Injections vs Pills? The Endless debate continues!

[lecoeurdegrey]

It's written Estrace on the vial.

I have the same thing and my doc tells me to take them sublingually because he says its more effective(?) You should ask your doc though I thought most people do the under the tongue thing.

[A]

I guess I'll wait until the appointment in June, then. He's hard to reach and it's a long-distance call, so...

[Kelly-087]

I've been hearing a lot about those sublingual things, and I wanted to know... How do I know, except by asking the endo (not seeing him for another month or more), if I can take my estrogen sublingually? And if I can do that, does the dosage I should be taking change? Like, is it more effective under the tongue, which would mean that my current, high-end dosage would be too much?

Maybe not more effective, but it would probably be easier on the liver, since if it's swallowed it will be going directly through the liver, if it's taken subling then it will goin the blood stream, whether this still affects the liver Im unsure of, but it should be much easier on it.

[luna nyan]

I take mine under the tongue just to avoid first pass through the liver.  You might get a higher spike immediately after taking the pills.  The main issue with SL administration is that the SL dosage is inconsistent as you have no idea how much went SL and how much you actually just swallowed with your saliva.

In any case, he didn't change my dosage.

[Alainaluvsu]

I take mine under the tongue just to avoid first pass through the liver.  You might get a higher spike immediately after taking the pills.  The main issue with SL administration is that the SL dosage is inconsistent as you have no idea how much went SL and how much you actually just swallowed with your saliva.

In any case, he didn't change my dosage.

I cup the pill with the underside of my tongue for about 10 minutes and don't move my tongue. After 10 minutes the only thing left is the tiny bit of grit. Sometimes nothing is left.

[Naturally Blonde]

Both Injections and Implants are not licensed in the United Kingdom, so we don't get the choices that you lucky folk have in America  I personally think both injections and implants are much better than pills but that is just a theory as I've never had to option to try injections.

No one wants to comment and I am continually ignored in this forum no matter what subject is discussed.

[Erin]

Both Injections and Implants are not licensed in the United Kingdom, so we don't get the choices that you lucky folk have in America  I personally think both injections and implants are much better than pills but that is just a theory as I've never had to option to try injections.

No one wants to comment and I am continually ignored in this forum no matter what subject is discussed.

Well, at least you have androcur?

[kelly_aus]

Well, at least you have androcur?

Androcur has it's issues.. It is hard on the liver.. It has quite variable efficacy.. And can, and does, cause depression..

[Naturally Blonde]

Well, at least you have androcur?

The U.K NHS GIC's not longer use androcur but I still have a supply if I need it. I think Spriro also isn't licensed in the U.K?

Androcur has it's issues.. It is hard on the liver.. It has quite variable efficacy.. And can, and does, cause depression..

I think it works better than other anti androgens I've tried but it may have those issues? 

[kelly_aus]

The U.K NHS GIC's not longer use androcur but I still have a supply if I need it. I think Spriro also isn't licensed in the U.K?

I think it works better than other anti androgens I've tried but it may have those issues?

Yep.. I'm one of those people for whom Androcur works too well.. I had a zero T level which really surprised my gyno, given dose and time frame.. It also caused me to have quite bad depression.. Take the Androcur away, I was happy as a clam within a week or so.. My T level is still somewhere in the basement though....

[Annah]

Anyways, I am usually skeptical of trans girls who insist one form is better than another. However, my insurance will not cover HRT until I turn 18 (their policy is really weird-they do actually cover srs and some things like a trachea shave so I can't really complain) so I  have been thinking about talking to my doc about switching over since Injections are much cheaper than pills. What think ye all? How have your experiences been on injections (if applicable)?

For me, if Estrogen was a vehicle, the pill would be like a nice 2003 Ford Focus while the injections would be like an Airbus A380 Jet liner.

Ford Focus (pill):


Airbus A380 (injection):



Pills worked for me. They were ok....but Injections made the pill obsolete for me. The injections were so much more effective for myself, I vow never to slip another blue pill under my tongue again. The injection method was just insanely different for me in terms of results vs the pill.

Plus injections go right to the blood stream. Pills have to be metabolize by your liver first.

Also, the injections are so much more cheaper for me. The needles are pennies on the dollar. I mean they are ridiculously cheap (even without insurance).

