Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone has used SSRIs or other anti-depressants for your symptoms. I just posted recently -- am 46. I wouldn't have thought I was in peri, but a couple of months ago started having weird symptoms (clamminess, dizziness, off balance, weak legs, agitation, feeling like my nerves were zinging all the time). This led to constant anxiety and fear and now I have been diagnosed with GAD and I feel like I've also had panic. I am taking buspar, though not sure it's doing much -- except that the day I started taking it my breasts got really sore and started discharging.

I am seeing a psych in a few weeks and if there is no improvement I think they will want to start me on some other drug. I am resisting taking benzos because of their addictive nature. The "as needed" basis thing doesn't seem to fit for me, as these feelings of unwellness are pretty much constant.

So my question is -- has anyone tried SSRIs or other ADs with success? If so, which ones?

Do people find their symptoms wax and wane or are pretty much consant? I keep waiting for some waning but it's not happening.

Thanks,
Missy

Missy,
i am sorry you are having such a rough time. All the weird symptoms seem to be peri to me. It hit me hard at 46 as well. I just use the xanax as needed, so I know I am not much help to you, I just wanted to offer support. I hope you get some great suggestions and the help you are looking for.

I took paxil then celexa at the beginning of my peri journey and loved it once I got over the beginning side effects. However, I gained over 50lbs over the five years while on them. It took me 2 years to lose all of the weight once I stopped. Most women love the ADs to help alleviate peri symptoms. Personally, I would not go back them. I tried lexapo in 2005 and could not tolerate the side effects (felt like I was on speed -- I don't need speed!!!)

Note: Not all women gain weight either, however there is a vast number who will start gaining right around the 9 month mark.

Missy, as I was reading your post I was thinking I could have written over ten years ago. Matter of fact I probably did .

When I was shoved onto this perimenopausal ride it began with being diagnosed with vertigo then GAD. I was placed on Zoloft, then Lexapro. I also tried buspar, but I did not see any benefit from this medication. I'm rather sensitive concerning medications, vitamins, supplements and foods...so the only AD that worked for me was Wellbutrin. I can not tolerate SSRI. I know that hrt/bhrt is a very personal decision, but it wasn't until I tried my first hormone patch that I noticed improvement with my anxiety, depression, and other peri symptoms. I'm no longer using the hormone patch or Wellbutrin and to be honest I've tried a variety of prescription and over the counter medications before finding what worked for me, which was a combination of prescription and non-prescription meds. I've had to tweak, try, and replace many things over the years.

I'm saying all of this to hopefully encourage you because you might not find (or you might ) what will work for you on the first try. Remain encouraged because you will find what works. You might need a combination or a single item...be encouraged .

At the start of my peri journey I was diagnosed with GAD. I was put on Paxil CR and it really helped me. I went to a counseller to straighten out some of my feelings, and learn different techniques to deal with the anxiety. The paxil was great to help me calm down, and helped me get down to business in learning to handle life's challenges.

I don't believe I have GAD, I believe I am in Peri - mum started at 38 ... I just turned 39. The doctor will not even entertain Peri talk because my hormone levels are 'normal' and I am 'too young'.

My symptoms got more managable when I decided to write them down and when I decided that I AM IN PERI and the doctor is wrong. I can see a pattern in my anxiety flares with regards to my cycle. So when it rears it's ugly head I can look up in my notes and say to myself "here it comes, couple of days and we will be thru this, no problems last time." I even can laugh some of it off because it is so regular.

This does not mean that I don't have episodes where I don't contemplate going back on Paxil, hormones being as they are sometimes it can get pretty tough.

What ever you decide must be based on the quality of life ... if you just can't seem to get by the anxiety then do something about it and work at finding a med that will help you, or some CBT to take your mind in another direction. There is no sense being miserable and full of panic, and anxiety - life is way too short.

TM

Thanks to all for the excellent replies. One more question for those who tried meds. Did they actually help with your physical symptoms? That is what I feel causes my anxiety but hard to know which came first -- the chicken or the egg.

Also, when people mention side effects, what do you mean? This is one of my fears, as I, too, am sensitive to meds.

Thanks,
Missy

I don't have any answers but can just tell where I am at. I was diagnosed with GAD about 5 years ago after some personal stressers, was put on Paxil CR, did some therapy to deal with my stresses and went off after about 9 months and felt great. This past winter (I am now 36) I started getting the anxiety symptoms again but this time they seem to happen in relation to my period and were different somehow. I didn't have the stresses like before and couldn't figure out why I was feeling that way. Well I tried the exercising and relaxation that helped me before but this time it wasn't helping. I then freaked out thinking I had some horrible disease and the doctors just couldn't or wouldn't look for what it was. After a couple of trips to the doctor they finally convinced me to try the SSRI's again. This time they put me on lexapro as they said the side effects were more tolerable. I have been on lexapro for eight months and believe they do help somewhat. This is where I am now though, yes the AD is helping in that I don't get the constant adrenaline rushes and racing heart beat panics like I was getting. However, unlike before they haven't completely eliminated the anxiety. I really think the peri is starting even though I am only 36 mainly because five years ago I could definitely see that I was worrying and my thoughts were causing the anxiety (the counseling helped me see that). This time I am going to counseling as well as the AD and a lot of the times the anxiety just happens without anything external that I can blame it on. Each month I have 1-3 weeks where things are normal again and then 1-3 weeks where I am a anxious, tired basketcase wondering what to do to feel better. All that may be more than you asked for but to specifically answer your questions, last winter my symptoms got to be pretty much constant where I never felt good. But now on the AD's, the symptoms are pretty much the week before and the week of my period with a couple of days around ovulation time (hence why I think there is hormone issues). The counseling helps to have someone to talk to about life and help you figure out better ways to deal with everything.

