HAHIRA — Although most typically think of menopause as the time when hormone therapy might be necessary, in reality, therapy can be useful for a woman — or man — of any age, from the teen years and up, if an imbalance is causing physical discomfort.

A program offered by Chancy Drugs in Hahira is helping those suffering from a hormone imbalance to once again realize their full potential and feel “normal” again. Typical symptoms of an imbalance include anxiety, hot flashes, waking up in the middle of the night, fatigue, headaches and irritability, along with some diseases, such as endometriosis and fibrocystic breasts.

“We give them their quality of life back. We’ve had husbands call us to thank us for what we’ve done for their wives,” said hormone consultant Renee Been.

Been and pharmacist Tina Chancy work with area physicians and their patients to diagnose and treat the imbalances. By appointment, Been holds a consultation with a customer, who has the option of having their hormone levels tested by a blood serum test or by a saliva test, the latter being the preferred method. The saliva kits can be purchased at the store and the results are sent back to Chancy, who then shares them with the patient’s preferred physician to prescribe a treatment regimen.

Chancy said she became interested in the topic after attending a seminar hosted by the Compounding Center of America in Houston on options to traditional HRT, or hormone replacement therapy, which are typically synthetic hormones. She learned how to compound bioidentical hormones for her patients who couldn’t tolerate the synthetic ones or who were too afraid to use them.

“When the Women’s Health Initiative in June 2002 said that a study using synthetic hormones showed an increased risk of breast cancer, we began seeing women who stopped taking the therapy and who wanted another option,” she said.

The bioidentical hormones are customized to the patient using pure hormones derived from plants. “Traditionally, the side effects come from the synthetic part, not the hormone itself, so women who’ve had problems on traditional HRT can use the bioidenticals,” said Chancy.

The hormones are FDA approved and only available with a prescription. Chancy said although the drug store’s program includes the consultation and regular follow ups, as well as education and support, it’s very important that a physician be involved in the treatment process.

Although either a saliva or a blood serum test can be used to test hormone levels, the saliva test is the preferred method and can be done at home by the patient. The test is then sent for a lab analysis, which measures the levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

“Sometimes if the saliva test shows something very unusual, we’ll refer the patient to their doctor to do the blood serum to make sure the test is accurate,” said Chancy.

The hormones are compounded at the pharmacy and can be administered either topically or orally, depending on the patient’s preference. Been also does nutritional counseling as some foods can also trigger problems and can recommend nutritional supplements and vitamins as well.

The store also conducts testing for andropause, the male counterpart of menopause. When a man’s testosterone level decreases, the symptoms include fatigue, decreased sex drive, and decreased muscle size.

Chancy said that hormone levels can also be affected by certain diseases and the medications used to treat them, including diabetes and hypertension.

“Two people can have the same symptoms but not need the same therapy. Without the saliva test, it’s just a guessing game what hormones they might need,” said Chancy.

For more information about the hormone analysis or to schedule a consultation, contact Renee Been at 794-1037.



To contact Business Editor Kay Harris, please call 244-3400, ext. 280.