Night sweats. Anyone tried anti-depressants?

[AntiBi]

On highest dose HRT and still having night sweats. GP has ruled out other causes (blood tests done).

She is now advising anti-depressants as apparently they are used for night sweats.

Has anyone any experience of this?

Oh dear God not again. menopause is treated with HRT unless there are compelling medical reasons not to offer it. ADs are for women who perhaps have had breast cancer and cannot use HRT (and even then, some can.) Read the NICE guidelines on meno and ADs.

I am with you on this polly doctors seem so happy to push AD's instead of Prescribing HRT.

brownie did you doctor not suggest HRT?

Menopace plus as well seems to be helpful

It was discussed but as the sweats are my main symptom all others are manageable, we both agreed this was option to try for now . If symptoms get worse or find i cant manage other symptoms hrt may be option.

Personally I wouldn't want to take antidepressants because of the side effects, especially if just for night sweats as HRT sorts that out really quickly.

brownie This is from NICE (I've left lots of links to the whole report here many times...)
I suggest you show your GP as they are not working within current medical advice.

Vasomotor symptoms [hot flushes and sweats]
1.4.2 Offer women HRT for vasomotor symptoms after discussing with them the short-term (up to 5 years) and longer-term benefits and risks. Offer a choice of preparations as follows:

oestrogen and progestogen to women with a uterus

oestrogen alone to women without a uterus.

1.4.3 Do not routinely offer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) or clonidine as first-line treatment for vasomotor symptoms alone.

I used to get night sweats on my antidepressant tabs too. I used to take Flash Fighters from the health food shop and they were fantastic.