Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Jules53 on May 31, 2019, 04:28:58 PM
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Hi everyone.
I haven't been on here much lately as I've been struggling with anxiety (mainly) but some depression. I had to come off Femseven Conti patches when they discontinued them and have struggled ever since to find a HRT that suits me. I had to come off straight away and the doctor said it has put me back into peri and menopause all at once. Hot flushes, nightsweats and anxiety .
I reluctantly went on Venlafaxine (an AD) for 5 weeks but it didn't suit me, so went onto Prozac 20mg for 6 weeks, which made my anxiety worse. I have dropped to 10mg a week ago and started Evorel 50 patches (Oestrogen) and Utrogestan 100 vaginally 2 days ago.
I'm 55 and haven't had a period for 2.5 years. I'm still feeling awful and quite shaky. Just looking for advice really as I'm at my wits end. Does the dose of HRT I'm on sound right or should I lower the Oestrogen and start low?
Thanks in advance.
Jules x
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:welcomemm: Jules53. Just wanted to say hi. I can't offer advice but I am sure one or more of the lovely ladies will be along soon
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Thanks Herdwick😘. I appreciate your reply x
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Hello Jules53.
Another struggler here unfortunately and I send my sympathy.
My HRT clearly isn't doing the trick and I also take Venlafaxine, for what it's worth. I haven't had a period for nine years and I sometimes think that all I've succeeded in doing is prolonging peri menopause!
Hopefully some of the lovely ladies will be along soon to advise you, I will certainly want to read their replies.
Wishing you well.
K.
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Thanks for your reply Kathleen and U'm so sorry you're struggling too😢. I have been on Venlafaxine before and it worked for me, but sadly not this time.
How are you feeling and which HRT regime are you on?
J x
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Sounds the right dose to me. You are getting the same dose of Oestrogen in the Evorel 50 as you were in the Femseven. X
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Thanks Dutty xx
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Hello again Jules53
The HRT regime I'm on is Oestrogel and Utrogestan. I've experimented with the gel over time and I've ranged from 3.5 pumps to 0.5 pumps but bizarrely my symptoms change very little, the big difference with 3.5 pumps was that I had a lot of bleeding so was advised to reduce again. I use the Utrogestan vaginally as that means fewer side effects. To add to the confusion I was given Venlafaxine when I was a long way into the menopause and taking HRT so I don't know how it affects me on it's own. I was told that it reduces night sweats and on one occasion when I forget to take it I did sweat more that night so I assume it does work on that symptom at least.
The meno is troublesome enough without all this drug confusion thrown in but we have to keep on trying don't we!
Wishing you well.
K.
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I'm also struggling - HRT doesn't seem to be sorting out the awful anxiety and depression i've been suffering from since sudden menopause nearly 3 years ago. Tried loads of different ADs - it seems that generally SSRIs make me suicidal, older types like mirtazapine just have no effect, now trying fluoxetine which I'm told works in a slightly different way to other SSRIs. So far the side effects are horrendous - hugely increased anxiety, insomnia, constant diaorrhea. I'm one week in and really want to give it at least two weeks to see if the side effects lessen and it starts to work, but right now i'm not sure I can stand much more. Just want to curl up and die....
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Hi racjen
I can't use ssri either I stick with the old antidepressants Doulspin they seem to work best for me yet I know GP are not fussy on giving out older antidepressants but I honestly think they work better
Were you ever given Prozac ?
Kaz xx
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Fluoxetine is Prozac, that's what I'm on now and struggling with.
I've tried older ones - mirtazapine (which is a tetracyclic), reboxetine (not sure what sort that is) and amitriptyline (trycyclic) but they just don't work for me, no side effects but no beneficial effects either. Did the full 12 week trial on mirtazapine and it was a complete waste of time.
The psychiatrist who prescribed Prozac said that it works in a slightly different way to other SSRIs so worth a go, but so far I just feel absolutely bloody awful....
