Citalopram & Peri-Menopausal

[FoggyMeno]

Looking for advice, Ive been on HRT from Mirena coil and oestrogen gel, for last 12mths but symptoms been getting a lot worse over last 3-months. Saw GP today who along with upping my dosage of oestrogen suggested I think about taking Anti-depressant Citalopram to help with brain fog and anxiety. I said I’d think about it but I’m really sceptical having read the side-effects! They are everything I’ve already got. I’m already doing a lot exercise and made dietary changes so struggling to see how they would help? Anyone else tried them? I got The feeling the GP really wasn’t “fobbing” me off just thought it may help in a long list of things to try..

Anyone?

I really wish they could get every GP in the country and as well as bashing their heads together get them trained by a menopause expert. This is happening (not the head bashing) but the training, but very slowly.

Rant over.

ADs etc are not advised for peri and menopause. NICE states they 'have no place in treatment'.

This was in the NICE menopause guidelines in 2015 (you can easily read it- all online.)

GPs are supposed to have read & digested those guidelines.

It sounds as if you need to increase you gel- you can go to 4 pumps. How many do you use now? try using 3 for a month or so then 4 if needed.

The Mirena coil does get some of its progestin into your system, so it may be that the estrogen at the moment is 'battling' with the downside progestin often have. If that doesn't work, consider removing the Mirena and using a sequential type of progestin, like Utrogestan for part of each month.

A meno trained and recognized gynae prescribed me ADs for pms. Having read the side effects, I refused to take them. I’ve been on high strength starflower ooil and St. John’s wort with black cohosh tablets for about 6 weeks and this is the first time in a couple of years, I finally feel emotionally stable in the two weeks before a period. It’s worth a try. I also do a lot of yoga and that may have helped too.

Be careful @usernamealreadyexists. Some herbs and supplements are toxic (black cohosh can affect the liver, as can SJW) and BC should not be used long term.

Star flower has no effect at all on menopause stuff. Royal College of Gynaes published and advice booklet some years ago which reviewed all research on all of this.

BC helped hot flushes a bit, but not a lot and it is toxic sometimes.

Thanks jingling. Yes I’m aware of the risk to the liver. All I know is that I feel human again after a long period of pms.

Thank you for both your comments. I’m going with my instincts and not taking ADs. and will continue trying other ways to manage the symptoms. My GP did say increase from 2pumps to 3pumps, with a max 4pumps if needed. So I’m going to see if that helps.