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[Mrs Sea]

I saw my GP yesterday as I wanted back on HRT. She said because I am over 60 (I'm 61)the risks of cardiovascular problems and breast cancer are too high and has prescribed Citalopram 10mg daily, which is an antidepressant.  Until 3 months ago I had a Mirena coil and used Evorel 50 patches. The Mirena was removed when I had a hysteroscopy for bleeding and they couldn't fit a new one back due to my fibroid. It seems the old Mirena was the cause of the bleeding as it was lodged badly due to the fibroid. Since I stopped HRT I have been having mood swings and anxiety plus night sweats and hot flushes. The hot flushes are bearable but the anxiety and mood swings are getting me down. They are affecting my confidence and, when I am down, I lose my motivation.  I am still sleeping very well though and usually bounce back a few days later, but emotionally I wanted to stabilise things with HRT.  From what I can see, NICE do not recommend antidepressants for menopause and the feeling is GPs are too quick to prescribe them.  She didn't check anything else, it was simply 'you can't have HRT so antidepressants are best'.  What experience do other folk have re antidepressants? Thank you.

[Joaniepat]

Could you get a referral to a menopause clinic, or see a menopause specialist privately? GPs and many gynaecologists generally know nothing about menopause, it's an area in which they receive no training. Therefore, they lack confidence in prescribing HRT.

JP x

[sheila99]

Take the Nice guidelines with you and tell her to read them, she needs to keep up with current advice. You're right, ADs shouldn't be prescribed for meno and there is no longer an age limit for hrt. You can ask to be referred to a meno clinic but it shouldn't be necessary, your gp can prescribe it herself.

[CLKD]

If you didn't know your age ..........  some cultures have no idea when they were born. 

Ring the Surgery and ask for a referral to a Menopause Clinic.  Not a gyanecoloist as they know less than GPs very often. [Oh see this has already been said  ]

Your GP is well out of date!!!

Some ADs do ease flushes for some women.  But HRT is the route which is most likely to help.

Maybe keep a mood/food/symptom diary to take to an appt., check on-line if there is a Clinic close by. 

[Mrs Sea]

Thank you for your replies.  My GP is new to the practice and fairly recently qualified as GP, so she shouldn't be out of date!  I too thought this was old hat but I just wondered if there was some newer research overturning the old data regarding use of antidepressants or possibly newer research showing that HRT is more harmful than previously thought.  I know the risk of breast cancer has now been found to continue for some time after stopping HRT and I just wondered if I had missed other important announcements.  I asked her if she was treating depression or menopause and whether I would need to declare I was on antidepressants for travel insurance.  She said no, at this dose it is a recognised treatment for menopause.

[CLKD]

I believe that what you suggest is old research and even during this year, any scare headlines have been dismissed.  Have a look at the on-line Menopause Magazine which is up to date ;-).

However: I can't see where to join in .......... 

[catlover68]

I was taking hrt earlier this year and it made me feel so ill so I had to come off it. I tried pills,patches and gel but nothing agreed with me. The doctor suggested citalopram which I have taken in the past but came off it 4 years ago. I decided to give it another try and I'm so glad I did. 8 months later and I feel so much better even on 10mgs. Yes I get some hot flushes but nothing too bothersome and my mood has improved a lot. I'm not saying this is a miracle cure but it does work for me. Good luck

[CLKD]

Tnx catlover .........

[Penelope]

I tried that antidepressants and it sent me through the roof with anxiety like I had never had in my life.Try a new doctor you should be able to take HRT for as long as you want I have a friend who has been on it 20 yeRs and I have been on it one month and have been told 15- 20 years I can be on it.
Remember the contraceptive pill is double the dose of HRT.I have some friends taking that.😀

[Ladybt28]

Mrs Sea - unfortunately even as a new GP she won't have a clue?  GP's and doctors generally have to choose menopause as a training module as anything about it is not a compulsory part of their training for practice - so just how barmy is that!!!
She is working on old outdated advice anyway as the others have said and probably working on stuff she has heard other doctors say or other doctors in the practices opinions!  Loads of doctors do this much to our frustration!
Nice guidelines are the way to go! xx