To ask if hormones or anxiety?

[anxioussmess]

So I'm having a tough time lately but there's a few issues at play which I'll outline below as I wondered if anyone has been where I am and has advice etc. This started 2 weeks ago

I've been very anxious so I've started a new anxiety pill called escitalopram and it's my 3rd week taking it, just started 3rd week I mean.. not sure how long this takes to work?

Also as I'm 40 I was advised by my doctor to change from the combined contraception pill to now take a progesterone only method so now on the combined pill. Have been on this new pill for 2 months.

So what's been happening for the last 2 weeks is I wake up every single day feeling horrific and anxious as hell and shaky etc. I also have been crying a lot. I was told by friends/family etc to try a natural remedy such as kalms etc so I went on Monday just gone and had a chat with pharmacist and he set me up with this roll on liquid called nyt ease which is very good, obvs not a miracle worker but does help

Has anyone been through anything similar and can relate cos this is so hard. Does it get better?

Sorry new pill is mini pill

Did you tell the chemist about your anti anxiety medication?

I know that type of medication can sometimes make you feel worse before you feel better! The timing would suggest it’s the escitalopram rather than the new birth control but I wouldn’t think it’s cut and dry. Do you think you can tolerate how you’re feeling for another week or so to see if it settles down?

@Errors yea I told him I everything I take including my epilepsy medicine too. I can prob tolerate another week too but it's hard with kids on school hols too but I am trying

There are lots of different types of progesterones which may be used in the different brands of mini pills (& in combined pills actually)

Some progesterones are more likely to cause anxiety, especially in close-to or actually peri-menopausal women.

Is your new pill the same or a different progesterone as your old combined pill? And especially if it's different, but in any case, maybe speak to your doctor again. Drospirenone is a "friendly" progesterone that generally seems to have a reputation for not causing anxiety.

Escitalopram & other SSRIs may take 4-6 weeks to settle in and start feeling positive effects from, and yes, symptoms may also get worse during the settling in period, and not all SSRIs suit all people.

So either, or both, could be the cause, and you'll likely need to go back to the doctor and discuss and try to figure out a controlled way to see which it is that's affecting you, and how best to handle it or move forward.