Hi Everyone.
Can someone help me. I don't know if I should be taking anti-anxiety drugs or Hormone Replacement. I am 54 years of age of successfully took HRT for 6 years, until an abnormal mammogram frightened me enough to stop taking the HRT. I am having severe symptoms of menopause now. My doctor has tried to give me anxiety drugs, but they all have such terrible side effects that I couldn't kept taking them. He also gave me 2 HRT tablets to tke, but I was allergic to the Progesterone. I am wondering if anyone has had the same thing. Would a combined tablet be better than taking single oestrogen and progesterone tablets. I really need something. I can't stand this any more. I am going to the dr. again this morning, but I always feel embarrased going because i'm sure he is sick of the sight of me, i'm there every week. Can anyhone help?????

I second that sentiment

I hope that mammogram was nothing more than scary. As to the debate between hrt/bhrt and antidepressants, really, its got to be your choice. For me, the WHI study didn't phase me much, the difference was statistically insignificant. Sadly, HRT isn't working right now, and I'm still mucking about trying to find the root cause. I use anti depressants to rein in the worst of the flushing, but it doesn't get rid of them either.

The big two are Effexor - it did not agree with me, and Paxil, which my doctor didn't offer, and I would have turned down based on the experience with effexor. I am using wellbutrin and its ok for me. I know a few others who have used it (all for smoking) and none had bad stuff happening except one women, who is clinically depressed and smokes. She wanted to quit, try it (as zyban) and said it was like being on acid 24/7. Great. I get 'dry mouth' and 'makes expensive chocolate taste stale' and F gets free and legal acid trips. siiiiigh where's the justice?

Anyway, because F was already on one AD it kind of messes up the results, doesn't it? Could be the zyban, could be an interaction of the two ADs.

There are a number of websites that review antidepressants, and will give you way more info than I. Just bare in mind, no two people are the same, and for some reason, what works for one person is a disaster for the next and vice versa. Get a bit of an education on ADs by googling, and then compare the outcome to your perception of the risks and benefits of HRTs.

The nice thing about this site is there is a lot of experience here amongst this group of supportive sisters. If you have a specific AD in mind, ask about it. Someone will have something to say.

Best of luck and let us know which way you decide

Hey ebonyrae......you came to the right place!

So I am the same age as you and am post menopause. I was having trouble controlling the symptoms and finally started bio's about 5 months ago which helped with many symptoms. Recently my insurance company doubled my co-pay on the Prometrium so I said, well.......you know what I probably said ...so I went off of the Prometrium and switched back to the Pro-gest cream. Still taking the Estradiol but trying to take on an "as needed basis."

Recently I decided to try the anti-anxiety pill, Xanax and have had pretty good results with controlling anxiety and sleeplessness. As Duch says, everyone is different and what works for one may or may not work for another. So what exactly are the meno symptoms that you are having? If they are related to anxiety.....then an anti-anxiety med might work well. There is also Bach's Rescue Remedy spray that I love and it calms me down immediately....The anti-depressant Wellbutrin has been known to treat hot flashes..... here's hoping that if you do try it, well you miss the acid ride

As far as the doctor...worry not....these doctors NEED to know what is going on out here in meno-land and help us figure this stuff out.....many of them are clueless and need to read Menopause for Dummies! Let us know how it goes!

Hello everyone......just wanted to chime in here with my two cents on this...

My Dr. prescribed Paxil for me and after taking it for a short period of time I felt more anxious and worse than if I hadn't taken anything. It was not a pleasant experience at all and who wants to take an AD only to feel worse. It took me about 6-7 months of battling the anxiety on my own before I agreed to try another AD. This time Effexor was prescribed for me and he slowly increased my doseage until I got to the therapuetic dose which is 150MG. I have been taking this dose for approximately 3 weeks and I feel much better. I still have slight anxiety however it is much easier to manage and I can function without falling apart and breaking down in tears. We all have different bodies and what works for one, may not work for another. All I can say is if you can bear with it and find the one that works for you, the results are well worth it. We need to do all that we can to help us through. During my worst days I often said I wouldn't wish this upon anyone.

I am willing to share my experiences if anyone is interested. We are all in this together and if I can help at all, please know that I am willing to share what I have been through to get to where I now am.

Take care, everyone!

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the feedback. I'm home from the doctor.He suggested that I go back on Xanax. He said I wasn't getting enough of it in my system before. He was very sympathetic. I will try and take the right amount this time, which is 1x1mg tablet each morning and night. It really made me sleepy last time I took it, which makes going anywhere through the day impossible. He is also writing to a Psychiatrist to see if he has any ideas as to which medication I might be able to take, seeing I am allergic to most of them. He also gave me a referral to a Psychologist for counselling. I got an appt. for 16th February. It seems like a long way off. I am not feeling too bad this afternoon. I haven't had any anxiety/depression for 30 years, so it's a shock when it came back now. My sister says menopause is the problem and I should also be taking HRT. I think she's right, so have to go back to Dr. Friday. Will ask him about the HRT then, but he is really against anyone taking it. Just wish I would get better overnight. I know I won't, but it makes life very difficult being like this. Am also worried because my husband has to go overseas on business and I will be in the house by myself. It wouldn't normally worry me. Sick of feeling like this.

