Dr. Phillips Specialty Pharmacy at Winter Park

11/27/2025

Men go through menopause too — we just don’t talk about it enough.

The belly fat that shows up overnight, even when nothing in your routine changed.
The brain fog that makes you forget what you were saying mid-sentence.
The joint stiffness and aches that make you feel older than you are.
The night sweats, hot flashes, and broken sleep that leave you exhausted.
The sudden loss of motivation, drive, and confidence you can’t explain.
The low energy, low libido, and feeling like something is “off.”
The anxiety, irritability, or sadness that comes out of nowhere — and you don’t feel like yourself anymore.

This is andropause — the male version of menopause — and it happens because testosterone naturally declines with age, usually starting in the 30s and dropping 1–3% every year.
Lower testosterone affects metabolism, brain chemistry, sleep, muscle mass, and emotional regulation — so yes, these symptoms are real.

It’s common. It’s biological. And it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
You don’t need to “man up” or push through it alone.
When hormones shift, your whole life shifts — but the right support can change everything.

If you’re experiencing this (or love someone who is), comment MENOPAUSE to continue the conversation. 💬

11/18/2025

Melasma getting worse even with good skincare?
It might be your estrogen cream.

There are two main types:
✨ Estradiol — strong, boosts collagen, but can trigger melasma + dark spots for some women because it overstimulates pigment activity.
💗 Estriol (E3) — the gentler option that supports collagen, hydration, and skin repair without the pigment flares, and can even help calm inflammation and improve skin tone.

For women in peri & menopause — especially those prone to hyperpigmentation — Estriol-based creams are often the safer long-term choice.

Save & follow for hormone-smart skincare that actually makes sense ✨

11/18/2025

🔥 Still exhausted on Synthroid?
Let’s clear up the thyroid confusion.

T4 (Synthroid/Levoxyl) is just the storage hormone — your body has to convert it into T3, the active hormone that drives energy, metabolism, mood, and brain function.
But many women in perimenopause & menopause don’t convert well, which is why labs look “normal” but you still feel tired, cold, gaining weight, losing hair, or stuck in brain fog.

👉 Adding T3 (Liothyronine/Cytomel or compounded T3/T4) can be life-changing.

💛 Advocate for yourself: ask your provider about Free T3 & Reverse T3.
Save & share — someone needs to hear this today.

11/17/2025

We talk a lot about hot flashes and night sweats in menopause… but we almost never talk about the symptoms that happen quietly in the dark — the ones that make so many women feel scared or alone.
Like grinding your teeth at night, waking up with your heart racing, or suddenly feeling anxious for no reason at 2 or 3 AM.

If this is happening to you, you’re not crazy and nothing is “wrong with you.”
These are very real physiological symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, driven by changing hormones — especially the drop in progesterone, our calming, anti-anxiety hormone.

When progesterone declines, the brain loses its natural source of GABA support, the neurotransmitter that helps us relax and stay asleep. That’s why so many women suddenly develop:
• Jaw tension and teeth grinding
• Clenching without realizing it
• Waking with a pounding heart or chest tightness
• Feeling wired but exhausted
• Middle-of-the-night anxiety or panic

And because cortisol and adrenaline surge when we don’t sleep deeply, it becomes a vicious cycle — poor sleep → stress hormones spike → anxiety → more grinding → more wake-ups.

But here’s the hardest part:
Most women are never told these symptoms are related to menopause.
We blame ourselves, we feel embarrassed, and we suffer in silence thinking it’s stress, weakness, or something wrong with us.

You’re not alone.
This is hormone physiology.
The more we talk about it, the more women find answers and support instead of fear and shame. 💛
Save & share this — someone needs to know they’re not the only one. perimenopause

11/13/2025

💥 Now that the FDA has officially removed the black-box warning from hormone therapy, a lot of women are asking: “Should I start HRT?”

Here’s the truth: hormone therapy isn’t for everyone — but for many healthy women in their 40s and 50s, especially within 10 years of menopause, the benefits often outweigh the risks.

