Fluoxetine with HRT

[pingpongding]

I'm on 20mg of fluoxetine. It works brilliantly for me. Can I take HRT with it? Anyone experience of this?

Ring the pharmacy on Monday to check but if there would be an issue it would have been flagged up when your prescriptions were issued.

You can with a 'but'.
Dr Louise Newson says that if women are using ADs for meno type anxiety etc they should really try HRT first (it is in the NICE guidance, too, that HRT is the first line treatment) and maybe they won't need ADs.

I've not asked for HRT yet. Making an appointment so just enquiring if this has been an issue for anyone

Ah, did a bit of googling and all looks fine and you can take both.

Was just a bit worried as it's working so well for me that I'd hate to change it

I’ve been on 20mg of fluoxetine for anxiety brought on by menopause for a few years now. I’ve also just been prescribed HRT patches for bone health. My GP didn’t see a problem with taking both.

It won't be an issue in terms of safety but if you choose to take HRT you won't necessarily feel the full benefits if you are also taking ADs for the same symptoms.

If your GP prescribed ADs for moods/ anxiety etc starting with peri, that's going against NICE guidance. Their wording is very strong that SSRIs are not to be offered to women in peri for psychological issues.

I'm on fluoxetine for long term depression not anxiety or flashes

I’m on HRT and sertraline. The HRT is amazing for the physical stuff but did nothing for me for the anxiety and low mood. Adding the sertraline has been life changing.

I'm on hrt and fluoxetine, started fluoxetine about 8 weeks ago to help with night sweats and low in mood, alongside hrt, it has helped

It is surprising that GPs are still giving ADs for meno symptoms when NICE said in 2015 they shouldn't. I don't know anyone's medical history but NICE have a very clear pathway (online ) for GPs to follow.

It says HRT should be 'tweaked' (increased or decreased) to control symptoms if it's not working at the current dosage. Other treatment should not be offered before this has been done.

I'm not blaming women here, at all, but it's odd that GPs don't seem up to speed and specialist are trying very very hard to get GPs to listen.

Yes, I took it with HRT for at least a decade.