Can you just stop HRT or need to wean off it?

[WeeMadArthur1]

I’m 49 and went to the doctor as I was feeling a bit anxious, not sleeping that well and also grinding my teeth. I wasn’t sure if it was perimenopause or stress (work/life has been quite stressful lately). The doctor said to try HRT and if it gets better on that then we know it is menopause related, and if it doesn’t improve it might be just general stress.

So I’ve been using Sandrena gel for nearly three months now and haven’t noticed any difference at all, if anything I feel a little bit more anxious. So I think it probably must be just the stressful things I’m going through rather than menopause. So can I just stop the HRT when I run out? Or do I need to cut down gradually (I’m only on the lowest dose - 0.5mg)? Or will I need to go back to the doctor to tell/ask them?

The more I think about it I don’t think the symptoms were that bad, I think I just felt as though I ‘should’ take HRT for some reason, to prevent other things going wrong.

After only 3 months you can just stop.

Are you using progesterone alongside the gel?
If you are, you need to have a final withdrawal bleed, so complete the month's cycle, then stop it all.

The only time to reduce it gradually is if someone has used it for years. They need to stop slowly as there can be a rebound effect of heart/ blood clots issues.

Thank you, that's good to know. I think I just won't renew the prescription then.

I have the Mirena coil which I understand works as the progesterone. I've used that since DS2 was born and haven't had a period since, so I presume I don't need to worry about that until it needs replacing.

Really easy for you then!

Just bear in mind that it's 3 months minimum to feel better (on hrt) for some women so don't necessarily give it up for good if you feel rotten again. It could be that after 4 months you felt some improvement. You can always try again.

Mirena lasts for 4 years as hrt.

Have you tried upping the amount of gel you use? I am on oestrogel and didn't feel any difference at 1 or 2 pumps but felt a real change at 3.

@2anddone same here. But I started on patches of 50. Went to 100 and all night sweats stopped and I stopped crying all the time.

I've not tried upping the dose. I presume I'd just have to apply more than one sachet per day to do this? But I do think I feel slightly worse on it so thinking of stopping, but just wanted to check it wouldn't be bad to suddenly stop. I don't want to feel more anxious by stopping.

Very very few women use 0.5 mgs dose- it's tiny.

The usual dose (for all tablets) is 1mgs.
2 pumps of gel which is the normal (starting) dose is 1.5 mgs (Although its best to start on 1 pump and build up.)

The most likely reason you feel no different is the low dose.
Most women would be using 2 sachets of 0.5mgs or 1 sachet of 1mgs Sandrena.

That's interesting. I wonder why they gave me such a low dose.