Difference between 17-beta estradiol and estradiol valerate pills?

[JohnnyPurple]

Is there a difference between 17-beta estradiol pills and estradiol valerate pills? My gf is forced to take ... daily of Estradiol Valerate pills (Progynova) because no 17-beta estradiol pills are available here in Peru. But i think 17-beta estradiol pills is the real thing, would she benefit exactly the same or better if she switched to 17-beta estradiol pills?
I want to make clear that Progynova pills is Estradiol Valerate not 17-b estradiol, i read somewhere in these forums some people incorrectly saying that "Progynova is 17-beta estradiol" and "Estradiol Valerate is 17-beta estradiol".
https://www.susans.org/wiki/Estrogen you can see right there that Estradiol Valerate is not 17-b estradiol and that Progynova is Estradiol Valerate.

[JohnnyPurple]

I want to know what's the difference between taking estradiol valerate tablets (Progynova) vs estradiol tablets (Estrace, Estrofem), not the difference between using estradiol valerate injectable vs estradiol tablets.
Progynova tablets is estradiol valerate (estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17beta-diol 17-valerate) it's not 17-beta estradiol.
Estrace, Estrofem is 17-beta estradiol.
I want to know if 17-beta estradiol tablets feminizes better than estradiol valerate tablets, or if you can replace the 17-beta estradiol tablets with the estradiol valerate tablets and get exactly the same benefits.

[Sarah Louise]

These are questions for your doctor.  I assume your using a doctor for the hormones.

[JohnnyPurple]

Yes, the doctor says they are virtually identical but i want to hear the experiences from people who have actually used estradiol valerate tablets (Progynova) and later switched to 17-b tablets (Estrofem, Estrace) or viceversa.

[Bird]

In my opinion they are virtually identical too! Although, this comes from reading, not from having used both.

[Eve87]

EV includes the valerate group which is like a salt sorta dealio, but they're the same hormone.

[Alainaluvsu]

17b is micronized which allows for a sublingual administration. Sublingual administration is more effective than simply swallowing the pill. When taken sublingually, the pill is not broken down by the digestive system / liver  before reaching the blood stream. This obviously results in a larger concentration of estradiol in the blood stream than when taken by swallowing the entire pill.

If im not mistaken, valerate is NOT micronized. If it is, it will dissolve without a foul taste and without it breaking into chunks. Unfortunately, if it is not micronized, sublingual administration will not bring the same efficiency. Basically letting it break apart under your tongue will result in you swallowing the drug... slowly.

[Asfsd4214]

17b is micronized which allows for a sublingual administration. Sublingual administration is more effective than simply swallowing the pill. When taken sublingually, the pill is not broken down by the digestive system / liver  before reaching the blood stream. This obviously results in a larger concentration of estradiol in the blood stream than when taken by swallowing the entire pill.

If im not mistaken, valerate is NOT micronized. If it is, it will dissolve without a foul taste and without it breaking into chunks. Unfortunately, if it is not micronized, sublingual administration will not bring the same efficiency. Basically letting it break apart under your tongue will result in you swallowing the drug... slowly.

Estradiol valerate is a synthetic prodrug of natural estradiol. As a prodrug, it is metabolised into estradiol by the body. For virtually all pharmacological purposes they are interchangeable.

Progynova pills are sugar coated, so it's not unpleasant to take sublingually. I can't tell you if it actually will work sublingually, but I can say that blood test results I've seen first hand would indicate that sublingual administration likely does increase serum estradiol levels, worst case scenario it won't be any different.

It works just fine, in my opinion the route of administration shouldn't make any real difference provided your serum estradiol levels are of a similar profile.

I can promise you that they definitely work.

[Maja.V]

In terms of active ingredient, there is no difference between them as both contain estradiol. Estrofem (a 17-b estradiol pill) is the 'pure' drug and Progynova is a compound containing the pure drug in combination with the valerate salt.

They are pretty much interchangable, though the doses may be somewhat different, and you should check with your doctor for those.

[Asfsd4214]

In terms of active ingredient, there is no difference between them as both contain estradiol. Estrofem (a 17-b estradiol pill) is the 'pure' drug and Progynova is a compound containing the pure drug in combination with the valerate salt.

They are pretty much interchangable, though the doses may be somewhat different, and you should check with your doctor for those.

You're fundamentally correct in saying they are pretty much interchangeable, but mistaken on a couple technical things.

The doses are virtually identical. Estradiol Valerate is Estradiol bound with Valerate ester. I am not 100% sure why the pills are available bound with valerate, but for injections which are usually estradiol valerate it's likely because the valerate ester increases oil solubility improving its application as depot injection. Your body metabolises the compound into its parent compound Estradiol so it functions identically.

[Lois17]

Also,from what I have read about the difference between the two,the difference is that estradiol valerate stays in the body for longer...about 36 hours,while plain 17b estradiol is eliminated in around 15 hours from the body.

[KayXo]

Also,from what I have read about the difference between the two,the difference is that estradiol valerate stays in the body for longer...about 36 hours,while plain 17b estradiol is eliminated in around 15 hours from the body.

That is not true. The pharmacokinetics for both are the same as estradiol valerate gets quickly broken down to estradiol.