So, we all know by now that the makers of Mirena have failed to properly warn us of what to expect from their evil torture device, and that our doctors for the most part won't believe us...but, the side effects of the oral and vaginal (not Mirena-type vaginal, but vaginal cream) forms of progesterone (same drug as in Mirena) are well-documented.

Read this list and see if it sounds familiar...why can't our doctors make this leap and believe us???? See below for a summary of the side effects observed in clinical trials (before the drug was approved). I have presented the effects of Oral progesterone (e.g. something like Prometrium) AND for vaginal cream progesterone (keep in mind that Mirena delivers the SAME drug but just in a different way and directly into your uterus).

I also have listed the POST-MARKETING side effects; these are known ONLY because a patient and/or their doctor filed a MedWatch form with the FDA (see the link I sent last week). Two important messages from this post -- 1) Know what to expect from this list of side effects and 2) If you have had them or are having them, file the MedWatch form to the FDA so that labeling will be required to be changed; all the posts in the world on this website and others will NOT evoke change at the FDA, you must officially report your events.

SIDE EFFECTS FROM ALL FORMS OF PROGESTERONE:
Cardiovascular: Edema
Central nervous system: Depression, fever, insomnia, somnolence
Dermatologic: Acne, allergic rash (rare), alopecia, hirsutism, pruritus, rash, urticaria
Endocrine & metabolic: Amenorrhea, breakthrough bleeding, breast tenderness, galactorrhea, menstrual flow changes, spotting
Gastrointestinal: Nausea, weight gain, weight loss
Genitourinary: Cervical erosion changes, cervical secretion changes
Hepatic: Cholestatic jaundice
Miscellaneous: Anaphylactoid reactions

SIDE EFFECTS FROM ORAL PROGESTERONE THAT OCCURRED IN MORE THAN 10% OF USERS:
Central nervous system: Headache (10% to 31%), dizziness (15% to 24%), Depression (19%)
Endocrine & metabolic: Breast tenderness (27%), breast pain (6% to 16%)
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain (6% to 12%), abdominal bloating (10% to 20%)
Genitourinary: Urinary problems (11%)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Joint pain (20%), musculoskeletal pain (6% to 12%)
Miscellaneous: Viral infection (7% to 12%)

SIDE EFFECTS FROM ORAL PROGESTERONE THAT OCCURRED IN 5-10% OF USERS:
Cardiovascular: Chest pain (7%)
Central nervous system: Fatigue (8% to 9%), emotional lability (6%), irritability (5% to 8%), worry (8%)
Gastrointestinal: Nausea/vomiting (8%), diarrhea (8%)
Respiratory: Upper respiratory tract infection (5%), cough (8%)
Miscellaneous: Night sweats (7%)

SIDE EFFECTS FROM ORAL PROGESTERONE THAT OCCURRED IN LESS THAN 5% OF USERS:
Abscess, accidental injury, acne, angina pectoris, anxiety, arthritis, breast cancer, breast biopsy, bronchitis, cholecystectomy, concentration impaired, confusion, constipation, dyspepsia, earache, edema, fever, fungal vaginitis, gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic rectum, hernia, herpes simplex, hiatus, hypertension, hypertonia, insomnia, leg cramps, leukorrhea, lymphadenopathy, muscle disorder, myalgia, nasal congestion, palpitation, personality disorder, pharyngitis, pneumonitis, sinusitis, somnolence, speech disorder, urinary tract infection, uterine fibroid, vaginal dryness, vaginitis, verruca, vision abnormal, wound debridement, xerostomia

SIDE EFFECTS OF ORAL PROGESTERONE REPORTED AFTER THE DRUG WAS APPROVED (POST-MARKETING SIDE EFFECTS):
Aggression, alopecia, ALT increased, anaphylactic reaction, arthralgia, AST increased, asthma, blurred vision, choking, cholestasis, cholestatic hepatitis, circulatory collapse, consciousness depressed/loss, convulsion, depersonalization, diplopia, disorientation, drunk feeling, dysarthria, dysphagia, dyspnea, endometrial carcinoma, facial edema, feeling abnormal, gait abnormal, GGT increased, hepatic enzymes increased, hepatic failure, hepatic necrosis, hepatitis, hyperglycemia, hypersensitivity, hypotension, jaundice, liver function tests increased, menorrhagia, menstrual disorder, metrorrhagia, muscle cramps, ovarian cyst, pancreatitis (acute), paresthesia, pruritus, sedation, stupor, suicidal ideation, syncope, tachycardia, throat tightness, TIA, tinnitus, tongue swelling, urticaria, vertigo, visual disturbance, walking difficulty, weight increase/decrease

SIDE EFFECTS FROM VAGINAL CREAM PROGESTERONE THAT OCCURRED IN >10% OF USERS:
Central nervous system: Somnolence (27%), headache (13% to 17%), nervousness (16%), Depression (11%)
Endocrine & metabolic: Breast enlargement (40%), breast pain (13%), libido decreased (11%)
Gastrointestinal: Constipation (27%), nausea (7% to 22%), cramps (15%), abdominal pain (12%)
Genitourinary: Perineal pain (17%), nocturia (13%)

SIDE EFFECTS FROM VAGINAL CREAM PROGESTERONE THAT OCCURRED IN 5% to 10% OF USERS:
Central nervous system: Pain (8%), dizziness (5%)
Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea (8%), bloating (7%), vomiting (5%)
Genitourinary: Vaginal discharge (7%), dyspareunia (6%), genital moniliasis (5%), genital pruritus (5%)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia (8%)

If you're having these symptoms, print this email and take it to your doctor and SHOW THEM and then demand to be treated like the well-informed patient that you are!!!!

Good luck to all.

If any of you are curious as to WHY you get these effects (e.g. blurry vision), email me and I'll try to explain it. I have researched most of these side effects and know why for a lot of them (doesn't help you feel better, but at least does explaing the WHY of it).