Has your anxiety/depression improved on HRT?

[Iloveautumncolours]

I’ve had a life long history of anxiety and have had depression on/off throughout my adulthood but since hitting the age of 45 (now 50) I just can not begin to explain how bad my anxiety has become, it’s daily and completely controlling me no matter what I do to try and elevate it. This anxiety is having huge implications on my physical health too.
As is the story with many woman, I have struggled to get any gp to acknowledge that I may be perimenopausal let alone prescribe me hrt but I am getting to the point that I need something and antidepressants just don’t agree with me, even though my gp pushes and pushes these onto me.
Has anyone found a relief in their mental health issues since being on HRT? And does anyone know exactly how it helps? I’ve heard that progesterone is very low at this age and it is known as the calming hormone?

I had the coil removed for other reasons but whilst I had it in my anxiety became so bad it ended up that I was off work and on tranquillisers! I then settled back to being perfectly fine for several years until peri kicked in. HRT has eased it back to being manageable again.

Im on HRT for this very reason. On month 2 but hasn't made much of a difference yet other than I feel horrific on the progersterone but.

Following with interest.

@Iloveautumncolours absolutely, all the menopause related anxiety has gone, though if you do have some underlying anxiety you can’t actually tell before starting hrt how much of the symptoms it will get rid of.

From what you have said I would expect that once on the right dose you will feel so much more in control

My days unfortunately are getting progressively worse, am anxious every minute of the day and it's effecting my sleep, hrt has definitely made me feel worse..but am confused as to which part but reading these post points me to the coil which if is true I need to get it removed ASAP and explore other options as I feel I'm going mad 😢

Came here to post something similar.

5 weeks into HRT and while anger has some improvement, my depression, anxiety and utter inability to cope with life has got worse. I'm not sleeping - it's rare I am asleep before 3.30/4am and the worst restless legs. GP gave me some diazepam but that isn't helping.

If hrt is going to help it might be 6-9 weeks on the right dose. My gp would not review me for 12 weeks as it can take that long to reach effect. You may need to wait longer or try a higher dose

@justteanbiscuits high strength magnesium works for sleeplessness and restless legs.

I'm under a consultant for it due to medical history and have an appointment with him in 2 weeks. I just feel like everything is falling apart at the seams right now. I had reduced long term antidepressant down to low dose, but think I need to call GP tomorrow about increasing it.

I have tried magnesium oil on my legs - but will order a bottle of supplements and see how that goes.

I've now booked an appointment with a menopause specialist as my gp today told me it couldn't possibly be hrt side effects and if its bothering Me take patch off and coil will be fine as that has no side effects either then asked if I've tried ADs🙁oh dear not helpful.

How are you all doing? I'm thinking of coming off my HRT as it simply isn't helping the crippling anxiety that was my main issue

In the end I have gone private to see a menopause specialist and she was a huge help..the relief was huge...I've had to take stemitil to curb the nausea and it's working well and seems to have calmed me also..I'm now on gel rather than patches to find correct level and being prescribed testosterone also for the extra boost I'm hoping now that this is the start of feeling much better..

It's highly likely you're sensitive to the progesterone in the Mirena. It's simply not true that all the progesterone stays only in your cervix and womb. Some of it strays into your system and if you're progesterone intolerant it will cause problems, often severe. I spent time in the USA and intolerance to the progesterone in the Mirena is far more widely accepted over there. An American nurse practitioner advised me against having the Mirena because of my history of PMDD and also PND. She explained that Norethisterone, which is the synthetic progesterone in the Mirena, was likely to trigger feelings of constant PMDD.

I still decided to go ahead and have the Mirena and within a week I felt dreadful, so uptight almost hysterical, but also very low mood. Like you I thought I was going mad, I could barely function. I persevered with it for a couple of months but it was a terrible time for me and I started having suicidal ideation. The nurse practitioner insisted she remove the Mirena and within a few days I felt so much better and calmer.

It's levenorgestrel in the mirena, not norethistone. But agree, some synthetic hormones can make women feel terrible.

I'm so pleased to have found this thread - although not that you are all struggling.
There is nowhere near enough research / info for women who have had mental health problems previously and then hit menopause.

I think it is a problem definitely...and do not think gps are up to date at all..I've heard women been referred to physio, or given ADs with out seeing the real problem, I was told myself to pretty much get a grip and get on...but the menopause clinic was amazing and made me feel so much better about the whole thing, I think it really helps when someone confirms your not going mad and they point out the things your over thinking which is a huge fault of mine.

@chittyshittyohffs has the magnesium helped with the anxiety

@Preciousm I'm glad you've got some good advice now. My panic/anxiety doesn't seem to be based on anything in particular or specific thoughts. It's just 'there' and very physical.

@Touty did you come off antidepressants when they stopped working or have you started another to go along with the HRT?

@kizziee I know what you mean. I'm not actually 'worried' about anything. I just feel physically panicked, it's wierd.

Not sure how long to give the HRT as most people seem to be 'cured' in a few days or
Weeks and I'm 2
Months in and pretty much the same (apart from bigger boobs!) 🙄🙄

Yes, that's just how I am,, havnt tried magnesium but have been advised to take vitamin d and omega 3 by consultant...
She also explained that if anxiety existed before menopause will heighten it... maybe for me it's just a case of getting used to hrt and then things will calm down..I am still hopeful

@kizziee im still taking the same antidepressant and now I think they are working again, my Dr said they stopped working because my oestrogen was low, apparently we have oestrogen receptors in our brain.

Thank you for all the answers. @Touty which ad are you taking ?
I've been on an old tricyclic for many years and had been really well on a low dose until 4 months when had a horrible relapse. An increase in the dose hasn't helped and so it doesn't seem to be working anymore. The dr has advised trying a switch to sertraline but im worried about combination of withdrawal and starting a new one when im already feeling so bad. She has also advised trying to get things a bit calmer before introducing HRT in case I react badly to it. I'm fully in menopause for a couple of years and she is very pro HRT so I wouldn't have any problems getting it then.

@kizziee im on venlafaxine. I’ve also taken Prozac before which I got on well with.

Yes, it has helped with my anxiety and particularly insomnia a lot.