And I inject in the upper arm. I literally feel nothing if I get it in the right spot.

Put in syringe> Put in arm > done for the week.

[Erin]

For me, if Estrogen was a vehicle, the pill would be like a nice 2003 Ford Focus while the injections would be like an Airbus A380 Jet liner.

Ford Focus (pill):


Airbus A380 (injection):



Pills worked for me. They were ok....but Injections made the pill obsolete for me. The injections were so much more effective for myself, I vow never to slip another blue pill under my tongue again. The injection method was just insanely different for me in terms of results vs the pill.

Plus injections go right to the blood stream. Pills have to be metabolize by your liver first.

Also, the injections are so much more cheaper for me. The needles are pennies on the dollar. I mean they are ridiculously cheap (even without insurance).

And I inject in the upper arm. I literally feel nothing if I get it in the right spot.

Put in syringe> Put in arm > done for the week.

Ok thats it I keep hearing other girls say this. I'm definitely going to talk to my endo at the end of the month and have me switch over. Also, the price of injections in compounding pharmacies here are ridiculously cheap.

[Annah]

I know...i always thought it was odd that injections were so much more cheaper. Because injections are so much more potent, I had always thought the injections were be at least twice as much as the pill...but they are about 40% cheaper. It's crazy.

God, I wonder what the results would be if they had spiro in injection form lol.

My breast size on the pill were growing....but barely. Flat chest to AA cup from March 2009 to June 2009. When I switched to injections, my breast size went from AA cup to almost D cup from June 2009 to April 2010. Plus all the other estrogen benefits seemed to have been quicker for me with injections.

Some say you have to put it in the thigh...but honestly, where you feel comfortable doing it. I do the upper arm because I have some fatty tissue up there. I mean, I literally feel nothing.  Out of the 150+ times I have injected, I only had one uncomfortable experience because I hit a blood vessel.

[A]

Well, I think it depends on the product you're using. If it's designed to be an intramuscular injection, you're exposing yourself to a potentially dangerous dose spike if you put it directly into a vein, I'd say.

[Annah]

nope. it goes anyone on the body. Whichever you feel most comfortable with. The odds of the needle going perfectly into a vein like an IV and then get in trouble with a dosage spike is much rarer than developing liver damage from taking the pill

[Erin]

nope. it goes anyone on the body. Whichever you feel most comfortable with. The odds of the needle going perfectly into a vein like an IV and then get in trouble with a dosage spike is much rarer than developing liver damage from taking the pill

In  your opinion, what about the injectioins feels more potent than the pills?

[Annah]

its more concentrated. Not in a bad way but in a good way. It yielded much better results for me. Almost everyone I know of who took injections after the pill stated the same opinions.

Also, if you do hit a vein you'll be fine. First of all, the odds of your needle going perfectly into a vein and not pierce the other side is pretty frigging rare....if not impossible. Think about a nurse who gives you an IV. That's pretty much what you would need to do to get it into the vein where the medication would go right into the vein and no where else.

Also, its as safe as diabetes shots in terms of injection complications. The injection risks is miniscule unless you somehow insert the needle into your eyeball or eardrum or have a needle large enough to penetrate your sternum and rib cage and go to your heart.

Needless to say, it's pretty safe. The overall risks you still have to worry about is blood clotting, strokes, etc (as with any estrogen medication). It's why I think those who self medicate without any supervision isn't very bright.

[A]

I knew injections were faster, but I wonder if they're actually better in the long term... Is there any evidence related to that?

But well, it's not like it would affect me, either way. I'm just NOT going to stab myself with a needle. I've just gotten over falling unconscious for blood tests... ^^' Plus, since it's not a daily thing, my chances of being rigorous and consistent with it aren't high above zero.

[Annah]

I knew injections were faster, but I wonder if they're actually better in the long term... Is there any evidence related to that?

I have never seen any studies that would make injections any worse than the pill in long term. In fact, the majority of long term usages of comorbids has usually been associated with the estrogen pill.

But either way you are changing your hormones so no matter what you take there will be risk

[A]

Well, I don't remember who/what/where, but I do remember a paper written by a doctor that didn't recommend injections, because they made the hormone levels fluctuate too much, which gave suboptimal results, according to the author. I also think there were some risks of additional unwanted side effects from hormones going way over the "normal" level shortly after the injection, then way below it right before the next one.