Ebony,

My doctor was against it too - mostly because I smoked at that time, but he finally put me on 0.025 estrogen patch - the smallest made. No prometrium (progesterone). He would have left me on that for ever, I think, if he hadn't gone on hols and his locum, a lady, stepped in and upped the dose.

When he returned, I saw him to say the situation was no better. He told me I was dressing incorrectly.

I quietly said I thought I was ready to see a specialist, and I have done. I'm off this week for tests. I should have done this a year ago. Talk to friends, talk to pharmacists in compounding shops, whatever, to find a doctor to work with you if you want bhrt or hrt. Its your body and your money.

BIOs made my anxiety/depression unbearable, so I went off HRT and now use Xanax at night (0.5mg), I sleep fine thorugh the night and less anxious during the day. I do add 0.25 mg during the day before TOM, anxiety is very bad during ovulation and before TOM. Xanax is not a candyeither , but it works better for me than all BIos I used. it also does nto give mebreakthorugh bleeding, bloating, sore breasts, bad depression, etc. It takes care of internal tremors and shakes, but the key is to get enough in your system, it works as preventive measure rather than stopping anxiety when it already started. I won't be able to work, drive, and sleep without it. it is addictive (in a good sense) but so are all hormones. Since anxiety is my main complain at this point, I decided to stick to Xanax for time being. I hope that when I am post-meno, all the symptoms will subside. My mom had terrible anxiety and insomnia going through menopause too, but then she felt much better. I hope for the same.
JMO

Rightly or wrongly, I take both.

I started on HRT after blood tests showed low FSH levels. It sorted out a lot of the sleep problems, odd hot flushes, nausea and mood swings for me. However 8 months after i started HRT the anxiety hit. I have been taking medication for this since, on and off.

My HRT is at a lower dose now than when I started as my Doctor thought it maybe too high when I got a lot of break through bleeding and I hate to think what I would be like without it but I don't really like taking either.

Neither have cured me completely, I still get anxiety, mainly over health issues and I still must get hormone fluctuations as I get a lot of the 34 symptons as although on HRT this does not stop your own levels going up and down I suppose but I do feel better than I did last year when I had a break from both. I hit rock bottom then and magically when I returned to taking both I felt betterer within a week of resumption.

Amanda

Just to show how 2 people can react so differently, I got the exact opposite reactions as Iradan.

I used the Xanax for a time but didn't notice that it helped the anxiety at all, and it did nothing to help any of my other symptoms. Once I went on the bios, all the symptoms went away, even the anxiety. I'm a functioning human being again!

Ms B:
I'm glad to hear HRT helped you. I'm going to be trying it very shortly if my saliva tests indicate (and I'm almost certain they will). Can you tell me more about your experience and what you tried to combat the anxiety and depression?
Thanks,
Avi

Oh, let's see. I tried many things that I saw mentioned on the Power-Surge website, mostly looking for relief from the anxiety and the crying jags. I don't really think I was depressed, though who wouldn't be dealing with all this crap!

I tried to go just natural for a while,taking things like St. john's wort, B vitamins, menopause supplements, a few others I can't remember. I went to both my GP and GYN and they told me it was just stress. I tried to tell them I never had the anxiety due to stress before, why now? It wasn't until I came here and did so much reading that I finally told them what I wanted! Once I went on the bios, I stopped everything except my vitamins and magnesium. I still believe that helps a lot with the palps. I also take calcium because my doctor thinks that is important.

I have gone up once with the dosage because the anxiety was starting to creep in again, usually just before my period but at the .0375 level, it's working well.

The only problem now is that my insurance company has decided not to cover the Vivelle as a preferred drug and they now want me to pay 3 times as much! So now I have to go back to the doctor and see what else is out there. They have a generic estradiol listed in the book so I'll have to check with him and see what the difference is if any. Nothing is ever easy, is it?

Hi everyone,
I took my 1x1mg xanax tablet at 7.30 last night and went to sleep about 9.30 and awoke at 5.30 this morning. I couldn't believe i's slept all night. It must be years since that hapened. My main menopause symptoms are amxiety, buzzing in my head, severe hot flushes. and all over body aches and pains, also the usual dryness asociated. I suppose i'm also grouchy most of the time. Luckily I don't work, as I would find it impossible to go. I am feeling not too bad this morning, but as I had to take another 1mg tablet at 7 this morning, I do feel a bit slow and slightly drowsy. I have heard if you don't have enough in your system that it just makes you tired and doesn't solve the anxiety problem. My husband thinks i'm mad taking the xanax as last time I had a hard time coming off it,but I don't think men realise just how bad you feel. Anxiety just wants to make you scream sometimes. we went to New Zeland for our holidays last September and that is when this anxiety really came to a head, as I was terrified of flying. I know it's only 4-1/2 hours from Australia, but it semed like an eternity. I think on Friday I will ask the dr. to put me on HRT as well as taking the Xanax. What are all these Bio's everyone keeps talking about??? I have tried Menopuse tablets from the Chemist, natural ones, like Promensil, Natures Own Menopause relief and other, but I fel they are just a wate of money. Have also tried St. Johns Wort for depression, but I don't feel depressed. Sorry this has been so long. Thanks everyone for your input.

