All:
I'm interested in hearing from the folks on this board that have RESOLVED their anxiety/depression with hormones. What/how much/when did you take?
Love,
Avi

Avi,

The anxiety was one of my first and worst symptoms! Dr's just wanted to put me on AD's and I didn't want to go that route.

I finally talked my gyn into giving me the lowest dose (.025) of Vivelle and Prometrium. Within a week I was feeling so much better and by the end of the first month I was feeling more like myself again. I stayed on that dose for about 6 months and then could feel the anxiety starting to creep back in again around the time my periods were due so we increased it to the .375.

I definitely recommend trying hrt if you're really bothered by anxiety. It has been a life-saver for me!

Anxiety is also my worst and first symptom of peri. I was on ADs for 10 months but didn't want to be dependent on them. I started progesterone cream. So far it has been good for my anxiety. I did have anxiety last month on the 9th day of my cycle, when I was not using the cream, in the middle of the night. Since I started it on day 10, I have been anxiety free. I hope it continues for me. I may have to start PC before day 10 and shorten my time off.

Hi Moodswings and Mrs. B!
Thanks..that gives me hope..I'm one of those difficult progesterone responders, but I'm hoping that I can start with the estrogen and SLOWLY add in the progesterone, either with cream or orally.
I definitely do not want to go the AD/BZDP route if I don't have to.
Peace and love,
Avi

Hi Aviano:

I too take progesteron cream and that seems to help with my anxiety. I am hoping it keeps working for me as well. I can really tell when I am on my 7 day break and I get rahter edgy and nervous. Once I start taking it again, I usually feel better after 24 hours.

I hope you can incorporate the progest with your estrogen eventually. I decided not to go the AD route either as Xanax gave me such bad side effects I just wanted off those kinds of meds.

Mopsy

My doctor said I could take the Progest continuosly so I do. I don't want to have anything to do with the anxiety I used to have before using the cream. I'm afraid to take a break from it. I do decrease the dosage for several days per month though. I did have a hysterectomy 12 years ago but I do have my ovaries,,, so I don't have my cycle to determine when I would take a break from the Progest anyway.

Happymom

Hi Avi,
You have posted the exact same question that I was thinking of posting... I'm so glad you did! I'm sorry if you are having anxiety/depression issues. It can be really awful to deal with.

Here are my experiences: I started taking Premarin (estrogen alone because I had hysterectomy, kept both ovaries 3 yrs ago, I'm 50) two months ago. According to my gynecologist, I am "menopausal" and my worst symptoms are palpitations, internal shaking, but mostly anxiety. After taking the Premarin for just one week, the anxiety, palps, and shaking really improved. My family doctor also prescribed (very reluctantly, I might add) a low dose of Xanax, an anti-anxiety med. I had been doing very well until, ironically, the past two weeks when I feel like my anxiety is way out of control and I just can't get a hold on it. All of a sudden it is like the Premarin and Xanax are not working as well as they were, or maybe I just expect to feel 100 percent like my old self before meno, which is probably unrealistic. I went back to my gyn last week and she increased my Premarin dosage just a bit, from .625 to .9 a day. Maybe the extra dosage will help if I give it more time, but I am about to give up on the Xanax and not even bother taking it. But don't get me wrong, the Premarin has definitely helped improve my general well-being and still is helping-- it's just the palps and shaking stuff have returned and I just hate dealing with them. And I think those two things are exacerbated by my anxiety! I hope this has helped you some. Please let me know if I can help further and I wish you the best of luck! Isn't Power Surge wonderful!!!!! Hang in there!

Mary Jo

Thanks Mary Jo..
I'm experimenting with hormones, but I've decided to go the bioidentical route. I'm finding that high normal or elevated TESTOSTERONE levels are correlating with some of the worst of my anxiety. I'm sorry to hear you're suffering as well. I sincerely hope Premarin solves your problems. However, best advice I can give (and I'm sure you'll hear it again on this board, is to get those hormone levels tested.
I'm reading a book right now by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet. It's very in-depth, but a well-thought-out and informative read.
Good Luck with everything and thanks for the reply!
Avi

Hi again Avi and you're quite welcome! I hope you find success with the bios. Thanks for the encouragement too! I'm so stubbornI just hate taking anything at all! I have wondered about my testosterone levels but my gynecologist didn't mention those. I go back in a month or so, so I'll ask. I did have my FSH tested and it was 72, whatever that means. What is the name of Dr. Vliet's book that you are reading?

Good luck to you too--
MJ