Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Pumpkin55 on March 04, 2021, 04:53:30 PM

Title: Fluoxetine and flushes and anxiety
Post by: Pumpkin55 on March 04, 2021, 04:53:30 PM

Hi there
Has anyone taken fluoxetine for flushes and did it work?
Has anyone taken fluoxetine for general menopausal anxiety and did it work?
Thanks ladies!
x

Title: Re: Fluoxetine and flushes and anxiety
Post by: Sparrow on March 04, 2021, 05:24:02 PM

Quote from: Pumpkin55 on March 04, 2021, 04:53:30 PM

Hi there
Has anyone taken fluoxetine for flushes and did it work?
Has anyone taken fluoxetine for general menopausal anxiety and did it work?
Thanks ladies!
x

Yes and yes.

This was a few years ago but it certainly helped me.  The flushes and night sweats didn't go away but they reduced significantly.  After a year without a proper night's sleep, it was a huge relief.

The lack of sleep resulted in a breakdown so the floxetine helped with that as well.

Hope that helps
Shadyglade

Title: Re: Fluoxetine and flushes and anxiety
Post by: Hurdity on March 06, 2021, 09:36:49 AM

Quote from: Pumpkin55 on March 04, 2021, 04:53:30 PM

Hi there
Has anyone taken fluoxetine for flushes and did it work?
Has anyone taken fluoxetine for general menopausal anxiety and did it work?
Thanks ladies!
x

Fluoxetine is only recommended to be taken for menopausal symptoms such as flushes and sweats, if there is a medical reason why you cannot take HRT eg due to breast cancer. It is not the first line of treatment for menopausal symptoms according to the NICE Guidelines,  - HRT is recommended as treatment.

In terms of anxiety - many women find this is improved at the same time as hot flushes etc once HRT is started but it may depend where you are in menopause and how often your natural periods are.

Hurdity x

Title: Re: Fluoxetine and flushes and anxiety
Post by: Sparrow on March 06, 2021, 11:13:08 AM

I took it years ago, before the current NICE guidelines.  Also I never had any wish to spend years taking HRT, so it was not an option.

Six months on floxetine worked very well for me. 😊

Title: Re: Fluoxetine and flushes and anxiety
Post by: Kathleen on March 06, 2021, 02:25:57 PM

Hello ladies.

I was prescribed Venlafaxine years ago to reduce night sweats and they worked. The sweating only re appeared when I forgot to take a tablet.

I have just been watching a YouTube video by an American psychiatrist who describes Anxious Depression which seems very similar to the emotional/psychological difficulties that come with the menopause. If someone finds that they need more help than HRT can provide then anti depressants would be entirely appropriate.

Wishing everyone well.

K.