Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Nairn on December 01, 2017, 02:03:11 PM
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Hi all, just been prescribed venlafaxine to help with anxiety, and skin problems in delicate areas. Have tried most other options. Successfully taking Femonston 2/10, but reading old posts I'm scared to take the Venlafaxine - all the feedback seems very bad so hoping for some positive views?
Or some recommendations for a more natural approach - Kalms don't work :'(
Thanks in advance
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Hi I don't know about venalfaxine, but I am almost three weeks on citalopram and am still waiting for it to kick in. I'm not sure if venalfaxine works he same way but I hav been a lot more anxious since starting citalopram. Was told it can take at leas a month to start working and I have to tell you it's a nightmare, but I will stick with it for another few weeks and hope for the best. Just be prepared to feel worse before you feel better. This anxiety is a bloody nightmare
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Thanks Yanmy1, and sorry to hear of your anxiety - hope you feel better soon x
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I've been on venlafaxine 4 years gave me my life back did try citalopram prior but did not work for me even on the high strength.
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Thank you Nairn, hope you feel better soon too.
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Willosgang, did you find venalfaxine made you feel worse for the first few weeks. I really hope citalopram works I don't really want to have to change to something else :'(
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Hi Nairn
I took Venlafaxine a few years ago when Peri started. I resisted at first but I'm so glad I decided to take it in the end. I was on it for about 18 months and did CBT whilst I was on it to help me when I decided to stop. It does take a few weeks to kick in so my doctor gave me some Diazepam to take until it did. You also have to come off it slowly. Apart from that it was great.
I hope you get on OK with it.
Jules
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Hi Nairn
Sorry to hear of your ongoing anxiety even while taking HRT. I see you have tried a few HRT types, but might I suggest that actually, if you are pretty much past menopause, and you don't have any issues in your life which could make you anxious (and haven't suffered like this throughout your life except as part of pms) - you may benefit from an increased dose of oestrogen rather than taking anti-depressants?
Some women just do not absorb as much oestrogen as they could from tablet HRT and 2/10 is still only a medium dose. I would recommend taking a separate oestrogen and progesterone, switching to transdermal oestrogen ( patch or gel) and if possible a higher oestrogen dose. The two types of progestogen are provera and utrogestan.
Personally I would try this ( and other means of coping if you can) before trying the ADs.
Not sure what you mean by skin problems in delicate areas and how venlafaxine will help? Do you mean vaginal tissues? If so then you need local oestrogen to treat this which plumps up the tissues.
Hurdity x
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Nairn I PMed you. Venlafaxine + CBT has been my treatment of choice for a long time. It might not be right for you but don't let anonymous internet horror story anecdotes scare you. Everyone is different, it's totally worth a try. It has been the best for me of many.
Feel better.
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Hi all, I don't seem to be able to reply individually but thanks so much to everyone who has replied.
Hurdity - many thanks for the detailed info. I have been seeing a consultant who recommended vagifem and also cream, after a lot of tests but neither have helped - in fact seem to have made things worse, as the skin has become very wet and sort of mascerated. When I started menopause (45) I started to get down and anxious and when I get really anxious all the skin in my vaginal and vuvlal areas becomes inflamed and very irritated - almost a nervous reaction, - bizarre but true, so my wonderful GP suggested treating the cause. As you say I had tried loads of different HRTs, but I am super sensitive to progesterone so Femonston 2/10 was the best one . However I was also looking for birth control and the two for me don't go together- as Femonston brings back your periods I have no idea where I am in terms of the menopause cycle - so pregnancy apparently is still an option (I am 50). So, I was persuaded to try a Mirena coil back in Feb this year - after 3 days it was removed as an emergency procedure and I suffered severe Pelvic Inflammory disease - and now 8 months later I am just recovering as there were complications, and from all of that physical and emotional trauma my vaginal/vulval tissues have never been the same - it was a really stressful time and bizarrely that's where the stress seems to have shown itself - and getting it back under control is proving impossible. I have a very demanding job, working mainly with men and some days I struggle to sit down it's all so sore, as as for sex, forget it. Ironic considering the reason I went for the coil was to be able to !
I'm open to any and all suggestions ! And very grateful of any help - thanks Hurdity and ladies xxx
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Hi there
I see from your profile that you have already tried Qlaira - what was the problem with this one? I know others have tried it with success but it seems to take a while for side effects to wear off? Also I expect that now you are 50 they may not prescribe it.
Sorry to hear about the Mirena and your problems and long recovery period after PID as this would have been a good option.
