Medication and menopause

[1971ang]

I had a heart attack June 2017 and take asprin, atorvastatin and ramipril. I'm going through the menopause, having hot flushes, night sweats and memory loss. I've been advised against taking HRT, the doc prescribed Venlafaxine but it made me feel very nauseous. Various friends have suggested different holistic remedies but having researched them they are not advised either. Any suggestions of what menopausal women are taking to cobat the symptoms would be gratefully received. Thanks Angie

[Latchmead]

I take exactly the same medication as you except the venlafaxine. I'm 55 and suffering all the usual menopause symptoms. I cant go on HRT either. I suffer with SVT which was triggered by a spike in a menopause hormone. Because I have never smoked and I don't drink alcohol they really looked into what caused my heart attack. You could ask to be referred to a specialist who deals with hormones Endocrinologists. They exist and hopefully will be able to help you. Good luck

[Hidden]

Hi Angie, the menopause on top of everything else. How long you been going through the menopause? Have you tried apple cide vinegar, 2 tablespoon in little warm water and teaspoonful of pure honey, in morning and night, it helps with things we have to go through at this time, good luck.

[1971ang in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I'll give that a try. I came off the 28 day pill May 2017 and expected my periods to return but they didn't so I don't know how long I have been menopausal. I had my heart attack in June of that year and the hot flushes started that summer. Thanks for replying.

[wiltsgirl]

Hi I was taking HRT before I had my bypass in 2018 and was told I had to stop taking it. After a lot of research and advice from my GP & consultants I’m on a small dose of HRT in tablet form. I tried patches they just fell off. I think you can try HRT in gel or patch form but I’m no Dr. Maybe try speaking to a specialist. Best of luck xx

[Prada47]

Hi

My wife has used patches and when they started to be in short supply switched to a gel brand name is CEstogel hope that helps

Regards

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi 1971ang

We had a discussion a couple of weeks ago about taking HRT after a heart attack.

Here's a link to the thread

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

[1971ang in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks very much

[Alison_L]

Hi ang. I had my heart attack in 2018, 7 months after I passed my menopause(!), but as soon as they started me on the drug cocktail, my hot flushes and sweats came back. I eventually got used to putting up with them, but last year switched my Ramipril to Candesartan (because of other side effects) and essentially all the "menopausal"-type side effects have gone.

[1971ang in reply to Alison_L]

Hi Alison, that's very interesting, I'll look into that! Thanks

[Harls in reply to Alison_L]

Yep ... me too! Was having real problems with menopausal symptoms and feeling very anxious with mood swings. Came off Ramipril (with agreement from GP) and all that has gone! It is listed that Ramipril can cause anxiety.

[Hidden]

Hi, I had a congenital heart defect rather than heart attack, and am obvs not a doctor, so unsure how useful...

Just before I found out about my heart defect, I’d talked with doc re menopause and chose the Gel version of HRT, because it is thought to cause less risk of blood clots than tablets. My major symptoms were massive depression & anxiety, and a combo of gel HRT and counselling made a huge difference.

Once the cardiologists then got going with me, they didn’t seem concerned re HRT. Even when taking warfarin to prevent clots after open heart surgery, no cardio folks seemed to mind about HRT.

For me it’s not “just” a quality of life question (no I’m not dismissing that, rather I’m adding on to it...). I don’t think I’d have coped mentally at all, with heart surgery & recovery, a family bereavement & redundancy in the same year, if I hadn’t had my hormones at least a bit stabilised. And without stable hormones, I probably wouldn’t have had the oomph for cardio rehab. The hormones also reduced my palpitations a bit. I think the stress hormone (cortisol) impact of menopause actually triggered an escalation of my heart symptoms (that thankfully got me diagnosed) - so I’m guessing heart issues might actually be worsened by menopause.....?

Sorry this isn’t HA experience. Maybe if the cardiologist can explain specifically what they’re worried about re HRT (clots? Something else?), you’ll have info to assess if there is a type or dosage of HRT that is acceptable. Good luck.

[Melliesissy]

Hi,

I take tablets called Menopause Support containing soy, magnesium & hibiscus from A.Vogel. no warnings for heart patients. You can add their sage tabkets for flushes. Magnesium is prescribed by a heart doctor in york. There has been a link on here before. He explains why and which form of magnesium helps heart patients on you tube. I thought it interesting that it is in the menopause support tablets too. These tablets have really squashed my flushes and joint pain and less palpitations. I also have soya milk for breakfast, it tops up your oestregen levels. Hope this helps.

[Deniseelk]

Check out an Instagram site menopause_doctor.... great advice, informed, relevant!

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Another option is to be referred to a Menopause specialist.

I would also suggest that before you consider taking any supplements or herbs you discuss this with your doctor.

Herbal remedies and supplements do not have to tested for safety in the same way as conventional medications.

I hope you are able to get the best advice and treatment that suits you best.

It is ultimately about your quality of life and only you can judge what a good quality of life is for you