Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Lornie-Ann]

Greetings!
I may have missed earlier posts on this, but would be very grateful to know if anyone else on anti-depressants has experienced the same menopause problems as me.  I've been taking Citilopram for about 10 years (now down to 10mg per day), but for the past year not only are the hot flushes increasing in intensity, but before each flush I get a dramatic mood dive for about a minute (it can feel like 10 sometimes).  I think my GP is a bit flummoxed and can only think to increase my Citilopram, which I really don't want to do having taken this long to get down to 10mg.  Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this?
Thanks
L

[Joyce]

Hi there & welcome.

I'm only on oestrogen, no antidepressants. Others on here can give you some advice on that. However, when I took an HRT break 4 years ago I used to get horrid feeling prior to a flush. Wouldn't call it a mood change as such, more a weird tingling coming up from my feet for about a minute prior to flush.

I'm trying to come HRT since beginning of this year, odd flush but not too bad. But this time last year I tried to come off it, but had to up the dose again. Meno consultant said my body wasn't ready for coming off it.

Can you get a referral to a meno clinic at all or even a gynae referral?

[Hurdity]

Hi Lornie-Ann

 

Anti-depressants aren't recommended as the first line of treatment for menopausal symptoms including flushes, but the fact that you are noticing them sounds as though you are well into menopause.

You haven't said how old you are or whereabouts in menopause you are  ie periods etc but have you thought of HRT? If your periods are irregular or infrequent, and you are having symptoms then HRT would give you back some of the oestrogen that is decreasing and hopefully reduce or eliminate troublesome symptoms.

It may be that there is a medical reason why you are not able to take HRT but if not then I would either go to a different doctor in the practice who is sympathetic towards menopause and knows about HRT, or as cubagirl suggests - ask for a referral to a specialist.

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

   many GPs will offer ADs rather than HRT because it is cheaper.  That sudden dip in mood is probably hormonal ……. nothing to do with whether your AD needs upping ………. does it pass ?  low blood sugar can cause nausea and odd feelings, lots of ladies suffer with odd feelings shortly before a hot flush/flash.

[Taz2]

Hi Lornie - welcome to the forum.

The feeling of absolute doom and gloom before a hot flush is very common and I know exactly how it feels! Also a feeling of complete exhaustion can happen just before the flush hits.  Have you thought about HRT - no flushes equals no doom and gloom feeling!

Taz x

[Lornie-Ann]

Hi all, obviously didn't explain myself very well.  I'm not on anti-depressant's because of the menopause, I was already taking them because of depression for the past 16 years.  That was what I was hoping to find - someone else in the same boat.  I'm 58 and the menopause kicked in about 6 years ago.  I spoke to several GP's in my practice and none of them would recommend HRT for me.  It's only in the past year that the hot flushes have really caused me problems and I could probably live with them if I didn't have to have this awful gloom just before each one.  I really just wanted to find out if this is normal for everyone or just because I suffer with depression.  Eh this getting old lark is boring!

[CLKD]

I took ADs since 1988 and haven't had many meno problems ………. so far  .  The depression is under control, the anxiety is usually, meno is OK ……..

Various symptoms of a hot flush can happen: a sudden feeling of nausea; panic; low mood which passes once the flush is over.

Remind me: why won't your GPs recommend HRT    …… ask for a referral to a meno clinic (details left of screen) ?

[Hurdity]

Hi Lornie-Ann

I agree with CLKD - sounds like you would benefit from a referral re HRT. to treat your hot flushes. Better this really than increase the dose of anti-depressants, if you don't need a higher dose to treat your depression.

Hurdity x

[Ana]

Hi, I've been on Escitalopram for 3 years. I have also managed to reduce the dose to the lowest possible due to palpitations on the normal dose. So, although I get depressed - I do not really want to raise the dose of antidepressant either. I would go with the HRT too. It is probably the lack of hormones making your mood lower. Good luck.