Addback HRT or Antidepressants?

[Sunset-lady]

Hi, I'm currently on zoladex week 3 of my first injection. I'm on addback HRT of estrogen gel 2 pumps per day and body identical utrogestan progesterone- one per day. Mentally I'm pretty good. I've not had any side effects yet and believe thus is due to the HRT and perhaps the fact that it hasn't totally started working yet. Physically I'm not so good as I'm bleeding a lot! I started at 1am on Thursday night and it just won't stop. I know that zoladex stimulates everything first so I was expecting this but I am worried that due to the HRT I'm on, it might not stop at all. If I stop the HRT I'm ill almost immediately. My mental health plummets and I cannot cope. I end up in bed. I'm supposed to have another injection at the end of this month but received a letter yesterday saying it will be 9th February 42 days after the first. I'm trying to get an earlier appointment at the hospital (they won't do it at my GP) but they are saying that there's nothing available. This means I'll be bleeding by then as the effects of the first implant will have worn off. Has anyone else had this issue?My second question is: has anyone come off HRT because of bleeding and found anti depressants work better for mood? I've started to consider this route if the bleeding doesn't stop. I'm starting to be unable to manage all of this. I'm off work today and I feel anaemic again. I'm so fed up of all the blood. I've spent £50 on sanitary pads this month.

[Moon_maiden]

Hi

I’d contact the consultant and let them know about the date and bleeding, that’s a lot to spend on sanitary towels, the bleeding must be awful.

I was told it had to be 28 days, but I was lucky and they did it at the GP surgery.

It might be the HRT is wrong, you may only need one oestrogen, worth getting consultants advice.

[Sunset-lady in reply to Moon_maiden]

Hi, I've been speaking to people all day to try to get it at my local GP practice. I think they'll give me the go ahead but I'm just waiting to hear from them. I've tried dropping to one pump before Christmas and it ruined all of Christmas as I was depressed, angry, paranoid and just mental. I hate it which is why I'm considering anti depressants. Thanks for replying x

[Moon_maiden in reply to Sunset-lady]

🤞 they do, less stressful.

Before you go for antidepressants ask for a blood test to check hormones, thyroid, vit d etc., worth getting a better picture first. Hope you get things balanced soon

[Lindle]

As you will be just past the flare effect your hormones should start to settle now. Unfortunately there will be no point in them delaying the next injection so long as it’s intended to be a continuous medication as you’ll know. It would just take you back to square 1 I think the recommendation is no more than 3 days or so either way.

There’ll be no point in having hormones checked either as the results aren’t going to be reliable at the moment.

You are clearly very sensitive to chemical changes - many with endo are. The effects of hormones was my worst symptom by far. I think adding in another chemical to the mix by way of anti depressants might just tip the balance yet more.

Can I ask why you are on zoladex as it should just be for pain?

[Sunset-lady in reply to Lindle]

It's for constant bleeding. I have adenomyosis, stage 4 endo and multiple fibroids and blood in my fallopian tubes (can't remember the name of that one) and a chocolate cyst on left ovary. They need to "shut it down" was the expression used. I've been bleeding for so long.

[HavanaMum]

hi

I had sertraline for my moods through the menopause and it worked far better for me as I’m also v v sensitive to hormones

[moonghost]

I had a heavy period 3 weeks after my first Zoladex implant/started taking add back Tibolone the same time - if you’ve just ovulated when you get it, it’s inevitable, but even then it takes longer than you might think for the Zoladex to fully take effect. I doubt it is the add back HRT.

I also take anti-depressants, and have had minimal mental side effects from Zoladex. Even though I’ve had terrible mental responses to hormonal BC before.

[Sunset-lady in reply to moonghost]

You see I have a sneaky feeling I won't stop bleeding because of the HRT. Tibolone isn't real HRT is it. I think I'm just going to keep bleeding. I heard from my GP today and they don't administer zoladex at the surgery. They do for men but not women. Unbelievable x

[BloomingMarvellous]

You might find the information available on the Balance website really helpful here. It goes into great depth the relationship between mental health, hormones and uptake of antidepressants when one has low oestrogen and when it’s at a more appropriate level. Fundamentally the uptake of antidepressants is less effective with low levels of sex hormones.

[BloomingMarvellous]

hope you’re doing okay x