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[starfish]

Hello ladies,

I haven't posted here for some time - I started on estradot and utrogestan (continuous regime) last October after seeing a private consultant (my GP had never heard of either!) and both my hot flushes and poor sleeping are lots better. I'd been taking fluoxetine for about a year before hand, and it had definitely helped with mood and energy, but not with the flushes.

I have had fluoxetine before for longish periods and always found it helped but tailed off in effectiveness after a year or so (i.e. in terms of energy - I was usually feeling ok by then anyway though).

This time around, I found myself feeling appallingly groggy all the time earlier this year, so I stopped the fluoxetine. The grogginess has mostly lifted. I wonder if it was a combination of the fluoxetine and the HRT (esp. the utrogestan)...

My mood is really quite low again now, alas. My question is, has anybody had a good experience with HRT plus a different antidepressant i.e. an antidepressant that won't make me so sleepy I'm barely awake in the day?

I do try to eat well, exercise, etc and take a good multivitamin and probiotic.

I will ask at my GPs in due course, but don't have very high hopes I'm afraid.

Thanks for any help as always. You are a fab group.

Starfish x

[Wilks]

Hi Starfish, I was taking fluoxetine and HRT together until a week ago when I dropped the fluoxetine. It took about 6 weeks after starting the fluoxetine to stop feeling groggy. (I've taken fluoxetine a few times in the past but it only used to take a week or 2 at most to stop the drowsiness.) I don't know if there is an interaction, but I persevered on both and started feeling a lot better.
I've also been taking testosterone for 6 weeks or so and that seems to have helped with general well being and mood. Have you considered trying testosterone?

[MIS71MUM]

Yes I take duloxetine for anxiety and very low mood caused by peri.

In fact being on it nearly 3 years later this year.

Luckily as I don't have a womb anymore I don't need progesterone.

I have testogel to take but darent just yet, not sure why really.

In the past, I've worried whether AD's work well with HRT. Currently on 4 pumps of gel and for me this is the best regime so far and will stick with this for ever!!!

I do think taking utrogestan continually will cause tiredness.

[CLKD]

ADs are for depression treatment.  Other medications can be taken to ease adrenaline surges that cause anxiety.  They shouldn't interact with HRT.

[starfish]

Thank you very very much Wilks and Mis71Mum. Wilks your comment reminded me that I do actually have some testim gel as the private consultant from last year was very much in favour of it and she added it to my initial (private) prescription - I used it for a while and then didn't any more, not sure why, and it isn't on my repeat prescription that the GP is now willing to give me - having finally won the fight for NHS prescribed estradot and utrogestan I didn't want to push my luck, but perhaps I will! I will try again with a small dab in the evenings. Thank you for the reminder.

Thanks too Mis71Mum - duloxetine had vaguely crossed my mind - it's an SNRI I think? My elderly mother takes it (for anxiety) and it does seem to help her. I was so stumped, as I know St John's wort doesn't interact well with HRT and was trying to think of what else to try.

I do feel a bit better today - it might partly be because I've had some substantial carbs in the form of a big bowl of muesli this morning - what decadence - I've been trying to go very low carb for some weeks to deal with the (depressing in itself) weight-gain that's set in since I turned 50. But perhaps I have been overdoing it. It's not easy, all this, is it....

Thank you again

Starfish x

[CLKD]

A little of what you fancy   

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! after 8+ hours of nowt.  Muesli is a good choice, I find that 'lizzys' really keeps me going.  Plus dried fruits and nuts.

[starfish]

Thanks, CLKD. Well, I will continue with the cheering muesli and keep an eye on both mood and weight...

x

[Mrs Bella]

Starfish I could bang on about Valdoxan all day. It's melatonin based so works on improving your sleep cycle. It's also a non-weight gaining antidepressant. It has helped with my mood, and it has curbed my anxiety.
I hope you have picked up a bit since you posted this.