Estradiol method

[Britney_413]

Hi, I have a question here. The doctor prescribed several pills including estradiol. Now he said that one of them (I can't remember but I'm sure it was estradiol) is a pill I'm supposed to dissolve under the tounge instead of swallowing. However, that is not written anywhere on the prescriptions and when I went to the pharmacy the pharmacist believed that all of the medications are designed to simply be swallowed. I'm skeptical of the pharmacist's advice because he seemed a bit ignorant of trans issues. It should have been obvious that the meds were for trans-related issues yet he was explaining the common uses of each drug and gave me a baffled look as to why on earth I'd be taking this regimen. Anyway, I realize most people (if not all) on this board are not licensed to give medical advice. My reason for posting this is to ask what has worked for you (i.e. explain your experiences). I probably won't be able to get back in touch with that doctor until Tuesday. More odd is that the estradiol tablets are in a bottle with no label unlike the other two meds. Is this typical for anyone else? Thanks.

[ClaireA]

It's the estradiol that can be taken sublingually. Depending on the type - standard estradiol is - they'll disolve under the toungue after a few minutes.

Don't try it with the spiro - leave that in your mouth for more than a few seconds and you'll experience a taste you wont forget anytime soon.

It's odd that they gave you a bottle without a label - I'm pretty sure that's illegal...

[Britney_413]

They ended up putting the unlabelled bottle in a plastic bag but with the drug description and information paper in the bag with the bottle. Yeah, I thought it was strange too. The description information described what the pill should look like and I verified that to make sure I was taking the right drug.

[LordKAT]

I also thought unlabeled medicines were illegal. My needles and syringes are even relabeled.

[Janet_Girl]

It can happen.  Pharm tech gets busy and Just forgets to label the bottle.  But estradiol is the one that goes under the tongue.

[Keroppi]

Don't try it with the spiro - leave that in your mouth for more than a few seconds and you'll experience a taste you wont forget anytime soon.

I think one can guess that just by smelling the spiro, never mind tasting it.

[JessicaR]

  It's suggested that one lets estradiol dissolve under the tongue so that the drug enters the blood stream directly, rather than swallowing it and having it absorbed by the intestines. By doing so, it's theorized that the estradiol will be absorbed by your body before the "first liver pass."
The net effect, in theory, is that your body gets more estradiol per dose and your liver isn't taxed as much as if you swallowed the pills.

  Don't be at all surprised that your pharmacist is confused... Most have never knowingly dispensed to Transsexual folks and will have no idea what you're talking about if you mention it.
 
  I've taken estradiol under my tongue for almost 6 years and have experience very positive effects.

[V M]

Yup, I take my E sublingually also... It dissolves under my tongue rather quickly... I've never been given unlabeled med.s though

Of coarse it is always best to check with the prescribing Dr.

[ClaireA]

Personally, I'd take back the unlabeled bottle and ask them to label it. Lets say you get pulled over by the police, or try flying - an unlabeled prescription can cause a lot of problems.

[Layn]

take estradiol sublingually? i don't know, should i try? it's not like he gave me ANY info, he just gave me the prescription and told me how many to take per day, and off he was (we didn't have an appointment then, so i understand that he might be in a hurry, but still...)

[V M]

Your Dr. didn't tell you?

Well, I'm not a Dr. so I'm not giving any advise, but as far as I understand, E is taken sublingually

[Britney_413]

Well I took it under the tongue the last two times so I'm pretty sure that is what the doctor wanted. He did say one of the meds should be taken that way and it is obvious that it wasn't the other two. The pill dissolves within less than a minute after putting it under the tongue. As to the bottle being unlabled it does look like the pharmacist forgot. I will mention it to him when I go for a refill. He was looking at me strangely when he called me by saying "Ma'am" only to realize I have a male name. Perhaps if he wasn't so baffled by me being transgender he would have done his job better.

Something else perhaps strange is that the doctor said I shouldn't notice any changes for about a month after starting these. Well it does seem like my mood has changed even after day one. It could just be due to other factors, I don't know. I feel less irritated and calmer overall, much more focused on tasks, a lot happier and more pleasant, and less distracted. At the same time I've felt a lot more arrogant. Today at work as well as at the Starbucks, I normally would have glanced around at people; only this time I did everything I could to ignore people that weren't relevant to my needs. Someone at the coffee shop was staring for awhile. I normally would have nervously looked the other direction but this time looked back at them with contempt and then purposefully looked away. Some man at work had been waiting for me outside to chit-chat. Normally I would have stood there and chit-chatted. This time I did everything I could to quickly terminate the conversation and leave. Normally I'm the aggressive one to initiate and maintain discussions. Whether men or women I will be the one to say "Hello" and maintain interest. Today and partially yesterday I simply expected other people to be the ones to initiate the conversations and for them to use the efforts to keep me standing there listening. Strange but I kind of like it. If this is the work of the hormones, maybe I should call the doctor because I'm not aware that they should alter my chemistry that fast. Did anyone else have sudden mood changes like this right after starting HRT?

[ClaireA]

If this is the work of the hormones, maybe I should call the doctor because I'm not aware that they should alter my chemistry that fast. Did anyone else have sudden mood changes like this right after starting HRT?

There is a chance this MIGHT be the hormones, but chances are better it's a side-effect from the meds, or just the fact that your body is not used to these meds. Spiro, from what I know, doesn't even really have a huge effect on your T levels until it is built up in a week or so.

[Layn]

i tried sublingually yesterday and gave up since they were taking forever to dissolve. i'm guessing mine aren't made for that method

[Randi]

For me, I noticed a change from the first day on Estrogen and it was great not to be confused or forgettful. My moods change and to me seem rather insignificant when compared to the positive effect of the estrogen. I have never been arrogant or aggressive while taking it but more calm and easy going. Give it a few days then if things are bothering you talk to your Dr.
Randi

[Britney_413]

I'm going to elaborate further on this in a new topic.

[valyn_faer]

I never heard anything about taking it sublingually, either. My doctor never said anything about that and the bottle just says "take by mouth."

[kokochan900]

Hm, I never knew I was supposed to let Estradiol dissolve under my tongue. That must be why it starts dissolving so quickly when I try to swallow it.

[stacey fisher]

hi I have been given Estradiol have just started it do it make a differents is it is swallowed to left to dissolve  under the tong of is that best

[Devlyn]

Hi Stacey, welcome to Susan's Place! Here's a reminder of site policy regarding HRT. Hugs, Devlyn

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