Q: What is the difference between Naturogest and Susten as both are progesterone? Which one is best suited for the early days of pregnancy. What are the side effects of both?

A:Naturogest and Susten are brand names; both contain progesterone. None is to be used during pregnancy since progesterones are contraindicated. Unfortunately, progesterones are being over-prescribed in India due to aggressive promotion and marketing by drug manufacturers as if it is a tonic. The side effects of progesterones include: dizziness, fatigue, headache, abdominal bloating, musculo-skeletal pain, joint pain, muscle cramps, emotional liability, irritability, cough, gastro-intestinal upset (nausea, vomiting), back pain, upper respiratory tract infections, asthma, breathlessness, baldness, high blood pressure, blurred vision, jaundice, virilisation of female foetus (unwanted hair on face etc.), intra-uterine death of the fetus etc.