Hi everyone,
Me again. I forgot tomention that my mother went through exactly the same thing as I;m going through now and at the same age, although she won't talk to us about it.I remember her being taken to the hospital in the middle of the night with severe menopuse symptoms a couple of times. Diagnosis low oesrogen levels. a week in hospital and she was back to her usual old capable self. Only problem with that is in Australia there arent't the bed in hospitals to do that these days. I think a lot of people woluld feel better if they could go into hospital until their medication was stable and then go home, but of course as I said, it's just not possible these days.
Bye

Insurance companies are the bane of my existence. I say fight them!!! As long as we continue to take their word as law, they will continue to do this crap.

Duch, how could you be dressing incorrectly?? Wearing the wrong clothes?? Maybe this means something else and I'm missing it.

Oh I would love to fight them but I'm not sure it would get me anywhere. The last time I tried to fight them about a drug I was taking, it took me 3 days of phone calls and many faxes from my doctor to get them to let me pay the highest tier for my allergy medication! This is instead of them not paying at all.
I just don't have the energy or time to do that right now. Besides, they're already making me pay the highest tier so I don't know what good fighting them would do. Unfortunately, the insurance companies can now dictate, over our doctors, what we should be taking. I wish I knew how to fight this! I think as long as they have their lobbyists in Washington, we'll all get lots of nowhere!

Sugar

re[quoteDuch, how could you be dressing incorrectly?? Wearing the wrong clothes?? Maybe this means something else and I'm missing it. huh.gif
quote]

It was December, and shockingly cold. I'd been down to the stables for about 2 hours, freezing from mid chest down, with my head threatening to spontaneously combust. Nipped up to the house, showered and dressed... in layers. Trousies, a cotton cable knit sweater, a vest and a jacket. This is what all the websites recommend: dress in layers, and adjust accordingly. Apparently my doctor must feel that's not the way its done, and I was in absolutely no mood to argue, I just requested a referral. I didn't know whether I needed to see an endocrinologist or ob-gyn. His office arranged it. It was a good call, I think.

Hi everyone
Me again. It's 11.15 here in Australia the 2nd Feb. I took my 1x1mg tablet of xanax last night and slept again from 9.30 until 6.oo this morning, but had to take another 1x1mg Xanax as prescribed. No chest paint since taking it, but feel like i'm drunk today. very slow and won't be able to go out until lunch time until these effects wear off. Can't drive the car in this state. Very annoying as I have a disabled son to care for. Have to go to his unit every day to make sure he's okey and to take his meal around. Surely in this day and age someone would invent something for all this crap, instead of putting us through this. Have appt. at Dr. tomorrow morning at 9am, so will insist on him giving me a combined oesrogen/progesterone pill. Have no life to speak of since all this began. my husband says not to take the tablets, but I don't know which is worse, chest pains all the time and head that feels like i'm going crazy or feeling like i'm drunk all the time (don't even drink) and not being able to go out until the effects wear off. Men just don't understand.!!!!! Getting visitors next thursday. Should be great. they will think i'm mad. The visitor is my sister, who at 58 and who has had a hysterectomy, doesn't have any signs of menopause. I'm just sick to death of it. I often wonder what i've done so bad in my life to deserve this. I also suffer from fibromyalgia, so I think I have enough to cope with. Have tried natural Menopause tablets from the Chemist, but they're just a waaste of money. Just bought a new caravan and trying to decide where where we will go for our annual holidays, but I told my husband I don't make plans anymore, I could be dead by September, he thinks i'm joking. Does anyone think like this or is it just me. Sorry to go on and on, but i've just about had it.

Hello All,
Me again, here in Australia. Been to my doctors appt this morning. He was very nice. He told me to continue taking 1x1mg Xanax tab at night and to take 1/2 in the morning, because I went to bed at 9.30 last night and didn't wake until 8 this morning. I convinced him to let me take the HRT again, so I will try again. I will be taking Premarin 0.3mg (eostrogen) and Ralovera 2.5mg (progesterone) at night. I feel good this afternoon. Always feel bad in the morning because after taking the Xanax in the morning, I feel drunk and it takes a good 4 hours to wear off. Very annoying, isn't it. My friends take their HRT and are right as rain with no side affects. I think I am allergic to everything known to man. But honestly, I think it is genetic. I have heard a lot of you say you can't afford prescriptions because you don't have health insurance. Here, in Australia, the only people who get cheap prescriptions are old-age pensioners or lowincome people or disability pensioners. They pay A$4.80 per prescription. The rest of us pay for a regular prescription approx. A$30.00. A lot when you have to try quite a few different ones before you find one that works for you. Anyway, hoping the HRT starts working and i'm back to my old self in no time, although I won't hold my breath waiting.

Bye :