This is the window of opportunity when your heart, brain, bones, skin, and metabolism respond the BEST to estrogen support.
✨ Fewer hot flashes
✨ Better sleep
✨ Improved mood
✨ Vaginal comfort
✨ Stronger bones
✨ Better muscle tone

What we learned since the WHI study is that age, timing, and formulation matter. Starting earlier — with the right dose and the right type, like patches, gels, or customized compounded formulas — gives more benefits with fewer risks.

So if you’ve been struggling with perimenopause or early menopause symptoms, don’t let outdated myths or old fears stop you.
Talk with a provider who understands bioidentical and compounded hormones so you can get guidance tailored to your body.

I’m pharmacist Aiha Truong, helping women age strong.
📢 Please share this — women need to know.

11/12/2025

🚨 November 10, 2025 marked a historic day for women’s health.
The FDA has lifted the black-box warning on menopausal hormone therapy — finally acknowledging that the old fears were based on outdated data.

This doesn’t mean HRT is risk-free — but it does mean we can have informed, individual conversations instead of fear-based avoidance.
If you’ve been struggling with menopause symptoms and wondering whether hormones are “safe,” this is your sign to learn the real science.

✨ Let’s talk about personalized hormone care — not one-size-fits-all fear.

11/11/2025

Can I use Premarin on my face?
It’s a popular question — but here’s why the answer is no.
Premarin contains conjugated estrogens (mostly estrone + equilin) — not the gentle, skin-loving estriol your face prefers.
These have higher ER-alpha activity, meaning more risk for pigmentation or unwanted cell stimulation.
✨ If you want skin-safe estrogen, ask about estriol or Bi-Est creams instead.

📍Educational only — not medical advice.

11/11/2025

11/06/2025

Ever wonder how estrogen face creams actually work? 👀
They don’t just sit on top of your skin like a moisturizer — they bind to estrogen receptors deep within your skin to help rebuild collagen, elasticity, and hydration from the inside out. 💫

As estrogen levels drop during perimenopause and menopause, those receptors go quiet… and that’s when skin starts to thin, dry, and lose its bounce.
A gentle estriol cream can help “wake them up” again — reactivating what your skin used to do naturally. ✨

👉 Follow for Part 3 — I’ll break down Estriol vs Estradiol, which one’s safer, and what to watch for if you’re prone to melasma.

11/05/2025

💧 If you’re on the estrogen patch, you might be missing out…

The patch is amazing for many women — it delivers estradiol through the skin, helping ease hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep issues… all while bypassing the liver.

But here’s what most women don’t realize 👇
The patch gives you estradiol, just one form of estrogen.
Your body also benefits from estriol — a gentler form that supports tissues your patch may not fully reach.

So if you’re still noticing:
✨ Vaginal dryness or discomfort
✨ Low libido
✨ Bladder issues
✨ Skin thinning or dryness

…you might not need more estrogen — just balanced estrogen support.
Adding local estriol, or a Bi-Est formula (estradiol + estriol), can help support those tissues more completely.

The goal is to feel balanced — inside and out. 💕

👋 I’m Pharmacist Aiha Truong, and I share hormone education to help women feel like themselves again.
💌 Follow & Save this post for more hormone tips you can actually use.

11/04/2025

✨ The “Estriol Face Cream” everyone is talking about — and here’s why!

I’m pharmacist Aiha Truong, and if you’ve noticed estrogen face creams popping up everywhere, it’s not a trend — it’s science catching up! 💡

Estriol (E3), the gentle estrogen, supports:
• Collagen & elastin production for firmer, plumper skin
• Hydration & dermal thickness — that youthful, dewy glow
• Microcirculation to bring oxygen & nutrients to your skin
• Reducing fine lines & dryness around eyes, mouth, & jawline

During perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen can make skin thinner, drier, and more fragile. Topical Estriol works locally, restoring support where it’s needed most.

Curious if it’s right for your skin? Talk to your provider — it might just be the secret to post-menopausal glow! ✨

10/25/2025

✨Vaginal estrogen is one of the safest and most effective ways to restore comfort and confidence in intimacy after menopause. It works locally — not systemically — to rebuild vaginal tissue, improve moisture, and bring back natural lubrication. 💧💗

Consistency is key — most women notice improvement after a few weeks!

👉 Follow for more tips on hormones, supplements, and skincare to help you feel confident and vibrant through menopause and beyond.