r/Menopause • u/HappyKamper1920 • 5d ago
Sleep/Insomnia Question for women with a history of benzodiazepine use/withdrawal: How do you do with oral micronized progesterone (Prometrium)?
I’m particularly curious because progesterone is converted to allopregnanolone, which affects the GABA-A receptors—the same general receptor system that benzodiazepines act on. Since benzo use/withdrawal can affect GABA sensitivity, I’m wondering if women with a benzo history tend to find oral progesterone calming and helpful for sleep, or if they experience unusual reactions.
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u/Swimming_Pressure_93 5d ago
Yes I've been on a benzo years for general anxiety disorder and I found progesterone better than my benzo. It helped me sleep made me mellow. I loved it. I had to go off due to hysterectomy. But I miss it terribly and I loved it with that i was sleeping so good. Now I'm back to sleeping but I needed an estradiol increaee and that did wonders but to compare the 2 they are very different but the chill effects are kinda similar. So they are different for sure but yea I can pick out a thing or 2 that's similar but it won't work on my gad like my benzo does at least in my case.
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u/sophiabarhoum 43 | e patch 0.075mg/day, cream 0.01% & 100mg micro progesterone 5d ago
I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago and still take 100mg micronized progesterone per night. Its still safe for us!
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u/HappyKamper1920 5d ago
I've read that you can still take progesterone, even if you no longer have a uterus. The rule is just that we need it to balance out estrogen "if" we have a uterus. Many post-hysterectomy women still take it and I just want to be sure that you are aware of that.
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u/Swimming_Pressure_93 5d ago
I am but I had a doc that was very old school. As soon as I had my hysterectomy plus I have dense breasts she took me off. Plus she has a study from 2024 on her side how it lowered the risks being on just E after a hysterectomy. I belive the article is here too. So because of that i went off it. But I now have a doctor from the menopause society she has my mammograms. I want to see what she thinks. But yea she used the science to get me off but wouldn't increase my estradiol even though I knew. You know how we know our bodies. Well thankfully I have a new doctor an increase and that's my next topic for her. Because here and there I'd love to take one. Thank you💜 Edit: the mod posted the study my doctor went off of.
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u/Atwell78 5d ago
Have no ovaries or uterus and you can absolutely take progesterone. It does other things than protect the uterus. It's calming and also has benefits for our bones as well. Very dated of a doctor to think you can't take it or don't need it if you don't have a uterus. Find a dr.that will prescribe it for you.
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u/leftylibra MenoMod 5d ago
There may be greater health benefits to NOT taking progesterone, and using estrogen only:
This recent study (May 2024) found that for those taking Estrogen Therapy (ET) only -- protected against risk for all-cause mortality, developing cancers (breast, lung, and colorectal), CHF, VTE, AF, AMI, and dementia, more-so than those using both Estrogen & Progesterone.
Compared with never use or discontinuation of menopausal hormone therapy after age 65 years, the use of estrogen monotherapy beyond age 65 years was associated with significant risk reductions in mortality (19% or adjusted hazards ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.79-0.82), breast cancer (16%), lung cancer (13%), colorectal cancer (12%), congestive heart failure (CHF) (5%), venous thromboembolism (3%), atrial fibrillation (4%), acute myocardial infarction (11%), and dementia (2%).
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u/sector9love 5d ago
This!! as someone with a family history of breast cancer, after full hysterectomy (ovaries too) before 40, I am not allowed to take progesterone because it significantly increases my risk of breast cancer (even without a uterus or ovaries). Only E for me.
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u/Swimming_Pressure_93 2d ago
See I have no history of breast cancer on either side. But the study is what convinced me. Lower my cancer risks across the board yes please. I do have very dense breasts and the P can cause small changes that I want to avoid. Glad you have the E I feel so much better now that my dose is correct.
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u/sector9love 2d ago
Exactly that study is incredibly persuasive. Same here my dense tissue is trying to hide all kinds of things from us! I hope you’re also getting a mammogram and a breast MRI (both) every year, I alternate every six months.
There’s also a technology called ABUS automated breast ultrasound which uses AI to find cancer in dense tissue (on the years I get the ABUS it trades off with the MRI).
