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Livial I love you!

Posted , 78 users are following.

Guest
Guest

:D I have been taking Livial for 4 months now and it has really changed my life. At 52, and not having had a period for 18 months, I was suffering terribly with night sweats which woke me on the hour, I was totally sleep deprived and unable to function at work. I was also depressed and had absolutely no interest in sex. I can honestly say that I have not had one hot flush either during the day or night since taking it, my mood is balanced and I can't get enough sex! My weight has stayed exactly the same and my only compaint is that it is a bit expensive. I will certainly keep taking it for as long as I am able, I have done my research extensively and have found no reason to stop.

11 likes, 238 replies

238 Replies

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  • Tooban
    Tooban

    Posted

    Hi and welcome to 2014. Yes it is expensive but as I posted before I do well on half a tab at night and may even reduce it further to see how it works. Who knows? At the very lease us be getting less of a drug in my body and halve or quarter the cost. Because I came off ( the full dose) and felt shockin'. So consider this option - and reduce wine and sugar.
  • jayjayoz
    jayjayoz

    Posted

    Have just been prescribed Livial by Endocrinolgist, 12 years post menopause and 13 years on Oroxine for

    Inactive Thyroid. Bone density scan and fatigue have been the main drivers for consideration of HRT. I have

    been keen not to take HRT but said I would try the sample pack . The negative patient experiences on info sites has been a big turn off, some scary side effects. Will start taking tomorrow after my blood test today to get baseline on testosterone levels. Will keep you posted. Am in Melbourne Australia.

  • Mumbo
    Mumbo

    Posted

    Hi All.

    I have been put on Livial as of today to help with my Libido nothing else. I am in my early 60`s and I don't Have any night Sweats anymore but not happy with no sex drive so I am hoping this is going to help.

    On reading the side affects its all a bit frightening But reading lots of forums they all seem positive and very little negatives on taking Livial So here we go !! Happy Days ...

  • sandrasmac
    sandrasmac

    Posted

    Hello there. I am finally updating my previous postings. I was so happy with Livial in the first few months, hot flushes pretty much stopped which was my main reason for going on it. My libido did not change one bit I have to say.. After 4 months or so I noticed I was getting dull joint pains around my knee areas which were not really painful but just very annoying. After reading others comments in this forum, I see this is a side effect quite common. As I am not usually a pill taker I began to see red lights flashing and decided I would halve my tablet for a month which gave me 2 months worth. I tried ethical nutrients Hot flush fix for a while with the Livial but decided it was far too expensive. I then heard about Linseed oil capsules a friend was on and was successful with and decided to take these with my half Livial each night to wean myself off Livial. I have now got off Livial and still taking Linseed capsules plus Linseed meal each day. My hot flushes are back but only 1 or 2 a night instead of 7-10 previous to Livial. They are not so bad either therefore making my days more bearable than before Livial. Natural is best for me and I will pursue this path instead of manmade even though it did do what I wanted I can't bring myself to putting up with any side effects. Another thing is I put on 4 kilos in 6 months and I am a very active and busy person so I am blaming Livial for that as my diet has not changed at all. So beware!! I am happy to have pulled out before things got out of hand for me and am now on a diet to shed those kgs and put-up with the few hot flushes. Good luck everyone, I will keep reading the forum as people publish more as I am so interested in how it effects each of you in different ways. Sandra from Melbourne smile
  • EmLondon
    EmLondon

    Posted

    Thought I'd better update my postings too smile

    I came off Livial a couple of days after I posted here (so total days on Livial around 18). I saw GP who advised I should come off. She also referred me to a meno clinic - which I was keen on as I was hoping to discuss all various options etc (eg bioidenticals v HRT). Sadly, 'meno clinic' turned out to be an HRT service - nurse I saw claimed she had not even heard of 'bioidentical hormones'. Clinic also does no tests whatsoever - no bloods for hormones etc. Nurse told me that 'virtually all meno symptoms due to oestrogen' (which is not true) so HRT will work for most.

    Anyway, within a week of coming off Livial my vertigo/dizzyness had ceased - thank god! Maybe I'm just more susceptible than some to any kind of drug in my system. Over the last couple of months, my mood and physical symptoms have improved hugely so I am just embracing this and hope it lasts!

    Hoping all of you find some relief from meno symptoms - whatever you choose to do.

