Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: TSJasmine on December 05, 2014, 07:38:21 PM

Title: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: TSJasmine on December 05, 2014, 07:38:21 PM
Okay, so I found a link on ->-bleeped-<- & this is the link http://www.->-bleeped-<-.com/r/transgender/comments/16ksdd/a_reason_to_take_estradiol_sublingually/

It basically said that sublingually taking estradiol is the most effective way to take it aside from injections & that it gives you the most of your pills, but it also has a significantly shorter half life. The half life is 4 hours & by that point it's back down to a really low level. So your E levels are only actually good for about 4 hours. It then says that theoretically, to get the most of your E, you should divide it & take it in smaller doses so the E lasts overall longer in your body. So if you're taking 4 pills then split it into 2 every 12 hours or 1 every 6 hours, etc. So bases on this knowledge I've decided to try taking 1 pill every 3 hours & at the end of the day (right before bed) if I have more than one I'll just take the remainder all at once. then continue the process the next day.

Do you guys think this is the most effective way to get the most of your E? Feel free to read the link.

DISCLAIMER : I AM NOT ADVERTISING FOR ANY SITE. THE LINK IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Devlyn on December 05, 2014, 07:58:56 PM
Effective maybe. Efficient, convenient, and practical? Not in my book.
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: TSJasmine on December 05, 2014, 08:04:59 PM
Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 05, 2014, 07:58:56 PM
Effective maybe. Efficient, convenient, and practical? Not in my book.

Oh yeah. Nothing NEAR hahah But, I mean, it's a way to get the most out of your E. Still waiting to see other responses from other girls because I think I may have found a breakthrough hahaha
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Devlyn on December 05, 2014, 08:09:26 PM
News Flash! Someone on tumblr crushes theirs and snorts a tiny line every five minutes!   :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Jill F on December 05, 2014, 08:10:15 PM
Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 05, 2014, 08:09:26 PM
News Flash! Someone on tumblr crushes theirs and snorts a tiny line every five minutes!   :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:

So that was YOU?
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Devlyn on December 05, 2014, 08:13:57 PM
You know full well we can't get into my dosages! >:-)
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: KayXo on December 05, 2014, 10:28:09 PM
That's why I just switched to injectables...more convenient and VERY effective, nowhere near as effective as sublingual. :)
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: TSJasmine on December 05, 2014, 10:30:17 PM
Quote from: KayXo on December 05, 2014, 10:28:09 PM
That's why I just switched to injectables...more convenient and VERY effective, nowhere near as effective as sublingual. :)

Did you forget to write in a few words or am I just reading this wrong? :o
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: KayXo on December 05, 2014, 10:32:12 PM
Oups lol, it's the alcohol getting to me lol...should say instead...Much more effective than sublingual
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Jenna Marie on December 05, 2014, 10:32:58 PM
That would drive me *nuts.* But then I use patches I change every 3.5 days and I still manage to forget sometimes. :)

(also, that's kind of not quite how half life works; it means at that point you have half the original amount left. So - using completely random numbers for illustration - if you take 100 units of a drug and the half life is four hours, at the 4-hour mark there will average 50 units left, and at 8 hours 25 units, and so on. What that means, basically, is that smaller doses more frequently probably will not actually make much difference; if instead you took 25 units every 2 hours, it'd be a similar result to 100 every 8, though there'd be fewer spikes and valleys. But if you care about the fluctuations, you're better off with patches or implants as a constant delivery system.)
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: TSJasmine on December 05, 2014, 11:44:25 PM
Quote from: Jenna Marie on December 05, 2014, 10:32:58 PM
That would drive me *nuts.* But then I use patches I change every 3.5 days and I still manage to forget sometimes. :)

(also, that's kind of not quite how half life works; it means at that point you have half the original amount left. So - using completely random numbers for illustration - if you take 100 units of a drug and the half life is four hours, at the 4-hour mark there will average 50 units left, and at 8 hours 25 units, and so on. What that means, basically, is that smaller doses more frequently probably will not actually make much difference; if instead you took 25 units every 2 hours, it'd be a similar result to 100 every 8, though there'd be fewer spikes and valleys. But if you care about the fluctuations, you're better off with patches or implants as a constant delivery system.)

Hmmm...

