Posted , 6 users are following.
I have read that depression and anxiety are common symptoms in peri-menopause. I've been on some form of antidepressant on and off for the past 12 years. Will I bypass this particular symptom since I'm already on medication? (Never mind the anxiety - that seems to be a lost cause.) Is it possible that my AD meds will not work as well?
0 likes, 5 replies
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natacha66 Canada68
Posted
It is a hard. A year into my peri I was out on anti depressants. They did help to calm down and I have been on and off them. Now I am sticking to them because anxiety just took over like mad.
I stopped them in December last year and became rearful, insecure and would think always the worse.
Went back on them in May and it helped control my anxiety.
But life is tough on us. I don't understand how some women sail through this. Lucky are they.
Peri and menopause can be very debilitating.
I got off HRT and things were OK until symptoms of menopause hit me again. Taking Femarrelle now. Herbal will take some time to work but waiting for it to kick in.
We just have to keep strong and carry on. The pharmaceutical companies are the ones that must be enjoying all this as they are making a profit due to our misery.
Sochima822 Canada68
Posted
It's probable that you may bypass it but I have seen women have their dosages increased during the peri phase. There are also medications for anxiety, that work with depressiion that you may want to ask your doctor about.
sue58256 Canada68
Posted
I suppose it depends on the women if like us who are already predisposed to anxiety and depression they may calm it I am on a/ds have been on and off for years so I suppose it doesnt make it any better I suppose you could up the a/ds but with me, i dont want to I was going quite well until last week and BANG the tears anxiety depression back but i feel today a little better life sucks being a women in the peri and menopause, i wish i was one of the women that happily sails through it but hey ho im trying to "man up" lol I hope you can find a solution
ginger31734 Canada68
Posted
I think it just depends on each person? I personally have been on different ADs for several years for anxiety/panic disorder ....Doctor said it would probably get much better when I was pregnant because of the hormone changes and wouldn't need them... Ha! Hit me hard and was worse with the second pregnancy. After my pregnancies I had a hard time getting the anxiety under control again... Then just when I thought I was controlling my anxiety and then BAM, I spiraled again and couldn't figure out why .... Late thirties , now 42 and I'm still battling the anxiety at times but when I realized and tried to accept that I was hitting perimenopause , it has become somewhat better. I think hormones affect each person differently and depending on what's going on in our lives at the time, it can hit harder
or not be so bad... Idk, but for me , it's been quite a roller coaster so far but reading others posts make me feel a lot better, realizing I'm not crazy!!
looloo43 Canada68
Posted
Hi Canada. I've had alot of anxiety & depression bouts since aged 19, now 45. I have been on anti depressants & propranlol for anxiety for over 4yrs this time round which controlled things well. when i hit peri approx beginning of this year, i initially thought it was my anxiety/depression worsening so upped my anti depressants dosage pending seeing my doc. it did not help just made me feel more sedated, not more in control mentally. when i saw my doc, along with all the other symptoms, my age & the fact i had been having irreg bleeding for 2yrs she diagnosed me as being in peri. after much discussion with her i went on to hrt in april. within 2-3wks my mental symtpoms of random tears, feeling overwhelmed at the slightest thing, erratic low mood, anxiety & panic attacks, & very short temper all began to subside remarkably, plus the intense all day headaches i would get several times a week also subsided. i think if you already have anxiety/depression when you hit peri/meno, hrt is probably the most helpful as it deals with the inbalance of hormones. however i have read lots of ladies on here, & indeed a friend of mine have had success with trying fluoxetine ad as it softens the symtpoms of peri/meno. I'm no doc, but just from reading on here if you have no underlying depression/anxiety already there, anti anxiety meds can also help symptoms. personally i think hrt is best if your symtpoms are caused by peri/meno as hrt adresses the hormone side of problems. my gp is a specialist gynae & menopause gp so i was very lucky to be so well advised/informed from her to help me make the decision to try it. maybe your doc surgery has a specialist meno gp or nurse you could talk to - many surgeries do these days. x