venlafaxine as well as HRT

[catgotyourbrain]

Help!
I'm 47. Started getting hot flushes, severe dizziness, palpitations, vertigo etc in March. have been on 4 pumps of estrogel and 1 progesterone caplet a day (no periods for ten years as had Mirena so no clue where I am with that). Also went on Fluoxetine as anxiety and panic attacks. Thing is; HRT only knocked the edge off symptoms. I am literally lying down when I get home from work, and lying down any chance I can all weekend. I am so tired. I have this horrible feeling of pulsing and throbbing heat all the time, I feel like I can breathe perfectly well but sometimes I feel like taking large breaths as I am not feeling the benefits of normal breaths (I cant explain any other way). I know I don't have reflux or breathing problems. It's an external sensation rather than sharp heat. But it floors me all day long.

Not to drip feed but LOTS going on in life and I am the lynchpin for the whole family. I work 3 days, have 81 year old DM living with us, have 3x teenagers and a husband. DS15 suicidal thoughts and about to go to CAMHS, DS2 & 3 ok and needs attention of course. Am also: project managing build of annnexe so DM can live next door, and managing me and DHs business that has been shot to pieces by Covid.

If you've read this far hooray.

Anyway I sae the nurse practitioner yesterday and they have swapped Fluoxetine for venlafaxine. I understand this works slightly differently and is also used for menopause in women who can't have HRT. So I am on both now.

Anyone at all any experience with venlafaxine???

I'm sorry OP but day after day women post here having been given ADs instead of HRT, or in your case, both.

If you read stuff online, especially that by Dr Louise Newson on ADs /HRT you will see they rarely help and can make things worse.

I suggest you insist on seeing a menopause specialist.
Your periods stopped at 37.

That is classed as a premature menopause.
You need a bone density scan as you have been without estrogen for 10 years and are still years off the age of the average menopause in the UK (51.) You need your bones checking for osteoporosis. HRT will help but you need a baseline to see what's going on.

It also sounds as if stress in day to day life is causing the issues you are having. You might want to think about CBT or even counselling as you are carrying far too much in terms of your family responsibilities. Bluntly, you don't need drugs, you need help at home, get your DH to take on more, or find ways to manage your mental health with everything going on in your life.

Thanks for the advice. I had twins at 35 and then a mirena coil, so I haven’t been in menopause for ten years- the coil stopped my periods- and thank god because they used to floor me for four days a month with pain before having kids (only really realised how awful it had been when I got pregnant and it was a relief!).

ADs have saved my sanity on several occasions over the years, and mow more than ever I need to get through this. I will be pressing for referral though now.