HRT anxiety and low mood

[Twoshoesnewshoes]

I’m taking Elleste Duet and just starting month three.
ive noticed that I am getting some anxiety and low mood a few days in to the progesterone phase. I’m on the lowest dose.

I have had anxiety for decades and had previously finally managed it through self awareness and citalopram! I really don’t want to go back to feeling overwhelmed by anxiety every day.

should I stick with the HRT, will it ease?
TBH the benefits are not remarkable so I would be ok to come off it.
Thanks.

Anyone? It is just me?…

Hi there, I started Evorel conti 4 months ago. I have suffered anxiety for many years too, the last couple of years have been very stressful at home. I have a medical condition which is causing issues so I’m not sure if my increased anxiety is a result of the hrt but I came here to search for other people suffering the same with hrt. In the last month my anxiety has gone through the roof, it’s absolutely horrific. Also coinciding with bleeding after no periods for 5 years (since starting mini pill). Is anxiety a side effect of hrt anyone??

I’m not an expert, but I don’t think it’s a known common side effect, no. But if you are in perimenopause, our hormones will go up and down a lot even when on HRT, and anxiety is a symptom of that swing up and down. HRT can help it, but as your natural hormones are still fluctuating it Can still happen. It also might be that your HRT isn’t right. I would expect that you’d be feeling those symptoms of anxiety even if you weren’t taking HRT, but if it gets worse on it it’s not necessarily the HRT. It could happen anyway.

I was on Elleste Duet for a while and the Dr made a joke about how people hate the progesterone phase and sometimes skip it - and instructed me not to do that!

It was a reference to what you are talking about - a sort of PMS type reaction.

It's very common @Twoshoesnewshoes but there are other options.

A lot of women have to try 2, 3 or 4 different types to get the best one.

Although you say you aren't feeling any benefits, it depends on what your symptoms are/ reasons for starting HRT.

They may get worse the older/ further into meno you go as your own estrogen drops more.

Also, tablet form of HRT is now considered old fashioned (higher risk of blood clots) and most specialists prefer women to be on patches, or esrogen gel+ a progesterone.

Femoston (it is a tablet form) is closer to our own natural progesterone, or you have the option of gel or estrogen-only patches, and micronised progesterone (capsules.)

Worth talking to your dr about all of these?

Thank you, yes I’ll go back to my GP, she’s very helpful.
My anxiety was successfully managed for the past couple of years by Citalopram so I didn’t have significant ups and downs until the HRT.
incidentally @Em308 i went away last week and forgot my HRT so just didn’t take it- anxiety lowered noticeably after a few days! I haven’t gone back on it yet.