I don't really know what else to suggest - do have a look at The Burning Club thread in Private Lives - Maryjane and Dancgingirl are the experts on helping with vaginal problems and burning and may be able to talk you though the slow steps to recovery when they have time - maybe start another thread specifically about this? Also Maryjane has a closed FB group so you could pm her about this if you are interested?
It's such a pity that dyrogesterone is not available separately in this country and it's about time this was brought back which would enable you to take separate oestrogen and progesterone - and switch to transdermal oestrogen - and then you could increase the dose. Another idea which I've no idea whether anyone does it is to take the Femoston 2/10 as normal and with the supervision of a gynae - add in some extra oestrogen eg from a patch - and ask for a scan after 6 months to see how your womb lining reacts - or along with this extra oestrogen take an additional progestogen say every 3 months (eg Provera) while you are taking the combi part of Femoston - to shed any extra lining. This is just an idea of mine but not sure what a gynae would think or how your body would react to the extra prog - but say 12 days every 3 months on top of your current regime may be copable with, but give you the extra oestrogen boost you need?
If you can tolerate Provera then you could possibly stop the Femoston altgoether and swtich to this as your prog of choice along with transdermal oestrogen?
I do think it is important to get your HRT right for you but I udnerstand your wanting to alleviate your anxiety too....
Hurdity x
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I no you wanted positive stories but mine is 50/50
I just posted about angeliq as thought it was bringing on migraine but I missed a dose of venlafaxine and to be honest has scared me.
I've been on them over a year and have helped loads with mood and energy but it was a last resort for me so please think about it before you take them xx
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Hi Hurdity
I tried Qlaria for 4 months but it really did not work for me - depression and feeling totally rubbish and after 4 months changed to Femonston 2/10 and it's been great overall, but I just need to deal with the vaginal pain/skin problems and thanks to the lovely ladies who have shared I am less inclined to try the AD. I will try and private message Maryjane as the FB site sounds good, although my settings don't seem to allow this ?
Thanks again for all of your help - as part of the PID complications they found adenomyosis so unlikely to give me any more oestrogen unless it's via the pessary. :)
Reflecting on this as I write I have to say menopause has been an unexpected rollercoaster and so envious of some of my friends who are coasting though it!
Butterfly98 - so sorry to hear of your troubles, and hope you feel better soon x
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Hi Nairn, bit of an old post now but hope you're feeling a bit better!
I have been on venlafaxine for years - long before all this peri lark - and I find it really useful. I think it's sometimes prescribed for hot flushes which I think has helped me too. Anyway everyone is different and there can be a bit of faffing involved to find the right AD...some love it, some find it horrendous 😕 Good luck whatever you decided xx
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Hi Alicea.
I know it's a while ago since you posted but I just wondered what dose you are on and whether you are on immediate or extended release Venlafaxine?
Thanks. Julesx
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HI,
Not tried Venlafaxine, but have tried most of the others! LOL
The best for me is and always has been Paroxitine. It is not a favourite at the moment , because of withdrawal, but been on it best part of 30 years and I will have nothing said about it= it has saved me on many occasions and led to me doing things i woudl never have done (travelled the world etc ) due to crippling anxiety tipping into depression. My view every time i post on this is you have to live the life you are given and to quote tesco!! every little helps. If you had a chest infection then you woudl take the antibiotics-probably with no questions. No difference here.
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I agree. Once I found a regime that works for me and my DH, I stuck to it. With a bit of variation if depression threatens to take over.
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Thanks ladies. Have just started back on Venlafaxine, which has worked for me twice before so fingers crossed 🤞
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:bighug:
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Thanks CLKD😘. Will keep you posted x
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Hi all
I posted the original message and just to update. After a lot of thinking and research I decided not to take the Venlafaxine, as I was worried I would get dependant on it. Very much a personal choice, so I've muddled through with trying to keep occupied (box sets, painting, reading) and using calms daytime and night time to help me sleep. Sleep is critical as if I get less than 7 hours good sleep I look at the world through a dark lense and it's really easy to get into a bad sleep cycle. If I get depressed, the one thing I need to do is go outside, as it's much worse when I am in the house - be that even just a drive - change the scenery and change the mindset. The other thing is that the anxiety was giving me a really bad skin condition which I called stress vagina - weird but true, so if I control the stress the vaginal dryness/ skin improves and I now know to start a skin regime when it flares - and recognise that - with me my emotions drive everything so maintaining emotional balance is 90% of the battle. It's not a perfect system but most of the time it works. Hope that helps. I would stress this was my personal choice and everyone will be different. Currently I am still on Femonston 2/10 but I suspect that will change soon, so I may need to re-visit the decision but for now it works.