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[starlingpink]

I'm 55 and have existing generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety, not surprisingly, is my main overwhelming menopause symptom. Since 50, I have increased my estrogen dose which seems strange as I would have presumed my body would require less as I age? Any thoughts very welcome.

[CLKD]

Morning .     I believe that anxiety is problematic in peri and some have found that keeping oestrogen levels high enough reduces the symptoms. 

Have you undergone hysterectomy?

[starlingpink]

Thanks for the response. No I haven't had a hysterectomy and my estrogen levels are 379 pmol/L. So at 55 do I need to nudge those levels up?

[CLKD]

Which progesterone have you been prescribed?

In the 1990s my GP gave me valium 'as necessary'.  In the early 2000s it was swopped to Propranolol to ease the early morning anxiety surges.  Initially 40mg at night then I dropped to 20mg for several years, finally stopping in 2020.  I have an 'as necessary' emergency tablet for when panic attacks floor me.

Is there a particular time when the anxiety might be worse?

[sheila99]

My anxiety is from oestrogen deficiency, I didn't have it all all pre peri. I started on 50 mcg in peri (aged 57, late meno) and have had to increase twice because of returning symptoms (anxiety and insomnia). I'm 63 now and every time I try to reduce my symptoms return. So although they say you need less as you get older it isn't the case for me. Levels are not particularly helpful as different people feel good on different levels. Anxiety is so awful personally I'd take whatever I need to stop it.

[CLKD]

In the 1990s I said that I would take heroin if it cured my anxiety 

[starlingpink]

Thank you for the responses, it's really appreciated. Anxiety is awful and so hard to explain to anyone who hasn't had it.

[merrygoround]

In the 1990s I said that I would take heroin if it cured my anxiety 

It's a medicine same as any other. Cured everything for me, I'm still on maintenance but it got me through when I might not have survived otherwise. I'd neither knock it nor recommend it, everything has it's place in life.

[CLKD]

starlingpink - which progesterone have you been prescribed?