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Thanks for your replies ladies and so sorry to hear you are suffering too.
Racjen I was put on 20mg of Fluoxetine 6 weeks ago and it made my anxiety worse. The doctor put it down to 10mg a week ago and anxiety is still high so I'm giving it a couple more weeks. What dose did they start you on?
My nightsweats are still quite bad but the daytime flushes are getting less. I'm so confused with all of this and have felt awful so am signed off work. I really hope the Fluoxetine and/or HRT starts to work soon. It's the anxiety that's the worst😫.
Sending you all a big hug and hope you feel better very soon.
Jules x
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I have used 'rescue remedy' with success to. Mouth spray or pastilles.
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Racjen and others,
I'm on citalopram 20mg. Built up to this dose over about 7 weeks, been at 20mg for 4 weeks now. FEEL SHIT.
I tried Sertraline before, but only lasted 6 days. Was only taking half tablets, but I couldn't eat. Dry mouth, no appetite, couldn't even force food down. Had no anxiety though ;D
Don't really know where to go with this. I am jittery for a couple of hours every morning. Which only started after I stopped the Sertraline. It's got a bit better over time, but I dread getting out of bed. What ever time it is ... I jitter :'(
I'm unmotivated, tired, a bit depressed. FED UP. I don't think I felt this bad before I started the ADs. It is so frustrating.
I've been on HRT now for 6 weeks. Desperate for it to work, so I can come off the ADs. Don't really want to be on HRT either. I don't want any of this to be happening :'(
Sorry ... Saturday night pity party going on here.
Hugs to all.
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Pants 46 so sorry to hear you are suffering too.
ADs make you feel more anxious when you start them. The doctors just keep saying, give it time - and they are so quick to hand them out without thinking about the consequences!😢. I'm going to give this 10mg of Fluoxetine another 2 weeks and will think about stopping them if the anxiety doesn't go. Have only been back on HRT for 4 days so I really want to give it a chance.
I'm the same as you in that I think my anxiety was better before I started them! Sending hugs to all too and hoping we feel better soon❤x
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Thanks for your replies ladies and so sorry to hear you are suffering too.
Racjen I was put on 20mg of Fluoxetine 6 weeks ago and it made my anxiety worse. The doctor put it down to 10mg a week ago and anxiety is still high so I'm giving it a couple more weeks. What dose did they start you on?
My nightsweats are still quite bad but the daytime flushes are getting less. I'm so confused with all of this and have felt awful so am signed off work. I really hope the Fluoxetine and/or HRT starts to work soon. It's the anxiety that's the worst😫.
Sending you all a big hug and hope you feel better very soon.
Jules x
I was started on 20mg fluoxetine, went back to the GP yesterday after a week of hell to see if she thought the dose should be lowered, but she said she didn't think it'd make any difference as your brain has to adjust whatever the level. I certainly can't stand this level of anxiety for more than two weeks though, the accepted wisdom is that even though the benefits often aren't noticeable for 4 - 6 weeks you shouldn't be feeling worse for more than a couple of weeks. Maybe I just can't do ADs full-stop :-\
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Hi racjen
I can't use ssri either I stick with the old antidepressants Doulspin they seem to work best for me yet I know GP are not fussy on giving out older antidepressants but I honestly think they work better
Were you ever given Prozac ?
Kaz xx
Which older ADs have you found effective then Kaz?x
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Hi Racjen
I feel your pain! I was on Fluoxetine 20mg for 6 weeks and it made my anxiety much worse. Reduced to 10mg 8 days ago and I'm still feeling anxious, as well as shaky and tired. I also have a prickly heat type feeling in my arms, but no rash. I'm also itching a bit too.
Did your doctor tell you to keep taking them for another few weeks? Really don't know what to do about the Fluoxetine as I've just started Evorel 50 patches and Utrogestan 100mg vaginally.
Just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you and that you get some relief soon.
Jules x