Venalflaxine

[Runaround50]

Does anyone take for menopausal anxiety?

I’m post menopausal and just starting my third HRT regime ( femeston Conti tablet), I’m under a MENOPAUSE SPECIALIST but cannot shake off the anxiety, which frankly is really getting on my nerves now.

I’ve been taking amitriptyline for sleep ( another menopausal issue) but don’t think the 20mg I take, will help anxiety?

So, I’m wondering about venalflaxine, The specialist mentioned it to me at my appointment last week and basically said that an anti anxiety med might help, whilst I get my hormones under better control.

Any positive experiences of this drug please?

Thanks.

I’m not a medical professional, but I’m surprised venlafaxine was offered as a first line treatment for anxiety. Have you ever been offered propropanol? Or an SSRI?

My experience with venlafaxine was for depression. I didn’t get on with it at all. It made my anxiety worse and it felt like I’d been drugged. I felt very spacey and jittery.
That’s just me, though. And I wasn’t menopausal at the time.

I’m perimenopausal now and take fluoxetine for my terrible PMT (works well) and propropanol as needed for anxiety )also helps a lot).

I think the medical advice is to try whichever type of HRT for 3 months, then reassess.

Have it been suggested that you try other things for your anxiety, such as CBT, yoga or mindfulness alongside your HRT?

Thanks both.
I do have propranolol for ‘ situational ‘ anxiety, but it doesn’t do much much ( 40mg.

The three which were mentioned to me were venlafaxine, sertraline and citalopram. I have never taken these drugs before, but I feel at a bit of a crossroads with it all now.

Jingling, I started on sandrena, them pump gel, followed by patch and didn’t absorb well from any.

Specialist suggested oral as a trial. I’m going to give it the three months, but do feel rather PMTish right now.

Thanks

P.s jingling m, I try hard to practice relaxation methods, but this is the kind of stomach knotted anxiety which bubbles away all day.

I've been on venlafaxine for 16 or 17 years and it has been a massive help to me in dealing with anxiety and depression, however it is a total pig of a drug to ever come off again. I'm kind of content in keeping on taking it forever as it massively improves my quality of life but if you thing you'd only want to be on it for a while I'd suggest another antidepressant.

Avoid Venlafaxin like the plaque.
I'm on it & wish I had never started it, if you miss one dose then the withdrawal symptoms start immediately- spaced out, dizzy, sick, headaches etc.

It really isn’t a first line drug for anxiety, OP, and as PPs have mentioned, withdrawal is protracted. The side effects while on it are pretty grim too. It’s a second line antidepressant.
Sertraline is more commonly prescribed for anxiety where a beta blocker has been insufficient. It is also an antidepressant, but is usually better tolerated than Venlafaxine.

@Runaround50

P.s jingling m, I try hard to practice relaxation methods, but this is the kind of stomach knotted anxiety which bubbles away all day.

There are some very good things online about CBT and also some great self-help books on managing anxiety- eg the 'Dumbies' books!

CBT is not actually relaxation, it's more about addressing the feelings and dealing with them.

There is also the app Headspace.

You say you tried gel etc.

What progesterone were you using?

Utrogestan by any chance? or Norethisterone?

If it was the former, and you used it daily, some women find it's not helpful.

Has your consultant explained that to avoid the moods and low feelings it can bring, you can use it vaginally instead of orally?

What level of training does your specialist have? Are they are consultant gynaecologist with menopause training?

Jingling, I’ve seen Paula Briggs ( Liverpool) and I was also under Chelsea and Westminster. I tolerate utrogestan very well and suspect it’s the progesterone in femeston conti which is causing the PMT? I only switched to oral because I wasn’t absorbing transdermal very well. I am quite happy with utrogestan. Maybe an oestrogen only tablet with utrogestan would suit better?

I’ve been advised against taking large doses of O, as I’ve had breast cancer in the past.

Will think again re the anti anxiety drugs and how to manage.

I don’t want to become dependent, bye do need to manage it somehow.

Have you tried an estrogen patch on its own?

The progestin in Femoston is dydrogesterone which is supposedly very similar to micronised progesterone. It's supposedly (!) well-tolerated.

The other option you might look into is using these on a cyclical basis rather than a daily basis.

I am many years post meno and still use Utrogestan cyclically (on a cycle longer than the standard 4 weeks) as I didn't get on with it daily, and didn't like using it vaginally every day. (irritation.)

Yes jingling I was on evorel 75/100 for a king time. Still very symptomatic after 15 months and recent bloods showed O at 88.

I will try to persevere with the femeston and see where I get to.

Thanks again.

@JinglingHellsBells do you know anything about BIJUVA?
Another combined Oestrogen and progesterone HRT apparently.

I have taken venlafaxine for many years due to anxiety. I do not think I would be here without them. I was still having periods at 56 and had a hysterectomy for fibroids. I feel as the venlafaxine helps me with menopausal systems x

[quote Runaround50]@JinglingHellsBells do you know anything about BIJUVA?
Another combined Oestrogen and progesterone HRT apparently.[/quote]
I'd never heard of it until you posted. A quick look online seems to show it's a combo of estrogen and progesterone.

Is it even available in the UK?

It's a US website and product.

I might have asked this before, but did you use Utrogestan vaginally to avoid any mood issues with it?

Has anyone suggested why you can't absorb transdermal estrogen?
Have you had guidance on exactly how and where to apply, and also perhaps to try exfoliating your skin where you apply gel or stick a patch?
Did you try applying the gel to both/ either your inner thighs or upper arms? Did you smooth it on and not rub it in too much?