Missy
I was on Lexapro for 4 months and just did nothing. I have horrible anxiety and heart palps. Doctor switched me to Paxil. Only been on it for 2 weeks so can't tell yet if it's working. I wake up with terrible anxiety and doesn't get better till about 5pm. I take xanax during the day. And Ambien at night for sleep which is wonderful. Now if I just could find something for appetite. I lost 30lbs in 4 months. Pretty bad because now I'm 105lbs. I feel you need to do what's right for you. If you want the quality of life back then maybe it's worth a try. You won't have to stay on them forever.... Let us know what you decide and we can help with questions as far as side effects(they do go away after a while).
Hang in there babe........
(((((hugs Char)))))

Thanks, everyone. I may need to try something besides the buspar. I don't think it's helping. Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but I'm having issues today feeling very poorly. I'm really working on CBT but it gets hard when the physical symptoms are so powerful. My legs are so jelly like today I feel like I can barely function. And it feels like there's some low level current in my body making things kind of shake, and making sleep impossible. This situation has been constant for over a month. My legs have felt rubbery and weak for at least a month, and sometimes I think they're just getting weaker. Like I said, sorry about being a broken record -- but it seems like these symptoms should come and go rather than be relentless. Can anyone reassure me on this one?

Thanks,
Missy

Missy
Im 45 and been post meno since 40. Never had any symptoms ever until now. I can relate to the confusion. My legs feel like jelly everyday. I would get electrical like surges that would wake me up at night. The anxiety is driving me insane.... Had all the heart tests done in the hospital that were normal. I do have a bit low thyroid and low cortisol levels. I'm tired of doctors saying nothing is wrong just anxiety and RELAX. Especially male doctors who have no clue.
Maybe go to the endo doctor and get your thyroid and adrenal glands checked out. And don't think you sound like a broken record! That's why were all here.
Char

I am sorry that you are feeling so bad, and I truly do understand the rubber leg feeling. Mine all started in July 08. I really don't think I had to much peri but BANG...right into Meno I went, full blown. I thought I lost my mind, I was anxious, heart palp...like i was going to have a heart attack., crying, diaherra, not appetitie, nausea, headache, arms tingly and heavy, legs felt the same way...it all hit me all at once, I would look in the mirror and not know who that was. Went to the reg dr and he gives me Lexapro and Xanax, he says i am stresses and all that....I started taking it. but it just kept screaming inside to myself that there was something else wrong with me...I knew there was something....I found PS one night because not sleeping was another symptom. and I read and read, then I called my gyn and got a blood test and she said that I was in meno...they started me on the hrt patch right away....cuz my symptoms were so bad. I weaned off the Lexapro, I felt like it didn't do to much for me anyway. but I keep the xanax handy on my bad days...And as of late there has been alot of those.....
You need to find what is good for you, sometimes it is a hit and miss thing. It is just frustrating that it takes alot of these meds 4 - 6 weeks to get in our systems...but I could not have dont it without them.....
I pray you will find the right relief you need..Let me know if you ever need to chat...
Love
Sishaircut
Karen

At 46 you are well into the age when peri starts. I was in menopause at 46! And what you describe sounds like peri to me. I had lots of annoying symptoms prior to meno, but nothing close to the way I crashed at 46! I had the anxiety,panic attacks, depression, insomnia, shaking, dizziness, disconnected from reality feeling, no energy, no libido....and the list goes on and on!! First line of defence was Ativan, which made it possible for me to function on the most basic level. I had become agoraphobic from my awful symptoms, I had this huge fear of having a panic attack in public.

Second line of defence was Paxil. It took 5 weeks to kick in as I titrated slowly to avoid side effects (increase in anxiety, possible spaced out feeling) which I didn't get! That helped a lot. But I still wasn't feeling comfortable in my own skin.

Third line of defence....hormones. And for me, that was the ticket to normal. Paxil and BHRT, both of which I continue to take.

You will have to see what works best for you. Oh, and by the way....I don't buy that women in their late 30s thru early 50s suddenly get GAD!! It is hormonally driven anxiety. It isn't real, although it feels real. I was suddenly besieged with panic attacks, after a lifetime without them. And, incidently, I don't get them anymore either. So try not to think you are losing your mind or going crazy....you aren't!! But your hormones ARE!!!

Thanks for the response. I am terrified to take an SSRI but I think I may have to. Do folks still think this could be peri, even though I'm getting fairly regular periods?
Missy

Missy, How old are you? I just turned 50 a few months ago and I have missed maybe 1 period in my entire life and I have been in peri for a good 8 years or longer. Have had some very dibilitating symptoms, but missed periods is not one of them.

[quote name='TidalWaves' date='Dec 31 2008, 09:10 PM' post='257775']
Missy, How old are you?

I'm 46. I have had irregular periods on and off for a few years, and I know I have a fibroid, but other than that I'm like clockwork. All four of my children were born on or within 24 hours of their due date.

Missy