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[catlover68]

Hi ladies

I posted on here a few weeks ago to say that I can't take hrt due to migraines and the side effects I suffered. I started 10mgs citalopram 3 weeks ago which has helped a bit with anxiety and low mood but I'm beginning to feel crap again like I was before starting hrt previously. I've got awful insomnia,headaches,tiredness anxiety and hot flushes which are getting more frequent. I just don't know what else I can do to be honest. Do I go back to the doctors and ask to try a different patch? I'm trying to ride this out if I can but I'm concerned I'm going to find it harder as time goes on.

I may increase the citalopram to 15mgs and see how I feel with that. Trouble is I just cannot see how any hrt is going to agree with me if it didn't before.

Any advice would be so helpful thanks.

[CLKD]

Drink enough. Headaches can be caused by dehydration.  Make sure that you read our threads about vaginal atrophy as HRT is delivered differently to other types ;-).  It won't hurt to ask about other methods of HRT.

[Taz2]

Which types of HRT have you tried? I'm not sure which ones are best if you suffer from migraines. Have you always had them or were they triggered by HRT?

Taz xx

[Sgtvhilts]

HI,
I have taken SSRI's on and off for about 30 years......... 15mgs is a really low dose.  MOst start on 20mgs, so i would imagine you'd get very little relief for the anxiety and low mood on 10-15mgs. and it can take up to 6 weeks for them to kick in properly
I take 30mgs at the moment, but have been on 60mgs severa.l times over the years. Before i started HRT i was on 60mgs and it really helped with the night sweats, but not the brain fog etc
I am on HRT as well now (femeston) and find both together are a pretty good combo.
There are no 'perfect' regiemes and seems to be a lot of trial and error and see what suits you.
Once your anxiety and mood improve you may well find HRT does okay with you or maybe not, but you'd have had least a go.
As for the headaches- it is probably a combo of things, stress!, new meds, meno; pesky, but will improve as stuff settles.

[catlover68]

Hi

CLKD I drink lots of water during the day though citalopram do give me a dry mouth.

Taz2 I have mirena so only need oestrogen. I've tried tablets,patches and the worst one was the gel. I used to get a migraine once in a while before peri but I've had a lot more headaches since starting menopause . The hrt just made my migraines worse,and other side effects were not great. It was almost as if I was having too much oestrogen and I felt rubbish. I'm going to up my citalopram to 20mgs though I'm not sure this will help all my symptoms.

Sgtvhills thanks for the advice. I'm going to up to 20mgs gradually and see how I feel. When you say you've been on 50mgs that scares me lol just upping to 20mgs with the side effects is daunting for me. I think your right that headaches are a combo of things,menopause being the main one! Funny how other women sail through this whereas others suffer every damn symptoms🙄 thanks again x