    • daisylady
      daisylady EmLondon

      Posted

      Hi EmLondon

      I was interested to read your story and so glad you are feeling better.  May I ask if you had any vertigo/dizziness before starting the Livial?  It is one of my concerns as I have had it in the past and am supposed to commence Livial.  Also why did the GP tell you to stop taking it?  thanks xx

  • susan44499
    susan44499

    Posted

    I am 60 and live in the U.S. where this is not available, but I just found out about it. I no longer have hot flashes. They started at age 47, my period stopped at 51 and the hot flashes then got milder but lasted until just recently.

    If I used this it would be for low libido, painful sex due to dryness and osteoporosis. It looks like I could try getting it over the internet, but I am concerned as I have a sister who had breast cancer.

    Doing research, I found that Harvard says this is why the FDA has not yet approved it-

    "Since tibolone is used in 70 other countries, why isn’t it available in the United States? The answer lies in the lessons learned from the Women’s Health Initiative’s test of Prempro. Without large randomized clinical trials, assessing a drug’s safety and effectiveness is a calculated shot in the dark. Given what we’ve learned from hormone therapy’s long history, it makes sense that FDA approval awaits further data.

    It’s also worth noting that the United Kingdom’s Million Women Study found an increased risk of breast cancer in users of all types of hormone-related therapies, including tibolone (The Lancet, Aug. 9, 2003). "

    The National Institute of Health-

    "However, there is a need to consider the balance between the benefits and risks of tibolone as there are concerns about breast and endometrial cancer as well as stroke."

  • susan44499
    susan44499

    Posted

    I'm not sure about Tibolone but if it's like estrogen HRT , the hot flashes return as soon as you stop using it. The meds just delay your experiencing them.
  • karen427
    karen427

    Posted

    There are risks with any medication we take, even herbal and natural therapies. Some treatements work

    better for some than others, as we are all different and individual. if women decided to use medication to

    assist with the symptoms of menopause and they are being regularly checked by a medical professional then she needs to be supported to this. The symptoms of menopause can be quite extreme and dibiltating,

    preventing some women from carrying out normall day to day functioning, e.g. Going to work. Karen

  • mo20820
    mo20820

    Posted

    My doc has prescribed me livial and having read up on it I'm terrified! Am I going to grow a beard, have painful joints and headaches please help, don't know wether to try it or risk divorce!
    • jowanders
      jowanders mo20820

      Posted

      Hi mo208020...may I ask what exactly the problem is? Do you still have periods? Are you sleepless, moody, hairloss, tired, etc?

       I do think that you can always use it at least for 3 months to see how you go. Remember you can always stop whenever you want, and side effects will stop.  I am on a pill and don't want to take the risk (after reading this site)  as it works really well for me, but than I am still having periods as well.

       

  • joba
    joba Guest

    Posted

    Hi all, so glad I found this site!  I saw my (lady) doctor today and complained loudly about the dreaded meno. Mother Nature (male) got it so wrong! I don't believe for one minute that in our enlightened 21st century we should have to put up with this shite! If it happened to men would it still be a medical issue? So, after my rant doc prescribed Livial ... have (only) taken 1 tab and so far nooooo hot tsunami's !!!  I am 53 and test drove bio identical hormones for 8 months last year .... It was hell. First I was overdosed with progesterone and spent an entire day ASLEEP....  For the rest of the time I was bloated, tired, burning hot, sweaty and miserable but at least I can say I tried. Have you ladies read up on Oestrogen Dominance?  This is where there is too much oestrogen and it is not balanced by other necessary hormones.   Why is it that doctors don't check blood horrmone levels on a regular basis?... Apparently I was still having irregular cycles which meant that my regular bio identical hormone intake would play havoc with whatever else was going on in the background at the time ie. I was still having irregular periods.  I have not had anything removed.  I decided to go 'natural' early this year and it was another disaster ....  A good site to check symptoms is http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/symptoms-of-hormone-imbalance.html

    I found this very helpful and now agree with my current doctor that I am deficient in oestrogen which is why I have started on livial.  I'm looking forward to a positive experience  ie. Not waking up every hour in a swimming pool.  Hope to publish my results as I go forward and hear more about yours ... Cheers Jo (Oz)

  • linsey14
    linsey14 Guest

    Posted

    Hi,  still to decide whether Livial is for me, only started 3 days ago.  Gynae consultant recommended as I have a hysterectomy last year and now just had ovaries and tubes removed as well (BSO), so am now in surgical menopause at 44.

    Consult said try livial first due to history of adenomyosis.  I also have to be very careful about alternative remedies as I have a BRCA2 gene mutation and lots of things such as sage remedies, agnus castus etc are not recommended.

