Antidepressants for perimenopause

[ChoudeBruxelles]

Hi. Just been to the gp about peri menopausal symptoms, particularly hot flushes. One of the things she suggested (after having bloods done) is anti depressants. Has anyone taken antidepressants for the menopause?

Gosh my gp recommended to me lots of walks outdoors , eat healthy and try get sleep . I get very low moods since menopausal in fact I spent a lot of yesterday in tears but i wouldn’t consider anti depressants. I’m doing slimming world now and I am walking and most days I can shake it off . It would be a last resort for me.

My female GP suggested I stay on my 20mg Citalopram to help through the menopause. A male GP a year later told me to come off them.

I've been on the AD's for 10 years and tried to come off them last summer - the depression came back much worse than its ever been and I nearly lost my job and everything that matters to me. I suspect that peri and menopause will make my mild depression much worse before it gets better so have no intention of trying to come off the very low dosage of AD's before I'm well and truly through menopause.

Citalopram does help with hot flushes IME.

Thanks. It’s the flushes disturbing my sleep which is driving me mad. And then I’m much more tetchy because I’m tired.

I’ve taken citalopram in the past with Pnd and then for anxiety after my mum died and know how hard they can be to wean yourself off of, which is one of the reasons I’m a bit wary of taking them again

There are zillions of posts here about this and in the media.

I am sick of repeating it (not your fault!)

Your GP is wrong and completely behind the times.

NICE menopause guidelines for GPs (now 4 years old) say that ADs are NOT to be used for menopause/ hot flushes/ low mood and HRT is the first line treatment. They are only for women who have had breast cancer / similar and cannot use HRT at all.

Have a google of this- use words like 'anti-depressants not HRT- and you will see the anger of menopause specialists who are dismayed and furious that ignorant GPs are still having out ADs instead of HRT.

@ChoudeBruxelles

here is the extract from NICE. Suggest you take it to your GP (and suggest she goes on a course about treating meno!)

Vasomotor symptoms (aka hot flushes)
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.

1.4.4 Explain to women that there is some evidence that isoflavones or black cohosh may relieve vasomotor symptoms. However, explain that:

multiple preparations are available and their safety is uncertain,
different preparations may vary, interactions with other medicines have been reported.

I am on a low dose of antidepressants too (20 mg) and I find it really helps.

It must be that it's cheaper to stick people on ADs than treat them properly for what their condition is, perimenopause is not depression.

~i am on 40mg. I didn't want to go on HRT because of the cancer risk. I find they do help

It must be that it's cheaper to stick people on ADs than treat them properly for what their condition is, perimenopause is not depression

Not it's nothing to do with cost..

It really is a disgrace.

The reason GPs are using ADs is they are misinformed.
They have out of date ideas about cancer risks.
They are scared to offer HRT.

This is ridiculous. Sorry.

NICE guidelines are BEST PRACTICE.

If there was a concern over safety, they would not recommend HRT over ADs.

Those of you who have posted here and say you prefer them to HRT because of the risks of HRT need to understand that ADs have risks too (addiction for a start) and also the benefits of HRT overall outweigh the risks for women under 60.

This is one of many articles about HRT v ADs. Written by a menopause dr.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6726351/Why-doctors-denying-women-HRT-Prescriptions-plunged-two-thirds.html?ito=email_share_article-bottom

I was put on antidepressants by a GP because of my peri symptoms but I have had breast cancer cancer. I was told at the time I had it, almost 10 years ago, that I wouldn’t be able to take any hormonal contraceptives or HRT. Is that not true?

Thanks for clearing that up, Jingle, I wondered why. I am on ADs due to severe depression and suicidal thoughts. They have a lot of side effects! It's hard to believe so many women are put on them for hot flushes and night sweats when they are such serious drugs (not saying HRT is not but well, HRT is designed to treat such symptoms).

@Debenhamshandtowel

You need to see a menopause specialist to discuss that. There are some women who do use it (and have written about it)
www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/ive-had-breast-cancer-but-it-wont-stop-me-taking-hrt/

It's not black and white and it depends on so many things.

Thanks jingling. I asked to see a specialist but was told it was unnecessary. I think I need to go back to the GP and insist. Why is everything with my gp surgery such a battle?

Debenhams, I am in the sane boat as you. Diagnosed with oestrogen positive breast cancer a decade ago. I've been battling to trial HRT for menopause symptoms since January and getting no where fast!

My surgery do not want to know and have put the barriers up, where hrt is concerned. My oncologist said if I really want to trial it, then I can, but the GPS are all saying not on my watch you won't! Oncology are calling me next week to discuss a way forward. I'm going to ask oncologist to prescribe. Else I fear I may never get to trial HRT. Feel free to message me if you would like ,

Oh thanks Blitz. Will do! How do you still have an oncologist? I got kicked out at the 5 year mark!

Debenhams I was kicked out at five years too. When I went to see my GP in January re HRT, she said I’d need to be re referred to oncology. I eventually got an appointment in May, which is when oncologist wrote to the surgery saying if I REALLY wanted to pursue it, then here is my recommendation. GPS aren’t happy!

Do not forget there is the private sector- you can buy expert medical help just like anything else. I am lucky to have had private health insurance for some things but if not, I prioritise health and forgo other things. If you can pay for one appt you can bypass all this nonsense with GPs and see people who will care about you and treat you as a sensible person! (I know not everyone can afford a private appt but compared to what a lot of us spend on clothes, holidays and so on, it's not a fortune.)

I know Jingles. I know . X

I was advised Fluoxitin form hot flushes. I reluctantly took them for three weeks and decided to leave off them. I felt dazed, tired and couldn’t get out of bed!!!!

I hear what you say Jingling. I did see a private GP with an interest in the menopause, back in April. She charged me £250, but I did not come away with HRT. She wanted to hear what oncology had to say first. I have since informed her of the content of his letter and she recommended I return to my GP to make a request. Since I have been told to go away, for the fourth time, I have now emailed private GP to ask her if SHE would prescribe. I am not going to hold my breath. I fear I mauy have to really search far and wide (as you suggested) to find someone who won't treat me as though I am asking for the impossible!

And Blitzen. You must be a similar age to me. It’s shit isn’t it?

@Denenhams, yes frankly it is shit. However, there seem to many women posting, who have not had a diagnosis of BC and are still struggling to get HRT. Out of date information and ill educated GPS. Last GP said HRT was only to be used for 3 years maximun. Jingling, I am sure you would beg to differ? GP said she was my age (late forties) and also menopausal, but chose to suffer the symptoms. Well why would you do that, if you had a choice of trialling some HRT to hopefully help alleviate some of the symptoms? Sorry, makes me feel angry!

Apologies for spelling errors. Feeling particularly annoyed tonight!