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[tjsmith]

Hi all
I wanted to know if anyone has any idea if antidepressents can interfere with hrt?
I dropped my antidepressant sertraline 150 down to 100 over three months and since started bleeding again.
My anxiety also started increasing again but put that down to withdrawel.

Anyone have experience of this?
Fed up do I need to increase again?

[Dancinggirl]

I believe many women find they need ADs alongside HRT but I don't think they interfere with HRT in any way.  Are you on a conti HRT? Unusual bleeding should be investigated as it could be the womb lining has built up too much or fibroids.
Why do you want to come off the ADs if they have been helping with the anxiety? DG x

[tjsmith]

First of all thanks so mich for reply. I have to see gynae 23rd I'm on everol patches and mirena coil.
I am 40 been on this a year the reason dropped antodepressants was due to being on it 3 years and since been on hrt a year felt loads better and I was diagnosed with pmdd so wondered if I had been given a med thAt maybe not needed.

It's so hard to know what to do as I know GPS know very little certainly about the hormones asy gynae told me that they don't recognise pmdd with the symptoms being anxiety etc they just put it down to depression.

[Dancinggirl]

Some breakthrough bleeding when you have a Mirena is quite common but it depends on the amount of bleeding.  If you are just getting a bit of spotting then I wouldn't worry, however, if you get a period type bleed then I would have this investigated. It's good you are seeing your gynae soon so you can discuss this with him/her.
I can understand you not wanting to continue the AD and I'm sure it is good to try coming off it to see how you feel. However, if you still need the AD then I wouldn't worry about continuing with it alongside the HRT as quality of life is very important.
I assume you have been diagnosed with a premature menopause to be given this HRT regime? DG x

[tjsmith]

Thanks for all your help.
I was diagnosed with pmdd last year although my mum did go through early menopause so who knows.
I'm going to give couple of weeks and see what happens x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi again tjsmith
I just want to offer up some thoughts regarding the Mirena; I had a Mirena for 4 years post meno.  At the time it was the best option for me as I didn't want to have a withdrawal bleed as I had experienced such bad pain each month with the bleed when using HRT sequentially. In theory the progesterone in the Mirena is not supposed to absorb systemically (around your body) as other oral or transdermal forms of progesterone do.  However, many women do find they are effected by the progesterone in the Mirena and looking back I did feel rather sedated for the first year to 18 months. I experienced break through bleeding for the first 6 months after it was fitted, though this didn't cause any abdominal pains but I did get the occasional spotting after that.
I know there is much debate about the treatment of pmdd with hormones - Prof Studd being at the forefront of this research - have you seen his website?. You don't tell us much about your symptoms prior to being prescribed HRT - did you get regular periods or have you been diagnosed as peri menopausal? Were you experiencing excessive bleeding?  The Mirena is often fitted to help with problems of erratic or excessive bleeding.
It's worth reading up a bit more from both this site(headings to the left of this screen) and Prof Studd's site so get more clued up. I personally think SRRIs have their place when dealing with anxiety particularly since I have met a few women who have benefitted.  I recently sort advice from a gynae privately and he explained that sometimes SRRIs can really be a good option for those who react badly to HRT treatment or cannot use HRt for health reasons. I am 58 and back on HRT for a trial but if I have problems then I will consider an SRRI instead or alongside.   Hope that helps.   DG x

[tjsmith]

Hi DG
All I do is read and google lol and have indeed read dr studds findings but prefer to hear people's real experiences. My periods went haywire about 6 years ago was put on pill.
Cut a long story short after my little boys op and a bout of labyrinthitus I started suffering with panic/anxiety then depression hence the antidepressant.
Then over a year ago my husband noticed a pattern to my blips, thank god for the gp that listened I was referred and the gynae said straight away hormone related and for 9 months or so been great until reduced meds then strangely got my periods back again 6 weeks later 😱.

[Dancinggirl]

tjsmith
It does sound as though you are still peri menopausal as it is quite common to have your periods stop and start through this phase. At 40 it is still termed premature menopause so it is good you are using HRT. I had a premature menopause and experienced erratic cycles, headaches and flushes from my mid 30s.  I was lucky at the time as I had a good GP who sent me for tests and I eventually wen to a private meno clinic.
Whether you continue with the ADs is of course a personal choice but if you have a busy stressful life with a young family (as I did at your age) then I would stick with the regime that keeps you functioning at your best level.
You are clearly doing all the right things and trying to reduce the ADs to see how you cope is probably sensible but I doubt this will have any effect of your hormones.  However, your own fluctuating hormones will have an effect on your mood, anxiety levels and possible breakthrough bleeds.  Hopefully your gynae will do blood tests to check you oestrogen levels - as you go further into the menopause you may need to increase your dosage to keep anxiety etc. under control.   Dg x

[tjsmith]

I am definitely peri menopausal too and didn't think hormones could still affect me as gynae goal was to suppress them 😏 . We women are very complex lol I'm on highest dose available in patch form so can't see where he could go with it really.
I see him couple of weeks so keep u posted.

Can't thank you enough for sharing your experiences and thoughts on this. X

[Dancinggirl]

If you are on a very high dose of oestrogen then this could account for the bleeding.
Hopefully your Gynae will be able to advice.
Good luck Dg x

[GypsyRoseLee]

12 months ago I suddenly started experiencing intense anxiety, coupled with very low mood. Physically I noticed my periods were much lighter, and I was no longer getting the bloating and breast tenderness before my period was due.

Unfortunately, very unfortunately, I saw 2 GPs who just decided I was suffering from regular depression and anxiety. They put me firstly on Sertraline which I reacted VERY badly to. Then swapped me to amitriptyline, which eventually stopped much of the anxiety and low mood, but made me gain 14lbs in weight. I also felt spaced out much of the time.

But despite taking ADs I still noticed there seemed to be cyclical pattern to my anxiety and mood, which didn't make any sense? After keeping a mood diary I realised my mood was still being affected by my menstrual cycle. Plus, I remembered that the only time in my life before, when I had suffered with anxiety, was when I had PND.

I had a light bulb moment and realised I wasn't feeling anxious and depressed and totally unable to cope because my life was stressful and busy. My life suddenly felt terrifying and depressing BECAUSE my stupid hormones were mucking me about, just like they had when I had PND.

I researched, and read Professor John Studd's website and I cried, because suddenly it all made perfect sense to me. I wasn't losing my mind, and I wasn't weak and pathetically unable to cope with life.

I immediately stopped taking my ADs and actually didn't even really notice (except I lost the 14lbs straight away). Yes, I still had my 'bad days' where I felt very low and anxious about the most mundane of things. But I'd had them when taking ADs anyway.

I am now waiting for a prescription for HRT. To me it doesn't make sense to take ADs when actually your body just needs more oestrogen. The ADs are just masking the issue and not giving your body what it needs.