Help: Estradiol valerate vs hemihydrate

[R R H]

My GiC requested my GP to prescribe estradiol valerate but they've actually given me Elleste solo which is estradiol hemihydrate. I'll take it twice a day and hitherto in the bad ol' days of self-med I always took them sublingually which my GiC agree with.

Some of you really know your stuff on this one: does it matter that my surgery have given me hemihydrate rather than valerate?!

[fefi]

Hi Rachel, maybe my experience with both, estradiol valerate and estradiol hemihydrate may help you. I used to take estradiol hemihydrate pills, always sublingually, and the feminization was the best I have ever felt in my life. Unfortunately, four years ago these pills were discontinued in my country and my only choice was estradiol valerate pills. I used to take them sublingually too, but after asking many endocrinologists, they told me that estradiol valerate pills were better to take them with a glass of water, as any other medication. I never felt the feminization was better with estradiol valerate pills, so do not doubt in taking estradiol hemihydrate pills sublingually, they are more potent in a way I think, and more feminising pills. Best wishes!!!

[KayXo]

Estradiol valerate, in certain studies, has been shown to be slightly less potent. EV has a higher molecular weight, so you get fewer moles from a gram of EV vs. E2.

Zentralbl Gynakol. 2001 Sep;123(9):505-12.

"During treatment with (...) micronized estradiol the serum concentrations are significantly higher than with (...) estradiol valerate."

But this study found slightly higher levels with estradiol valerate

J Am Geriatr Soc. 1993 Apr;41(4):426-36.

At equal doses, EV yielded, in 3 out of 4 instances, an excess of 10 pg/ml in estradiol and estrone levels relative to estradiol.

My feeling...it depends on the individual.

[R R H]

Hi Rachel, maybe my experience with both, estradiol valerate and estradiol hemihydrate may help you. I used to take estradiol hemihydrate pills, always sublingually, and the feminization was the best I have ever felt in my life. Unfortunately, four years ago these pills were discontinued in my country and my only choice was estradiol valerate pills. I used to take them sublingually too, but after asking many endocrinologists, they told me that estradiol valerate pills were better to take them with a glass of water, as any other medication. I never felt the feminization was better with estradiol valerate pills, so do not doubt in taking estradiol hemihydrate pills sublingually, they are more potent in a way I think, and more feminising pills. Best wishes!!!

Fefi that is so helpful: thank you. I'm sorry it has taken a couple of days to reply. Your response really encouraged me. Totally anecdotally but so far I feel good about EH version.

KayXo that's a good point: I think my GiC consultant would say the same thing.