I started hrt last December (8 weeks ago) as one of several approaches to deal with anxiety/panic disorder. I have had anxiety/depression my whole adult life and been on anti depressants almost continuously. They work well for me and I am a confident, capable person most of the time. Anyway I won't go into the whole story, but I gave up my part time teaching job last October as I was getting so stressed, and after a few weeks of feeling a bit better I had some family issues which sent me into a spiral. Because of my age (49), and significant ante/postnatal anxiety and depression, I wondered if there may be a hormonal element so made an appt with one of Dr Naomi Potters colleagues, who was great and suggested trying me on just estradot 50 for the first month, then the second month (now) adding in the utrogestan 2x100 vaginally. I didn't really have any other perimenopause symptoms, still fairly regular periods. I was also referred to the psychiatrist and spent some time as an inpatient. I have been feeling great since my increase in ADs kicked in. I haven't really felt that the estradot has done anything ? Anyway now that it's time to start the utrogestan I think that actually I'm not ready to add something else to the mix (antidepressants, olanzapine (major tranquiliser), propanalol and lorazapam ( I rarely use this now). My psychiatrist and I were planning on trying to reduce the short term drugs over the next few weeks as I've been doing really well.
So, sorry to give such a rambling introduction, but what would be the best way to reduce the estradot, and do you think I will get side effects from doing so? I have been on the patches for 2 months, no utrogestan used yet. I have a follow up phone call from the meno specialist tomorrow but am in a bit of a state so thought I would ask you helpful people too!!