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[inthewoods4]

Hi, last week I started on oestrogel (1pump). I’m 42 and was getting a lot of physical anxiety. 4 days in I had a panic attack at work so stopped taking the gel. In the days since my anxiety has been debilitating and I’ve got vertigo. Is this normal? I think I probably didn’t need the estrogen and taking the gel has made me unwell! I’m really scared.

[bombsh3ll]

That is a minuscule dose and will be long gone out of your system by now.

You produce hundreds of times that every time you ovulate, and it is much more likely to be the culture of fear around hormone therapy, that has its origins in misogyny and flawed science, that causes many women to feel anxious and have panic attacks shortly after starting treatment, than a physical result of the treatment.

Vertigo can be a symptom of low or falling estrogen. I had a really nasty episode of it myself once the day my period started, during the time I had lost access to my combined pill during the pandemic.

If you feel you need estrogen, please don't let this put you off. Also at 42 you don't even need to take menopause hormone therapy, the combined pill, especially if taken continuously, can make for a much better quality of life in perimenopause by getting rid of your periods and shutting down your own body's fluctuations, adding back a stable dose of hormones that is the same every day.

[inthewoods4]

Thank you. I feel that perhaps the sudden drop in estrogen after stopping could have triggered the vertigo. Even though I was only on it for 4 days I felt the effects strongly, I was anxious, fuzzy headed and had strong cramps. I’m also very sensitive to medication.

[Loopylou1017]

The problem with starting any medication sometime it’s bad before it gets better. I know myself hormones can be up and down until it levels out. Take Care

[CLKD]

Was the anxiety prior to starting HRT?

How has your anxiety been during your menstruating years?  At which point did U being the replacement could that have contributed to the panic attacks? 

On the whole HRT is safe to use.  It protects heart and bones too though regular brisk walking for those of us not using replacement works well to keep the whole body healthy.

Vertigo as suggested can be a symptom of low oestrogen.  MayB keeping a mood/food/symptom diary would be of use to chart progress and symptoms?

Let us know how you get on?