Coming off HRT

[Ahl134]

My GP has decided I need to come off HRT as my blood pressure is high and this plus HRT increases the likelihood of stroke.

I've been on HRT for a few years and ,until recently, it has successfully helped with brain fog, mood swings, aches and pains, insomnia and flushes. Flushes are now a problem again.

I can understand the GPs thinking, but worried that coming off HRT will mean that all the symptoms of menopause will return.

Has anyone come off of HRT and successfully managed the symptoms in another way?

Thanks in advance for any help and support you can give.

This is not how HRT and high BP is meant to be managed. Yet another GP not knowing the basics.

The medical advice for HRT and high BP is to treat the high BP as a separate issue. That can be with drugs and or lifestyle changes ( ie- exercise, weight loss, diet.)

Is your BP always high or was it a single reading?

have you had a 24 hr BP assessment (using a device at home?)

What type of HRT are you on?
Only pill form increases clotting risk. Other transdermal types don't.

Your GP should a) treat your BP and b) swap you to a transdermal type.

This is the guidance for GPs on HRT and high BP.

Your GP needs to work within this.

www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=120913983

Thanks for the info. I was in pill form of hrt but got switched a few months back to transdermal because of the apparent risk.

Blood pressure was fine up until the last year, and I've started on medication to reduce it. It has come down but it's still high.

Think I'll chat to another GP and see what they think. Transdermal are making a bit of headway on reducing the flushes (only been on them for three months) and all other symptoms of menopause are still away. Transdermal is definitely working so far.

I did have a few high readings of blood pressure a few years ago, and was given a 24 hour monitor. BP was fine with that so no concerns then.

Most recent BP is consistently high readings.

Yeah,different GP I think. Thank you!

Apart from drugs for your BP, are you exercising and increasing fibre intake to get your BP down? Lots of advice on the UK Blood Pressure website. The thing is, it becomes a vicious circle: HRT makes a lot of women feel better, able to sleep better and exercise more. Being tired through lack of sleep is a very big health risk in itself. So it's about finding the right balance between using HRT, treating high BP and feeling well enough to exercise (and get the health benefits from that.)