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[Cherrycrumble]

Hi, not posted on here before but been lurking a while! I'm having an horrendous time with anxiety that I'm sure is menopause related but not sure what route to take.
I'm 48 and felt peri for a few years, but have felt really bad since last October with night sweats and awful anxiety attacks. Still managing to go to work, but feeling awful while i'm there. The doctor said it would be better to try antidepressants than HRT, especially for the night sweats, but after getting them home and reading the packet I decided not to take them!! I did start taking Vitamin B6 and not had anymore night sweats since, but anxiety is awful.  I'm a bit of a 'worrier' anyway, but never felt like I feel now.

Have looked at alternative remedies and they just boggle me! Thinking about going to dr's but not sure about hrt as wasn't allowed to take the pill as it gave me awful migraines and double vision!  Just really not sure what to do!!  Any suggestions gratefully received   

[CLKD]

GPs are supposed not to offer ADs instead of HRT 

  however, some do ease meno symptoms and some do ease anxiety. 

HRT is different to the Birth Control Pill.  It is a bit Trial and Error, there are plenty of ladies with HRT experience here and I'm sure they will be along. 

I take either Valium or another drug on an 'as necessary' basis for anxiety as it floors me.  Plus beta-blockas which can ease anxiety surges and ADs for depression ……… BBs may help, I take 40mg Propranolol at night.

[babyjane]

Hello, I am not an HRT user but I have learned enough from this forum to know that at your age and perimeno, HRT would be the first choice and I am cross that your doctor gave you ADs.  May I ask which ones you have been given?

I can't advise as I said, because I haven't used HRT but hopefully some of the ladies who do use it will soon direct you towards advice and information that you can take to your doctor.  Perhaps there is another GP in the practice who knows more about the HRT guidelines that the one you saw.

[Cherrycrumble]

Thanks for your reply and welcome    I was surprised that she offered AD and said that I wasn't depressed, but she said they might help, but got a bit freaked out after reading the leaflet with it (maybe shouldn't have read it!) 

What I don't get is that yesterday I felt marvellous, best day i've had for ages, today i'm just an anxious wreck! There doesn't seem any pattern to it!

Maybe need to investigate hrt more.

Hi babyjane, I was given Citalopram and on the instructions it said it could make you suicidal when you first start taking it, so decided I didn't want to try them!  There aren't any doctors who specialise in menopause at my dr's, and felt a bit rushed when i went and was given AD's.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM Cherrycrumble.   
HRT should be the first line of treatment for anyone under 55 with meno symptoms like flushes etc - do read the new NICE guidelines - they are somewhere on this site and also on the NHS Choices Website - so print these guidelines off and show to the GP. Read all the info on this site and make another appointment, print off the TREATMENTs section from the top of this page and perhaps ask for Femoston 1/10 and see if this helps.
HRT is different for BCP - mostly natural hormones these days so less likely to give side effects - Femoston is good as it has kinder progesterone - don't let them give you Elleste Duet.
Good luck. Keep us posted.  DG x

[MIS71MUM]

Hi Cherry Crumble.

AD's are prescribed for anxiety too, as well as depression.  In fact, I think Citalopram is also good for hormonal hot flushes too.  I know that all AD's will have that warning about increasing "suicidal thoughts" as each AD out there carries this risk.

Also if you are going to take them, they will probably take a few weeks to start taking effect and may make you feel worse before you feel better.

I have anxiety too, it's horrible....and can really symphatise with you.

Good luck.

[Cherrycrumble]

Thanks so much for your replies.  Have taken the bull by the horns and called the dr's to see if they have anyone that specialises in menopause - said most of the female dr's deal with it, but not sure if that mean's they specialise. Anyway, have made an appointment for May 9th (earliest they could do), but will educate myself in hrt before then, so I have more of a clue when I see her.

[CLKD]

Good idea.  Also have a look at the Surgery's web-site to see which Qualifications the GPs have.  Some do specialise in womens' health. (though I can't remember which Qualis  )

Our GPs have DRGOG, MRCGP, DFFP behind their names - now I need to see what they all mean 

[Cherrycrumble]

Thanks, I will. Quite relieved I've made an appointment, so at least I can discuss it all with her. 

[babyjane]

Hi again, I really get the feeling you don't want the ADs and you don't really sound as though you need to go down that route.  Citalopram is the GPs first choice nowadays I think and I was given it before Christmas.  I didn't get on with it due to side effects and I was changed to the sister drug called escitalopram which has less side effects.  I am doing well now on it and it has, indeed, helped reduce my hot flushes.

However I am 59 years old and post meno and I do have a history of anxiety and depression not related to the menopause so it was probably the right way forward for me.

Good luck with getting your doctor to listen to you.  Remember there is a wealth of knowledge and experience on these boards.  Good luck cherrycrumble - (love cherry crumble especially with custard 

[linz57]

I was offered Citalopram but decided against taking it and I found my anxiety greatly reduced when I started on hrt. As well as reducing anxiety, hrt can help in so many other ways too, eg joint pains, hot flushes and IBS symptoms. It's personal choice but if you're not keen on going down the AD route you could give hrt a try and start with a low dose.

[Mary G]

Cherrycrumble, HRT should definitely be your first port of call and only then, if you still suffer from depression and anxiety, should you take ADs as well as HRT.  Many women do very well on both.

HRT is not just about eradicating menopause symptoms, it is also about protecting yourself against the long term health problems caused by years of oestrogen deficiency so it is very important to start taking the right type of HRT at the right time and from what you have said, it would seem that the time is now.

Have a look at the different treatment options but having been on other forms of HRT, I think the Oestrogen/Utrogestan is the best regime by far. 

Good luck and let us know how you get on at the doctors.

[Cherrycrumble]

Thanks everyone for all your replies, so glad I posted on here, was having such a bad day.  Think I would rather try the HRT route first to see if it helps, I definitely feel as though I've gone as far as I can without a bit of help! I will go armed with all the info on here. Will let you know how it goes 

[countrybumpkin]

A friend was prescribed citalopram for severe anxiety and she gave up on it after 2 weeks as she had almost totally sleepless nights and her anxiety rocketed. The Dr said that if she persevered then the severe side effects might go away but she could not cope so stopped.
Beta blockers if you have never had asthma can work well for anxiety, I wish I could take them but had bad asthma as a child.

[Cherrycrumble]

Hi countrybumpkin   I was really worried about symptoms worsening for a few weeks as the doctor said they might, and I just didn't want to go through that and also didn't know how i'd manage to go to work if I felt much worse!  I also have asthma so can't take beta blockers, otherwise I would definitely try them. My mum takes them and finds them really good.  Hopefully will get started on hrt in a few weeks