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[CrispyChick]

Is there more of a daily medicine?

My GP said it's AD. But I just can't get on them without a massive 3 month battle.

Obviously I know about benzos and they can't be taken long term.

I'm just suspicious there's something else out there??? Something I could take on an as and when basis. Bug maybe there's not. Possibly not for the mood swings.

I should add, beta blockers are a no due to my asthma.

[Nas]

Are you still struggling Crispy? I was going to suggest propanol, but that probably won’t help with mood swings. Diazepam? ( short term only I think).


The only other products I can think of, are natural remedies like rescue remedy and CBD oil.

[Miss Sunshine]

I find L-Theanine fairly effective for relaxing me.  It's a green tea extract.  I personally don't find Ashwagandha effective but many do.  It may interact with HRT though so be careful.  Some find CBD great.  I find it a) very expensive b) too short term.  It relaxes me for a very short time so I end up using too much which becomes way too expensive to maintain. 
Of course exercise, breathing exercises, meditation if a regular thing is also great for anxiety. 
Hope this helps. 

[CLKD]

It will depend on what is causing the symptoms.  When a drug causes unbearable side effects it really isn't worth trying to presevere.

I had to trial 5-ish in the 1980s B4 my GP found something that didn't make me feel worse.  Since then I've done well on the various ADs as well as anti-anxiety medications.  Valium did me well for several years. 

Bach rescue remedy might be a gentle way to go.

[Emmia49]

Hi Crispy!

I take mirtazapine 30mg.

It has been now 7 months and it helps with sleep, depression, anxiety and night sweats.
I'm in perimenopause, very light peroids every 20-24 days.

I still have tinnitus, fatigue, vertigo and sometimes sad feelings. I also feel like I'm not myself, feeling not ok  but not all the time.

I feel my body is changing and my homones are up and down.

I used to be a long distance runner, but since peri started my life somehow ended for me.

It took  me 3 loooong months to settle and I finally felt some relief.

Yes it's a long battle with ad, but I'm now ok.

I run again and I function. It' s not perfect, but I' m pushin forward.

I'm not trying to tell you to try ad, but  just wanted to share my experience. I feel for you.

This forum and all lovely ladies here saved my life!

I respect you all and every night I pray for you all.

Crispy! Good luck on your journey!
Emma

[CLKD]

   Emma for your update 

[Emmia49]

 

[Kathleen]

Hello CrispyChick.

I think I have mentioned on another thread that I have been prescribed Pregabalin for my anxiety/moods etc. Another drug that is similar is Gabapentin.

I believe that these medications are primarily used to treat nerve pain by calming the central nervous system, they apparently have a similar effect to Diazepam but they are not benzos.

As I understand it , Pregabalin can be taken daily but can also be used as a 'top up' when needed.

I hope this is helpful.

Wishing you well and take care.

K.

[flo69]

I was going to say Pregabalin and Kathleen beat me to it. I don't know how but it removes the bad feelings both mental and physically, depending on dose.
I was prescribed Gabapentin years ago and still have it on my repeat list so occassionally I order it and occassionally I take it. Gabapentin is the weaker medicine and tbh I find it too weak to do much, but it will stop me feeling down or grouchy and it might help with pains in my arms and legs but it's delayed if there is an effect at all.

I believe there are controls on the prescribing of it because they are both class C controlled substances, that's why I keep it on my prescription list, so I can show the police if necessary!!!
If you have nerve pain running down your arms or legs or in your back, then they can prescribe them and you won't have a hot flash or night sweat while taking Pregabalin, but these aren't things they can prescribe it for.

Like Kathleen says it can be prescribed for anxiety too, to me it would be preferable to a benzo for that, but they might try to fob you off about anxiety, I was told to try meditation for my menopause anxiety by my GP.

I think if you got prescribed either of those it would help, clonidine is another one that is supposed to help with hot flashes and sleep, it makes me too sleepy for daytime use. I got it prescribed specifically for menopause whereas the other two are for nerve pain.

If you have a chat with a good pharmacist, they know which medicines women keep coming back for and which ones get dropped after a month or two.

[CrispyChick]

This is all very interesting. Thank you ladies.

I maybe should've been clearer. I've been on tiny dose of escitalopram for years. 5mg. Doing nothing. I increased to 10mg 8.5 weeks ago. As usual for me, it's been absolute hell.

Whilst this is normal for me on an increase, it's not abating. Plus I've now developed terrible clenching and agonising tooth pain.

I am highly sensitive to all medications. Now confirmed by neurologist as part of my functional neurological disorder.  . He has suggested mirtazapine. But, due to my severe sensitivities, I'm not sure I'm strong enough for yet another trial.

But, as well as my FND symptoms, I'm getting awful peri mood swings and aggitation. I hate it.

Hence me looking for something else. I'm interested in the pregabalin. I might need to phsych appointment to move forward. But truthfully, I think I need that anyway.

Thanks ladies. I've been at my rock bottom this last 12 months. Still off work. Never seem to catch a break. X

[joziel]

You could try trazodone. It's originally anti-anxiety. I take it when I need it for sleep. Allegedly non-addictive and doesn't increase risk of dementia unlike most sleep aids.

[CLKD]

I would query that joziel - in the last 50 years various items have been said to cause dementia, without any research behind the statements.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks ladies.

I don't need help with sleep.

I'm very interested in this Pregabalin. How do you find it when you take it? Helps quickly??? I'm assuming it doesn't make things worse before better like this awful ssri does to me??.

X

[CLKD]

We R all different so some won't find medications helpful but they may suit others.  I had BBs without problems, my neighbour goes hyper on Propranolol!  I knew within 48 hours if a medication could be tolerated.

[joziel]

Trazodone isn't about sleep, crispy. That is not what it was originally designed for or licensed for - it is an anti-anxiety med. You'll see that if you google it and read up.

It can sometimes have a sedative effect, which is why it is often taken before bed. But that is a side effect and not what it is for. (On licence.)

Pregabalin is related to gabapentin. I wouldn't go anywhere near it if you paid me. A previous GP prescribed me some a year ago when my low E symptoms were at their worst at night with a lot of neurological jerks and issues. I joined Facebook groups about it and discovered it can be really difficult to get off from (withdrawal). It can also lead to a lot of weight gain. Again, all info available as known side effects...