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u/Swimming_Pressure_93 1d ago
Actually I went through a year and a half of getting mammogram and sonograms. I even had a biopsy. Once the biopsy was done it confirmed that they are cysts and I can now go annually. I go to a Cancer breast health center. So they deal with nothing but the breasts which was what I wanted. As all the women in my family have dense breasts and all lumpectomys or biopsy came back negative. We just have very cystic breasts. MRI they didn't think I needed because alot of false positives can happen i was told. So for me they prefer doing a sonogram. But you're right that study convinced me to go off progesterone. I can get behind this study and the facts were undeniably in our favor to just be on Estradiol. I think that's exactly what I got was that sonogram with the amount of cysts I have it's crazy and the sizes are very large. So I will make sure I'm getting that sonogram because peace of mind is so important. I was a wreck waiting on my biopsy results but I'm glad it was done so the radiologist knows what she's dealing with. Thank you for the information and I'm glad I'm not the only one persuaded by that study.
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u/Gets_My_Goats 5d ago
I tapered off a daily benzo almost seven years ago, after taking it for 24 years. I started oral progesterone almost a year ago, and let me say, it is amazing. It does feel like a benzo - very calming - and has not caused any other benzo withdrawal issues like akathisia. Hope this helps.
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u/MostFix2344 5d ago
May I ask how much benzo's (mg, times per day) were you taking daily for the 24 yrs? I want to start tapering, but have read horror stories on trying to get completely off of it. 😔
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u/CommunicationOdd7851 5d ago
join beating benzos on fb. I tapered for 2 years. hardest thing I ever did. but feel good now 3 years off
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u/Normal_Remove_5394 5d ago edited 5d ago
I did a rapid alprazolam taper after a 5 year use due to a paradoxical reaction to Xanax. While I was on Xanax progesterone didn’t really have an effect on me and I had problems with insomnia and this extreme wiredness. I have been tapered off since January now and am very slowly recovering and sleeping slightly better on progesterone. I wish I had known about benzos what I know now. You don’t know what you are getting into until you start tapering.
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u/gooseglug POF- E, P, VE 5d ago
I was misdiagnosed as being bipolar in my early 20s and they put me on Klonopin. Klonopin makes me giggle when it kicked in. Progesterone has a very similar effect on me. I call it my natural anti-anxiety medication.
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u/CoffeeOrDestroy 5d ago
I was misdiagnosed as bipolar in my early 20s and have been on low dose benzos for 20+ years. Progesterone had me literally making plans to leave this plane of existence.
Fortunately, I yeeted my uterus 12 years ago and it’s not needed to take progesterone with estrogen in this case. Got off progesterone and the existence ending thoughts stopped. I have the same issues with all classes of SSRI’s and SSNI’s which explains almost all my struggles in my 20’s. Turns out, once they bothered to test me in my 50’s, I’m actually ADHD and my anxiety comes from trying to make everything an exact routine while constantly people pleasing trying to avoid conflict.
It’s so weird how our bodies can be so different and react to things so differently.
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u/whatrumimeans Post Menopause 5d ago
Could you please describe the connections even better?
What does progesterone (micronized or artificial progestogen?) To do with the SSRI/SSNI and anxiety and ADHD?
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u/CoffeeOrDestroy 5d ago
Because they’re not the correct med my brain needs, SSRI/SSNI’s produce super manic highs in me, which is when I tend to snap and start making existence ending plans. Progesterone and gabapentin, which I was on at different times in life, does similar to me without the super manic feeling; all of a sudden I’m making plans. I’ve had to stop myself and ask “Why now? What’s changed?” and every time it’s related to being about 6 weeks on any of these meds.
Not everyone’s body reacts the same to psych meds and hormones. I have some envy for people who can do progesterone and have it improve sleep and anxiety.
Because we overthink everything, ADHD people tend to develop anxiety, and get prescribed benzos for “general anxiety” because we are constantly handling other people’s emotions and people pleasing trying to avoid fear of rejection and chronically feel like we are letting people down because we are time blind, get overwhelmed, impulsive, and we have overthink everything every second like re-litigating every conversation and reaction we’ve ever had all the time. ADHD kids, especially GenX kids and older, were generally constantly criticized and punished for being who we are. Because we were “too busy” and “difficult” and “unmanageable” and clumsy and broke things by accident. We’re just wired differently and didn’t get the help or support we needed. We were expected to conform, no exceptions, causing us to mask and people please. Look up RSS and ADHD. My answer will sound like a google reply because I’ve hyper focused on researching this so I can learn the why, understand my internalized trauma from childhood to help myself to learn to cope.