    Like most women I am wary about med's especially HRT as they get such a bad press in the paper.  There's also a bit of me that thinks we are listening to only the bad experiences / side effects of this drug.  I would imagine there are lots of women who are really happy with this and we just don't know it.

    Following BSO I was lucky I didn't experience the onslaught of menopause symtoms I was expecting, just the last week or so I started having warm moments and getting teary for no reason.

    I'm keeping an open mind and will keep you posted, but I absolutely refuse to be fat, have a beard, get spotty or have blurry vision. 

    Can any one who has been on livial for around a year please update their experience of livial.

    Finally I notive you live in Oz, there is another UK site that is really useful called Menopause Matters led by a Dr Currie, you may already have found it but its got lots of info and a forum as well, my consultant recommended it to me.

    Linsey (Scotland)

    • sandrasmac
      sandrasmac linsey14

      Posted

      Quick update on me. I added my latest update 2 months ago, page 5.. Very happy with my decision!!! Still taking mega linseed capsules, meal and get max 3-4 mild flushes per week. Weight has come off and happy. Still no libido but can live with that and hubby has no choice, lol! Maybe it is what would have happened naturally anyone - who knows but glad I have no drugs to take and side effects that come with them.. I will keep following this forum as I interested in others decisions and reason and so glad I'm not the only one! Good luck all. Sandra from Melbournesmile 
    • karen427
      karen427 linsey14

      Posted

      Hi there linsey, I have been involved with this post for about 12montys now, I have been taking Livial for just two year, I am 56, I had tried all the natural alternatives for a couple of years, but nothing worked for me. When I became so sleep deprived, swimming in my own sweat, I took the plunge and went to see my GP. I still get mild hot flushes, some facial hair growth, but nothing that resembles a full beard hahaha!! My aches and pains, mainly due to arthritis rather than effects of Livial. Overall, no major dramas or concerns, however, I do not drink or smoke, I train 5 days per week ( weights), my overall weight not too different. I have regular health checks and so all seems to be going ok. I think the main thing for me was, I was getting tired and cranky due tp lack of sleep, now I have a good 7 hours most nights, my life is back to normal. Good luck with your journey smile
    • Debedee
      Debedee linsey14

      Posted

      Interested to hear how you are finding this drug, please share your experience.
    • Honeybunches
      Honeybunches linsey14

      Posted

      Hi linsey14

      my full account of my 15 months on livial is a bit further down. But I would say give it a go. It took about 3-4 months to really settle down with me, but totally worth it. I'm now 50 and feel better than I have since my menopause started at 39. I too tried other HRT and all the herbal stuff, nothing worked and was almost at the end of my tether and thinking that I couldn't stand another 10-20 years like it, and saw a brilliant doctor who told me that I was way too young to be living like a geriatric and prescribed livial. He was honest about the possible side effects but asked me to give it 6 months before I made a decision - very wise man!

    • linsey14
      linsey14 Debedee

      Posted

      Hi Debedee, I decided to take Livial at 3wks post op, by then surgical meno was kicking in and  I was needing something as I was very tearful, hot flushes etc.

      Been on it 2 months, still have a few warm moments, sleep wee bit disturbed but think thats prob how it going to be.  No facial hair growth, no weight gain at all, no loss of hair on head, no spots, lately I have had a couple of sore heads but really think this is down to the humid weather as I would normally get those type of headaches.

      I think this is one of these drugs that anyone has to try and see for themself how they get on as everyone is different.

      I spoke to my gynae consulant at my post op appoint and I asked how much of the hormone does tibolone produce?  The answer is that no-one knows for sure because everyones body will metabolise this drug differently and that what we eat and drink can affect how much hormones are produced.

      For me I have been testing what times suit me best, I first tried around 5pm when my stomach is relatively empty and then I don't eat till around 6.30/7.30.

      For the past few days I have been taking it around 11pm.

      keep an open mind and try something

      Good luck and hello to everyone following this discussion

    • Debedee
      Debedee linsey14

      Posted

      Thank you for your suggestions. Currently I take the tablet around 8pm just after I have eaten (we eat late).  I might try taking it before I eat and see if that changes anything.  One month in and 1kilo heavier but that is because I have been eating slightly more I don't think it's anything to do with the medication.  Still getting hot flushes but hoping they will subside soon and to be honest they are bearable
    • linsey14
      linsey14 Debedee

      Posted

      You will be eating more due to tibolone. Gynae cons said it will increase your  carb cravings and as long as i was aware of that then its easier to ignore cravings. I also do the 5/2 fast diet sometimes to maintain weight this is good for reducing foodcravings.
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