I put it on a chart so I could visually see it & I've come to the conclusion that the way I'm going to take it is better than the way I've been taking it before. There won't be a very large spike in my estrogen like what normally would happen by taking it sublingually all at once like I normally do. When I do that, it's completely 100% gone by the time I reach the 24 hour mark. By taking one pill every 3 hours will actually bring my levels somewhat higher over time & will keep the estrogen in my system a lot longer. I'll even have a bit of leftover E in my system by the 24 hour mark, so the leftover E will keep accumulating as the days progress. A hassle, yes, but if it means I may feminize better, then I'm okay with that :) It's not like I have much to do with my days as of right now anyways lol

One thing I do find kind of odd is that even on low doses, over time, my E would steadily rise. Does anyone know why this is? Like back when I would take only 4 pills (all at once), & I would do my blood tests, over time, my E would just keep getting higher & my testosterone would keep getting lower. I did manage to trick my doctor to put me on Spiro by the 6 month mark, but it's still kind of weird to me that even with such a small half life, it kept my testosterone dropping over time.
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Alexis2107 on December 06, 2014, 12:19:51 AM
I did ask my doctor yesterday about this when I had my appointment... he said the pill isn't designed to be taking under the tongue...the purpose is to slowly release it, not give it to you all at once... I think he is right, because I don't like how I feel when I take it under the tongue vs just swallowing it.  It's working really well just swallowing so I will maintain this route.
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: TSJasmine on December 06, 2014, 02:35:54 AM
Quote from: Alexis2107 on December 06, 2014, 12:19:51 AM
I did ask my doctor yesterday about this when I had my appointment... he said the pill isn't designed to be taking under the tongue...the purpose is to slowly release it, not give it to you all at once... I think he is right, because I don't like how I feel when I take it under the tongue vs just swallowing it.  It's working really well just swallowing so I will maintain this route.

Doctors are all mixed about the subject. My doctor told me just so long as I take it. He didn't even give me specific advice on when to take it & told me I could do it all at once if I wanted. But the evidence is clear that taking it sublingually is better in terms of effectiveness & on your liver. I guess it all just boils down to what you want to do
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Ms Grace on December 06, 2014, 03:17:11 AM
Estrogen implant works great for me. Constant and convenient. Only have to swap it out every six months or so.
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Alexis2107 on December 06, 2014, 07:20:51 AM
well, from what I understand, you should read what the manufacturer of the pill said....that being said, if it says to swallow...then should do just that....I've heard of nobody yet getting injured by doing as their told.....that being said, I've been told by many it is best to have it release slowly than getting it ask at once
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Rachel on December 06, 2014, 09:58:53 AM
I use to do 2 sublingual dosing. I now do IM every 14 days and the dose is the same. I have a lot more effect with IM but the last 4 days I feel low. I will be discussing 10 day cycles with me PA.
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: Dee Marshall on December 06, 2014, 10:25:41 AM
Quote from: Alexis2107 on December 06, 2014, 07:20:51 AM
well, from what I understand, you should read what the manufacturer of the pill said....that being said, if it says to swallow...then should do just that....I've heard of nobody yet getting injured by doing as their told.....that being said, I've been told by many it is best to have it release slowly than getting it ask at once
I agree that following the directions on the prescription is the way to go, but I have to point out that our mothers doing that is EXACTLY why some of us are here. Trust but verify.
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: BrenB on December 08, 2014, 09:51:25 PM
I have always taken mine sublingual and spread out 4 times, and my levels are always in the target range. I don't know if it is better or worse than swallowing them, I just stick to the sublingual method because it has worked for me. For a while, I was on a combination of patch and pills, and I think I liked that method best, since I don't take my pills at regular time intervals.
Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: 23 Skidoo on December 09, 2014, 11:45:23 PM
In regards to half life's, they really don't matter that much in this regard. Outside of the initial burst at time of dosing, your body basically works out an equilibrium with levels that make them pretty constant and average once you've been into a daily hrt regimen for any extended period. What I'm saying is you don't need to fear a detrimental effect if your dosing isn't divided up into even spacing.

Title: Re: Sublingual Oral Estradiol & divided daily doses
Post by: TSJasmine on December 10, 2014, 01:45:34 AM
Quote from: 23 Skidoo on December 09, 2014, 11:45:23 PM
In regards to half life's, they really don't matter that much in this regard. Outside of the initial burst at time of dosing, your body basically works out an equilibrium with levels that make them pretty constant and average once you've been into a daily hrt regimen for any extended period. What I'm saying is you don't need to fear a detrimental effect if your dosing isn't divided up into even spacing.

Omg really? I've been taking them how I said & it's too soon to decide whether it's better or not lol I'm gonna have my mom take me to do my blood work on monday though & when I see my doctor in March I'll have him tell me my levels & see if they're better or not. Which they actually should be since I just started a higher dose in October... Aaaahhhhh ->-bleeped-<-... This is gonna be difficult :p