MenoMood tablets

[strongasmeringue]

I was about to start taking these today (moving on from Angus Castus as the MM ones are used for hot flushes, night sweats, low mood and mild anxiety) but I've read the pack and it says not to take if you have been diagnosed with depression or think you may be depressed.

Along with being peri-menopausal I've also been diagnosed with moderate to severe depression, moderate symptoms of anxiety and have moderate to severe levels of psychological distress.

Can anyone please advise me what to do? I'm also going to post this in mental health.

Thank you.

what have the menomood ones got in them?

The other thing too think about is whether all these signs of depression etc are only beginning with perimenopause. If so, and you have no previous history of depression or anxiety, then it's likely to be hormonal. The NICE menopause guidelines address this issue and state clearly that HRT is the first line of treatment for women first experiencing depression during perimenopause.

Obviously I don't know your medical history but it's worth bearing in mind that the solution to all these issues could be estrogen, not other medications. Your GP may not be up to date with this- NICE guidelines came out Nov 2016 - and you can find them online by searching. NICE is concerned that too many women in menopause are being given anti depressants instead of HRT.

St John's Wort and Black Cohosh root. these ones

I have a long history of depression and a shorter one of anxiety. It's definitely not hormonal but causal but I accept my hormones may play a part on making some days worse than others.

I don't understand that because ST J Wort is a treatment for mild depression.

But I still say that if your issues are getting worse, they may be helped by HRT not herbal products.

Black cohosh is sometimes helpful but it has also been linked to side effects connected with liver disease.

www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-857-BLACK+COHOSH.aspx

Is there any reason why you aren't seeking HRT for your symptoms of sweats etc?

Talk to your GP about interactions with any other medications, and maybe ask them to help you monitor if you are getting on with it. I found it helpful for meno symptoms, but now just taking HRT.

GP recommended Kalms so have been taking those. Second month but I'm not sure they are helping. TBH I'm not sure any meds will help as the main issue is the depression. GP says I can't have HRT. Didn't think of going back to GP as already seen her.

I'm not unduly bothered by the menapausal symptoms other than the depression and anxiety but as I said, they are caused by something that has happened. I can't give house room to the fact it's also brought on early menopause.

I didn't, and don't, want to take ADs.

Your local pharmacist is probably more help than your GP- ask for a 1:1 chat in their rooms.

Why can't you have HRT? Do you have serious medical conditions that mean you can't have it? If you are indeed having an early menopause your GP is mistreating you because the treatment advised by NICE and all consultant gynaecologists is HRT. You need it to protect your bones and heart. I think you need to see another GP or at least talk to yours and question her approach- it's certainly not in keeping with current advice.

This is from the NHS website on menopause - premature refers to under 40, early refers to under 45. Both require HRT.

Premature menopause
Premature menopause, also known as premature ovarian insufficiency, is when a woman experiences the menopause before the age of 40.
The two main treatments for early menopause are HRT and the combined contraceptive pill, as they both contain oestrogen and progestogen.
These treatments can help to relieve troublesome menopausal symptoms and reduce the risk of problems such as osteoporosis.
Your doctor will normally recommend continuing treatment until at least around the time of natural menopause (45 to 55 years of age).

I'm 45. Cancer in the family is the reason I can't have HRT. I'm actually starting therapy next week. The lady said they would help with my tiredness so maybe they are a medical doctor and I can ask about this as well. Right now I'm so depressed I'd happily run away.

I meant early as in something caused it but the GP said my oestrogen is very low .

Please ask your GP to refer you to a consultant.

You have no cancer risk using HRT up to the age of the average menopause- 52.

You DO have a far greater risk of heart disease and osteoporosis by not replacing estrogen.

I can't stress this strongly enough. Unfortunately most GPs are very mis informed about HRT.

The only cancer risk is if your mum and a sister had breast cancer at a young age and with premature menopause these would not be taken into account anyway.

Please believe me- I've been receiving meno care from a Harley St consultant gynae to 10 years - a leading UK expert- and discussed all of this.