Fluoxetine

[CS68]

Hi, looking for feedback on use of fluoxetine to treat menopausal symptoms. Just been prescribed Fluoxetine by my GP but not convinced it's the right thing for me. Any views or this type of medication versus HRT?

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/women-need-hrt-not-antidepressants

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/anti-depressants-and-the-menopause

NICE MENOPAUSE GUIDELINES

1.4 Managing short-term menopausal symptomS
The recommendations in this section are not intended for women with premature ovarian insufficiency (see recommendations 1.6.6 to 1.6.8 for management of premature ovarian insufficiency).

1.4.1 Adapt a woman's treatment as needed, based on her changing symptoms.

Vasomotor symptoms
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:

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.

fluoxetine=Prozac= SSRI. Not recommended- see above.

Thank you Queenofthenights I had seen the article by the menopause Doctor I was just curious to know what works best for people. The symptom that I struggle with most is low mood which is why I think the GP (a locum) who had very little empathy opted for antidepressants. Personally, for me think, I feel HRT is the way to go.

I took this for Pmt - very effective but it killed my sex drive completely

@Queenof the Nights The guidelines are not saying fluoxetine is not recommended for menopause full stop, they are saying don't offer it all the time as the first option for hot flushes (vasomotor symptoms)

@Ivor- if you read into this in more detail, what they are saying is that they are possibly helpful for women who cannot use HRT due to perhaps things like breast cancer or recent heart disease. 'Not offering as first option' would mean offer HRT first and then re-assess if not suitable.(I am a medical author writing about this and other health topics, and have researched this for years including talking to UK meno consultants.)