perimenopause/pmdd and qlaira/femoston

[vintagefiend]

Hello, I'm after information re qlaira and/or femoston for perimenopause/pmdd.
I'm 44 and have had the most awful year due to hormonal shifts, primarily related to periods: week of anxious hell prior to period, then severely depressed mood during and for a couple of days after- which doesn't give much time for any normal days. I'm so fed up and very fatigued to boot.
I tried oestrogel 2 to 3 pumps daily but that possibly augmented symptoms- certainly it didn't help and i was still having my cycle- i was hoping it would switch me off- ironically i may not have taken enough to do that but i really can't face experimenting any more with oestrogel!
I've had zoladex injections which put me into a chemical menopause and the resulting depression was crippling- certainly it got rid of the pmdd as no cycle and stopped feeling ragey but the depression has been far worse (i'm still waiting for it to wear off- tho i'll prob have major pmdd when it does!)- i was using oestrogel once again for addback hrt but it didn't cut through the depression.
I've seen a gynae and he's suggested ssris (anti deps) taken for the two worst weeks of my cycle. i'm happy to do this to start with as i definitely need to feel a bit better before i start thinking about hormonal treatment- but i would prefer ultimately not to rely on the antideps due to side effects of weight gain, grogginess, possible dependence, no libido etc and a feeling that hormones at least treat the cause not the symptoms.
So that's why i'm interested in qlaira, femoston and anything i haven't thought of and would really appreciate some words of advice/experience. Sorry this post is longer than i intended!

thanks acorn- just realised you've replied!
actually i started patch thurs am - day 1 of period- and tonight i'm feeling decidedly odd!- very foggy, bit hyper, bit anxious- i think it's like i felt periodically during summer when perhaps my oestrogen was too high? the doctor did say i'll prob feel worse this first month so i must stick it out!!
the problem before, i think, was that ovulation wasn't suppressed whereas the patch prescribed this time is 200mcg (ie 2 patches) so obvs a high dose but hopefully once it suppresses me, things will calm down. not sure tho if 200mcg is overkill?!
hope you're ok acorn.

You describe just how I felt when I started on higher patches. Really jittery and on edge. It eased, but then returned occasionally (perhaps because I was still ovulating). You can always cut one in half if necessary? Ive just had my estrogen re tested now I 'm on 100mg patches and it was only 128 pmol which is far lower than I'd expected on high dose patches.

thanks for reply acorn- once again i had to abandon the hormones- felt too crap on patch and did cut one of them in half. ah well- i'm going to try anti depressant then maybe try patch again- but not 200mcg!
anyway- i've managed to get onto menopause matters at last so i'm pleased about that!
hope you're ok.

Will probably end up chatting again on MM! x

Hi Vintagefriend and Acorn44 - I know this is an old thread but I was wondering how you are getting on? I've been having similar problems in that I need to stop my cycle (due to migraines). I spent 5 months on the Evorel patch but only got up to 75mg and I was still having regular periods despite no progesterone - it would help the first month when I raised dose but then stop. My specialist had moved me on to Zoely which is like Qlaira but Monophasic. I have only been on it 9 days and I am *hit scared about taking oral bcp at 47 but I'm desperate. So far I've had reflux, feeling v low and not sure it's helping with the headaches.
Would be keen to find out if either if you succeeded with the higher transdermal eat radios doses? Hope so!

Hi all, I'm after some info on Femeston too pls. I'm 47 and think I've started on the menopausal path. Over the last year, periods have become irregular. Some very very light, some damned awful. Have had the occasional night sweat but it's the mood and anxiety that are really causing a problem. Added to that I have a lot of stress at work.
Have come out of Dr's surgery with a prescription for Femeston, but having read the pack info, I'm not sure they're really for me. But the alternative was anti-deps.
As I'm still bleeding most months, should I really be taking F yet?
Would be grateful for your thoughts..

Ruby can you explain what you mean by having read the pack you aren't sure they are for you?

The pack info is how to take them and all the many side effects, the vast majority of which most women will never have (just like the leaflets in all drugs.)

HRT is suitable for women during peri when periods are irregular.

hi there!! anybody on or has experience of prostap injection?? xx