and dizzy but so far that's not the case.

thanks again

[JourneyJoJo]

I take it vaginally twice a day, 12 hours apart and haven't had the same kind of side effects as everyone else has reported.  Of course, I've been on it for almost 12 weeks now, so maybe I just think it's normal...

[Heather5]

I get super dizzy in prometrium as well, but luckily I only take one a day before bed, so that helps a lot. I think you'll  be fine taking them at 9 and 6.

:-)

[adgal]

Well, I don't think you have to take them 12 hours apart.  When I was on it, I was on 100mg 3Xday.  Because it made me tired, my OB had me take 1 in the am, then 2 before bed.  I found that helped a lot.  Also, if you are having strong side effects, maybe you should look into having the prescription switched to vaginal.  My RE says the side effects are far less significant that way.  If you cannot reach your Dr. this weekend with the question on when to take them, I have always found the pharmacist to be a really good resource as well.  Maybe give the drugstore that filled the prescription a call?

[Alysia74]

It always does the same to me as well, i always felt like i was drugged after i took it. I don't think it would make a difference, it never did for me & I was on it for all 3 of my kids. Also, if u don't eat near the time when u take it, it doesn't affect quite as badly for some reason. Hope this helps!!