Offered anti depressants

[veneeroftheweek]

I went to see my GP to discuss my peri symptoms which are exhaustion, terrible headaches which last for several days before my period, sleeplessness, irritability, rage, anxiety, low mood, PMT, low libido. I still have regular periods but wanted to discuss my options wrt HRT.

She said said HRT wasn't great and was worried that more oestrogen could make the headaches worse. She offered me anti depressants and said they would help with the anxiety and low mood. She has also sent me for a range of blood tests and suggested we discuss everything when they're back. I do have an under active thyroid so I'm glad she is checking that as well.

Has anyone in my situation found that anti depressants were the answer? It seems more extreme than HRT. I know it can help with hot flushes but to be honest that's not a massive issue for me.

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/every-woman-should-have-menopause-counselling/?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1526476020

It really annoys me that GPs dish out antidepressants, even though there are side effects with those, but are so anti hrt.
I am not very good on info on HRT in peri, I started it a couple of months after my last period, but I don’t believe high estrogen gives you headaches, mine have massively improved with HRT.

There is masses and masses on the web now about how Drs should not use ADs for women who can use HRT. Have a look at the website of Dr Louise Newson (GP who specialises in meno.) If you are on Twitter you will see her comments on ADs being offered instead of HRT; she did a survey on Twitter to see how many women were being mis-prescribed.

Basically, you need to throw the NICE guidelines at her which expressively say do not use ADs for low mood in peri meno.

Some women find their headaches disappear with HRT because they hormones balance out your cycle; the headache is caused by low progesterone at the end of your cycle(when it falls.) I had it all my life, my DD does and it's really common.

I'd find another dr who is more up to date and open to you trying what you want.

veneer exactly the same thing situation with me. Same peri symptoms - particularly anxiety and exhaustion. Went to GP May last year and blood tests confirmed I was well along the menopause road, but still having regular-ish periods (I was 52 at the time). GP advised trying natural remedies first and seeing how that went, together with some dietary changes (more soya-based foods, nuts etc.). Settled on black cohosh, which seemed to help initially, but by the turn of this year the symptoms were getting so bad they were affecting my ability to do my job.

Went back to GP who prescribed Fluoxetine (AKA Prozac - which I didn't realise until I Googled it after getting home!). She didn't even describe it as an anti-depressant and actually referred to it as 'a very clean drug' with little or no side effects. I gave it two months and it was horrendous. My anxiety went through the roof, I had chronic insomnia, I lost weight (almost constant nausea) and felt constantly jittery and on edge. Horrible.

Back to GP again (different one this time) and was promptly taken off Fluoxetine and put on HRT (Elleste Duet). I'm halfway through month 3 on HRT and feel so much better (no anxiety at all, tons of energy, sleeping well), albeit I have terrible constipation and suffer chronic backache towards the end of the green tablets. However, I'd take that any day of the week over the anxiety.

Having discussed this with several friends of a similar age, it seems that HRT works for some, but not others and ditto anti-depressants. My guess is that GPs tend to punt women off with anti-depressants first because of cost and also because they seem fixated with the alleged side-effects of HRT.

Hrt is dirt cheap. I buy my own as it's a private prescription and it's less than the cost of an NHS script each month (and this is one of the most expensive types.)

It's not cost, it's just lack of education and inability to know what to prescribe.

Gosh, I didn't know that, Queen. That's quite shocking!

I think that a big number of gyns have absolutely no idea about how to treat meno.
They care more for fertility treatments and pregnancies and prescriping ADS is an easy way not to take the responsibility for hrt.

A common them then!? God, it's always women's problems that seem to be handled so poorly by doctors. I'm sick of having to advocate for myself all the time! It's the same with under-active thyroids - which funnily enough are also to a large extent the domain of middle aged women. Grrr.

I'm not actually menopausal in that I've never missed a period. I'm 50 though, and the symptoms show I'm clearly on the way, although when I pointed that out she didn't seem convinced.

I'm not sure of the advice for people like me. Obviously if my periods were erratic I'd feel a bit more confident demanding to try hrt.

Cardigans - sorry you've had a crappy time of it too. Glad things are improving now.

If you might be sensitive to synthetic oestrogen ask about bio identical oestrogen. I had it and it stopped the blinding headaches I got with normal HRT.

God, it's always women's problems that seem to be handled so poorly by doctors. I'm sick of having to advocate for myself all the time!

So true, veneer. Thank you for your good wishes . I can't tell you how good it is to feel like 'me' again.

If you might be sensitive to synthetic oestrogen ask about bio identical oestrogen. I had it and it stopped the blinding headaches I got with normal HRT.

ALL estrogen used is now body-identical ( bio) except Prempak and Premarin. so 90% of what is on offer is the natural stuff.

Patches, gel and all the tablets contain estradiol which is body identical. Prempak and Premarin is made from synthetic estrogen.

.....PRE type oestrogens...specifically, made (extracted) from horse urine!!!

HRT can be hit and miss in women who are still having regular periods but if you suffered from PND for example it may be more likely to work as your oestrogen levels may be lowering even while you are still ovulating regularly.

The other alternative is to suppress your cycle through a CCP - specifically one of the modern types like QLAIRA and ZOELY which contain bio (=body)- identical oestrogen ie estradiol. Some gynaes favour this for women who start to experience worsening pms and other symptoms before peri-menopause has started. You might have a struggle getting this due to your age (cut off is meant to be 50) although if you are at low risk of stroke etc doc might be prepared to prescribe.