Anxiety, obsessive behaviour seems worse after using HRT patches

[dogseggs]

I'm at my wits end and wondered if it's connected to my HRT treatment or just an unlucky coincidence? I've been using patches since summer 2019. There have been some positives: no more night sweats and hot flushes and my joint pains have eased significantly.

However, my mental state has deteriorated quite badly. I'm on edge most of the time, have started having obsessive thoughts and have become reckless with spending money when in the past I have been very good at managing finances. I've started to hate where I live because of things going on in my neighbourhood, petty things that in the past would have been a bit annoying, but which now send me in a rage (luckily I haven't acted on any of this yet, I am well aware that it is my problem!) I'm stressed about everything and am also suffering from bruxism.its got so bad that my teeth have started breaking. It's horrible.

I'm scared of what's happened to my mental health, and I don't like the person I'm turning into. I have suffered from depression in the past, but this feels different. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not as it has been a difficult few months with work and family problems (some bereavements, family illness, job insecurity) but nothing out of the ordinary for an average woman in her 50s.

Does anyone have any experience of this, and any suggestions of what could help? I'm reluctant to go back on SSRIs because of the teeth clenching but if that's the way to go I'll consider it. Many thanks.

It could be quite a simple solution- maybe it's the type of HRT that you need to change. Many women react badly to the type of progestogen in some HRT, especially Norethisterone.

It can create mood swings.

What sort are you using ?

I did wonder about that. I'm using Evorel Conti patches so I am getting progestogen. I mentioned it to my GP when I had my review a couple of months ago but she didn't seem to think it would have an effect and told me the patches should be helping my moods. Hmm. Time for another visit I think.
Are there treatments that don't affect moods so badly? I'm very happy not to be suffering from hot flushes any more.

I have used hrt for 12 years and never changed to a continuous type.

(Your GP is talking rubbish by the way....loads of women are affected by continuous types of hrt and especially Norethisterone.)

I use a sequential sort which does give a withdrawal bleed (which is a pain, yes) but it's better for me than using a continuous type with progestogen daily. I see a consultant by the way, a very good meno specialist.

My advice is you swap to sequential, either the same brand you use now, if available, or another type of sequential patch.

The other option is to use estrogen on its own- patch or estrogen gel- and the progestogen as a separate item for 12 days per cycle ( Utrogestan is the trend at the moment as it's natural progesterone.)

My advice

My GP looked at me with tilted head and said 'its not all about hormones you know, you have a very stressful job'. She did however.alter my prescription and I have been fine since. Still doing my stressful job. We know ourselves best.

Thank you both.
Jingling that's really useful to know. I've made another GP appointment so will tell her I want to come off the continuous progesteron. I'm sure I'm reacting badly to it.

Eva that's exactly it. We are old enough to know what's going on and when something isn't right! Glad to hear it can improve. I can't continue like this, it's awful.