Vagifem - depression

[historicalnews]

I started the loading dose of vagifem three days ago for symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy and my mood has really dropped. I think the dose is tiny (?) so it seems very unlikely to have anything to do with the vagifem but just thought I'd ask in case anyone else had experienced the same.
I should say that I've had a history of depression since pnd originally. Most recently I've been fairly stable on ADs for a while.
I'd really like to stick with the vagifem if possible (and also it will be an even lower dose after the initial two weeks (?)) but I do have to be very careful with my mental health and hormones.

Just bumping in case anyone around this evening

It shouldn't. Like you say, the dose is tiny. It's also localised and only works where you put it. It shouldn't be affecting your mental health.

If I were you, I'd keep an eye on things and see if your mental health settles down after the two weeks loading dose.

Thanks @DramaAlpaca for delivering the good common sense advice I was hoping to get here after I stupidly decided to Google and found stories of all sorts of catastrophic side effects !
I know the most likely thing is that the low is coincidental.
Will definitely try and stick it out for the two weeks if poss.

Interestingly I had night sweats through the night last night - which I haven't had for 18 months / 2 years.
It does point to having some kind of reaction to the vagifem but I'd thought this was very unlikely.

It can't be Vagifem. You would need to use it for a whole year to get the equivalent dose of ONE day of HRT.

Isn't this all more likely to be menopausal symptoms?
The vaginal treatment is for one of them, but now at the same time, you're experiencing the others - low mood and night sweats.

Maybe think about how you want to deal with those and see your GP if you want to consider HRT.

Thank you @JinglingSpringbells
Just seems odd that happened at same time when been on for while.
Anyway - get what you are saying about tiny dose

If you were absorbing it, systemically, the estrogen would alleviate those symptoms, not cause them.

That's useful to know - thank you

Think of it like putting Savlon on a cut. It can't affect your mood, but the menopause symptoms can still be untreated.

Vagifem was a huge relief to me - but only in the area it was applied 😉
Eventually, I went onto the tablet Elleste Duet to treat other issues, but I sometimes think about swapping back again.

You can't have both (I asked) 😁

I couldn’t use vagifem or any HRT type stuff even in the tiniest amount. All gave me thrush.

It's not the vagifem. If not caused by external influences, it could be a random dip/fluctuation in your hornones or your thyroid's on the blink?

@Justleaveitblankthen Not sure if I'm reading your post correctly, but have you been told that you can't use vaginal estrogen as well as HRT?

If that's what you mean, it's completely incorrect.

There are 1000s of women using both (including me- for years with a consultant.)

Apologies in advance if I've misunderstood you, but if not, you need to see a different dr who knows what's what!

Thank you everyone for the comments - really appreciated

@jinglingspringbells
Yes, that's exactly what I was told. That I can't have two type of Oestrogen in my body at the same time. I guessed it would because of the cancer risk.
I definitely asked if I could continue with the Vagifem and was told no, not once on the tablet.
I have no issues nor am high risk at all. 🤔

I was told I could have both if I needed it but 'probably wouldn't'.

There is no other way to put it, other than completely incorrect @Justleaveitblankthen

It's just shocking how so many drs are ignorant on this.

I've had both for over 15 years as have other women I know.

You can find medical stats online which sate that 1 in 4 women need and use both.

Go back armed with info if you need it.

Imvaggis 0.03mg pessaries are brilliant - they are moisturising and help with the dryness as well as adding oestrogen. I got thrush like symptoms from vagifem.
I'm allso on oestrogen patches and you can of course be prescribed both of these at once

Do they have hormones in them?

Yes oestrogen

You absolutely can use Vagifem + HRT. Several of my friends have done for years. I also happen to know my current GP does.

Hiya I've started taking vagifem on it now 4 days and feel it's not working as I still feel my insides and under pressure and peeing a lot does it take some time for it to work also when I work out I get pains also is this normal or not

Stick with it, @Bonnie00 , it'll probably take a bit longer

I am the same with Ovestin OP, can't get past 4/5 days, I feel really awful on it. I've tried 5 times now. I've given up now.

I find it extremely patronising to be told it can't possibly be the reason. Only happens on MN, other menopause sites have women experiencing similar issues.

Thanks needed some clarification that I'm not going Nuts

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor I don't know if this helps but I spoke to my practice nurse who has a special interest in menopause / HRT.
She said that although it's tiny doses she has had other people affected originally by vagifem / Ovestin. Her view is that where vaginal atrophy has been untreated for a while - there is potentially significant skin damage and this means that more of the vagifem enters the blood stream.
Once the skin starts to heal then the side effects reduce.
This is what happened with me so it seems to make sense.