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[karenja]

Hello I joined this site hoping it will help, Ive recently been diagnosed as perimenupausal as I did have a period back in December before that very few and far between, Ive had awful symptoms the worst being anxiety, panic attacks, palpatations, light funny head feeling, headaches, also had awful night sweats and flushes, I tried the herbal route after going to a homeopath this didn't help, have recently started elleste duet hrt on day 14 now, still getting anxiety, night sweats slightly better, flushes a bit better each day, I just feel so sick on it and sometimes a bit strange and shaky and have had a lot of cramp in my foot (don't know if related) and leg and arm pain, Ive also been given citropram anti depressants which are also meant to help with the anxiety and sweats and flushes but a bit scared again after reading side effects, any advice please 

[Hurdity]

Hi karenja

 

The road to menopause and beyond can be rough and as you have found, once you get really into it the alternative remedies often don't help and HRT is the only answer.

It is usually recommended to try a particular type of HRT for 3 months as it takes the body a while to adjust to the increased level of hormones and the formulation (eg tablets etc). Nausea is often an initial side effect but this should settle soon. Give it a while longer and if it doesn't maybe you would be better off with patches which don't upset the stomach in sensitive women. Also if you have been given the 2 mg - this is stronger so more likely to cause side effects initially - if it is going to. Glad you are noticing an improvement!

Re the Citalopram - personally, if you can cope generally, I would refrain from starting these until you have been on HRT for a while because the symptoms you describe are common in peri-menopause and HRT alone may well help. Some women find it can take a year for the anxiety type symptoms to subside even with HRT.

Sorry I can't help with the leg and arm pain - hopefully someone else will be along 

Hurdity x

[thorntrees]

Hello karenja and welcome to the forum.
Everyone on here is really friendly and helpful
I don't take HRT but was prescribed citalopram to help with anxiety,hot flushes and night sweats.
Like most ADs they do take time to act and there can be some side effects to begin with but not everyone gets them. I started to feel the benefits after about three weeks and now 3 months on I am feeling much better,
I am only on a low dose of 10mgs. I'm sure someone else with more experience will be along soon with more help
Hope you feel better soon

[Milamam]

Hi Karenja,
As if I have written your post! I too tried all  herbal and homeopathic options when peri symptoms started - including anxiety and nervousness. They didn't work. I am on HRT for two full months now and I feel much better. I also take citalopram 20mg in the morning to address the anxiety and it has worked well for me. I didn't notice any side effects from the AD, probably because the doctor started me on 10 mg first and in a month increased to 20. I even lost weight on it as it curbs appetite! But know though that different ADs work differently for different people and it is a matter of trial and error to get the one that suits you best. For me citalopram was the best, i have tried to change to a different type recently and couldn't tolerate it at all.
All the best with your decision and continue to post here - many knowledgeable ladies and lots of great advices!

Best!

[karenja]

thanks for all your lovely replies, Ive been ok all day today until this evening, but felt a bit dizzy about half hour ago but maybe because I was late having tea, has anybody else noticed they need to eat regularly or get light headed/dizzy?, also im getting cramp a lot in my feet surely this cant be related?

[meno lesley]

Hi

I am on hrt and get foot pain which only diminishes when I am not on the progesterone, it's very painful and gets me down. Have tried to come off the hrt but all the other horrible symptoms come back.

Do hope you feel better soon and everything settles for you.

Lesley

[karenja]

Hi ive started the dreaded green elleste duet tablets today watch this space!

[HanaBop]

Hi, I understand where you're coming from there.  I was prescribed a low dose of AD's, they helped with some of the symptoms and I would say, give them a chance. Hopefully they will help and eventually you will feel well enough to come off them.

Good luck x