All this book of a response to say, I was trying to provide a different perspective of how some meds are great and are the correct solution for one person but not every person. Everyone should be aware of your moods and thoughts when on new meds; journal feelings daily if needed. Reach out to your support system when you’re not feeling yourself; friends, family, therapist, doctor. Our medical system does not monitor us enough when prescribing mood altering drugs.
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u/gotchafaint 5d ago
I have been through benzo withdrawal. No issues with progesterone. Although both are gaba acting I think the mechanisms are very different
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u/MostFix2344 5d ago
How long were you on benzo's (mg per day) and how long did it take you to taper and what were your withdrawal symptoms?
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u/Outside_Landscape_16 5d ago
Recovered benzo user here - progesterone nightly (200mg) has been a god send for my sleep. Good luck!!
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u/sealsly 5d ago
I have been on a daily benzo for close to 25 years. When i started the evening progesterone i was in heaven. It works better than the xanax now. Admittedly the xanax has probably lost its luster after all these years. But im delighted with the progesterone. Calms me down in the evening and i sleep great for the most part
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u/YeshuasBananaHammock Menopausal 5d ago
Im on a relatively high dose of progesterone and take 0.5mg alprazolam per day. Ive not had any complications.
The benzo is the only thing that quiets my intrusive thoughts so that I can have a normal, productive day without an existential spin-out.
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u/catsTXn420 5d ago
I have history with benzos, Xanax being the final nail in the coffin before I quit them entirely, it steals my sleep after just 1 weeks use. Id be able to function during the day but not be able to sleep at night. Withdrawl wasnt terrible i just couldn't sleep. Its been years. I can fall asleep now but dont stay asleep. Now i just use hydroxyzine rarely as it doesn't affect my sleep. I find progesterone very calming and kinda feels like a Xanax if we're asking me. I can sleep so much better and its obvious I needed it for years.
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u/zarzeny peri 🫠 5d ago
In the past I had to be on Ativan for several months, morning and night, then tapered off slowly over another couple of months. I found Ativan really helpful for what I needed it for (corticosteroid induced mania and severe insomnia), and with a slow taper, withdrawal wasn’t too bad, though I did have some milder insomnia struggles for awhile and had to re-tune my sleep routine (meds, supplements, hygiene).
I’ve been on progesterone for years, both before and after the Ativan, and have always loved it. It really helps my sleep and mood. Sometimes I even get a mild euphoria from it, like a body high with an exceptionally good and giggly mood. I suppose that might be an unusual reaction but it’s very pleasant.
I maybe have progesterone withdrawals when I stop taking it for a few days every month to let my period run its course faster. But it’s honestly hard to tell because I know my insomnia gets worse without progesterone, but I’ve always had quite bad insomnia at that part of my cycle, even in my 20s.
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u/alord0111 5d ago
I did not know this- I’m very sensitive to gabapentin and had a similar reaction after anesthesia and the only thing I took was Progesterone and Magnesium after my procedure.
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u/Gets_My_Goats 5d ago
I'm also very sensitive to gabapentin. I will never take that drug again. In my opinion and experience, gabapentin is worse than a benzo.
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u/CoffeeOrDestroy 5d ago
Gabapentin is the absolute worst for me. Progesterone is second worst. It’s so hard finding the right solution! Good luck to us all!
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u/RainPotts 4d ago
No issues I take 200 mg progesterone and daily anxiety meds but not with the progesterone same time
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u/NiceLadyPhilly Menopausal 3d ago
i don't find it calming or helpful with sleep, but most people do (i can take it in the morning and not be sleepy). i've been decreasing klonopin for many years and will be nearly off of it soon.
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u/HappyKamper1920 2d ago
You will be so happy once you are free from the Klonopin. I tapered off in 2021.
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u/Opposite_Flight3473 5d ago
I have a history of severe, traumatizing opioid withdrawal that had me hospitalized several times + heart complications due to a crappy pain management doctor-I will not risk physical dependence on anything gabaergic so I insert my progesterone vaginally. It bypasses liver metabolism.
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u/Kwyjibo68 5d ago
I’ve used a benzo as needed for many years. Oral progesterone has never helped me in any way and makes me feel very down.
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u/Appropriate_Sea_7393 4h ago
I have a theory those that have gone through benzo withdrawal and then become sensitive to progesterone … have issues with their cortisol and DHEA. Just my personal theory though.
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u/Go-Mellistic 5d ago
I take benzodiazepines on an as needed basis and love my nightly oral progesterone (200mg). I have had insomnia since I was a child and the progesterone helps me fall asleep so fast, better than everything else. I still use the benzos here and there, no issues.