So I had my appointment with the doc today, and he prescribed estrogen for me, but on the prescription he wrote sub lingual (under the tongue), because he said he's found that putting it under the tongue helps bypass some of the problems with it building up in the liver (or something like that).

However when I went to the pharmacy (in my supermarket), they said that it doesn't actually come in sub-lingual form, so they would have to call the doctor to ask about that, but by that point it was 7:20pm so they're going to call tomorrow and then call me back.

So I was wondering if anyone else's doctor has had them take their E under the tongue, and if so did you have the same pills as normal E or special sub-lingual pills?

Quote from: Ketsy on May 19, 2010, 06:46:00 PM
So I was wondering if anyone else's doctor has had them take their E under the tongue, and if so did you have the same pills as normal E or special sub-lingual pills?

subling. is done with plain uncoated tablets

The standard estrogen pill can be taken sublingual.  Sublingual is the method of delivery.  The pills are nothing special.  Go get your pills. 

Quote from: Ketsy on May 19, 2010, 06:46:00 PM
So I had my appointment with the doc today, and he prescribed estrogen for me, but on the prescription he wrote sub lingual (under the tongue), because he said he's found that putting it under the tongue helps bypass some of the problems with it building up in the liver (or something like that).

However when I went to the pharmacy (in my supermarket), they said that it doesn't actually come in sub-lingual form, so they would have to call the doctor to ask about that, but by that point it was 7:20pm so they're going to call tomorrow and then call me back.

So I was wondering if anyone else's doctor has had them take their E under the tongue, and if so did you have the same pills as normal E or special sub-lingual pills?

I've never seen a special formula for sublingual estradiol.  My doctor told me the same thing, but I've often wondered how much gets dissolved sublingually and how much actually slides down my esophagus into the stomach.  Another doctor friend told me that the pills need to be specially formulated in order to be sublingual.

That's what I thought... well, what's one more day in the scheme of things .

QuoteSo I had my appointment with the doc today, and he prescribed estrogen for me, but on the prescription he wrote sub lingual (under the tongue), because he said he's found that putting it under the tongue helps bypass some of the problems with it building up in the liver (or something like that).

I think the specific reason is so the estrogen only passes through the liver once.  There's potentially more risk involved when you simply swallow and get multiple passes.

Edit: Oh yeah, and for what it's worth I take mine sublingual as well.  They're just plain old estradiol tablets.

Congrats on your prescription by the way

normal little blue E tabs uncoated, kinda sweet. I also wonder how much goes down tne esophogus. Cause some days I feel I have more E in my than other days.

Quote from: cynthialee on May 19, 2010, 08:04:06 PM
I also wonder how much goes down tne esophogus.

I understand that the "hard on the liver" justification does not apply to modern bio-identicals, but I still try to take mine when I can let it dissolve over several hours under my tongue. The absorption directly into the bloodstream via diffusion through the capilaries is supposed to be much higher than if it goes through the digestive system. If you taste it you waste it.

Quote from: Valeriedances on May 20, 2010, 03:25:22 PM
It's great that your doctor was clear about how he wants you to take them and the prescription is marked that way.

After reading posts of others taking theirs sublingually, I asked my endo and she said no, take them orally. So it looks like it depends on the doctor. Maybe the dosages would be different depending on how it was taken. It's good to be clear.

Yep Subbing you need only between 1/2 and 1/4 of the dose to get the same blood serum levels so taking an oral dosage sublingual could be dangerous.

Oh yes - and Ketsy - the ones containing Estradiol-Hemihydrate can be taken sublingual - the Uk brand name is Elleste-solo but they are exactly the same formulation as the Estrace that the USA girls use for their sublingual meds.

Well it turns out they do make ones specific for sub-lingual, which they did have at the pharmacy, so it was all just a big mixup.  So I just got back with them and the bottle is sitting on my desk, temptingly.  I'm curious -- is it better to take after a meal? before a meal?  Some time later?  Or does it not really matter?  I'm eating dinner first because I have a birthday party to go to.

I take mine in the morning. Sub of course.  If I miss the morning I take them when I remember.  And seeing I don't do breakfast, it would be before a meal.

Quote from: Ketsy on May 20, 2010, 06:37:51 PM
Well it turns out they do make ones specific for sub-lingual, which they did have at the pharmacy, so it was all just a big mixup.  So I just got back with them and the bottle is sitting on my desk, temptingly.  I'm curious -- is it better to take after a meal? before a meal?  Some time later?  Or does it not really matter?  I'm eating dinner first because I have a birthday party to go to.

What is the brand name of those please - just out of curiousity... I take mine sub with my doctors approval - but if there is a special formulation I'll ask him to switch it next time. Please PM me if you don't want to post brandname details...

I can't see a brand name, it just says Estradiol on the bottle.  They're little blue-green oval pills -- on one side it says 887|2, and the other side has either a b or a q.

Quote from: Ketsy on May 20, 2010, 06:47:05 PM
I can't see a brand name, it just says Estradiol on the bottle.  They're little blue-green oval pills -- on one side it says 887|2, and the other side has either a b or a q.

Hey, that's what I take!  It's a generic form of Estrace:  http://www.drugs.com/imprints/b-887-2-1098.html 

My doctors have never prescribed specifically sublingual preparations before.  I'm not entirely convinced it comes in a different tablet form than this. 

But to answer your other questions about when to take it, I was never told when.  I take mine after meals with my other pills.  But if it's entering your bloodstream via sublingual method, I wouldn't think it would matter.  I take multiple e pills a day and space them out to keep me girly all day long 

Interesting.  Well I just took the first one... not really sure what to expect at this point .  It's a little unreal that this is even happening.

In about 5 minutes you will begin tripping like on acid.  Then you will begin to have hot flashes.












jk
I feel only peace form the first one.

I take mine at bedtime

Quote from: Ketsy on May 20, 2010, 07:34:47 PM
Interesting.  Well I just took the first one... not really sure what to expect at this point .  It's a little unreal that this is even happening.

Wow, that's exciting!  Your first HRT pill?  I remember my first one too, not knowing what to expect.  It takes a while, at least a few weeks for me until I felt some breast tenderness.

Quote from: Ketsy on May 20, 2010, 07:34:47 PM
Interesting.  Well I just took the first one... not really sure what to expect at this point .  It's a little unreal that this is even happening.

OMG! That is so cool. It wasnt that long ago I took mt first HRT.
Just relax. In a few days your brain will notice it has E in it and the changes will start .
I was so excited the first dose I was shaking so bad I almost spilled my pills.

I never understood the way a medication builds up in your system or the effect of dosage and half life until I tried to figure out how I was supposed to take four hormone tablets a day. My doctor put me on a conservative dosage for the first two weeks to make sure I didn't have any negative effects and increased it to a full transition level after two weeks. Rather than giving me a new prescription, he just told me to double things up. Given the 12 hour half life, taking my prescriptions every six hours keeps my estrogen level extremely level. I'm sure taking it sublingually, I must have more hormones pumping through me than a squad of teenage cheerleaders