HRT /anti depressants

[Junkjournal1]

Hi to all who are going through the peri menopause it’s awful 😞. I’ve been really struggling with my anxiety and depression that I’ve had to up my dosage of Sertraline that I’ve been on for a number of years . I thought it was helping somewhat but no yesterday I had another complete meltdown and today not good either. Crying uncontrollably, feeling sick awfully anxious and worrying way too much about everything. I feel so unworthy and what little self confidence I’ve had has completely vanished. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to ask for HRT to take alongside my anti depressants. I’m really struggling 😢.

[Belle76]

yes was a game changer for me, takes 3 months to settle.

[WW_ell]

Hi there!!

Well, obviously every case is different and I speak here only from my own experience. I had severe anxiety for about three years from the age of 43/44. By severe, I mean, it was crippling, I managed to *just about* keep my job and not completely break down, but I would have fully blown anxiety attacks about the mildest thing, and every day was just an underlying current of constant anxiety. Such a horrible place to be, my sympathies with you.

I first was prescribed an anxiolytic that is also a mild antidepressant (Opipramol), it worked reasonably well (it really helps with sleep too) but it never really completely went away. Two things did the trick for me, HRT (I am on 2 mg oestrogen daily and 200 mg progesterone for 14 days in the cycle) and cutting down/cutting out alcohol.

After about two months on HRT, I felt like I used to feel 10 years ago, not just a lack of anxiety, but so much less of the up-and-down. I am kicking myself that I didn’t think of it earlier, I am a big fan!! As I said, of course everybody’s mileage varies .

Talk to your doctor about it.

Best of luck!