HRT and mood swings?

16 years ago

I just started Combi-Patch for hot flashes. It has reduced but not eliminated them. But I now find myself getting almost weepy at times for no particular reason. I even got very upset over an episode of Law & Order! Has anyone else experienced this? Is this a question of adapting to the hormones, or is it likely to continue?

My doctor said she prescribes either this patch or oral bio-identical hormones. She has a slight preference for the patch as the dosage is less. ALso, my insurance doesn't cover any compounded medications, but I'm willing to consider them.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

bullsigh
16 years ago
I have read that it takes at least 3 months for HRT to kick in. Until then you may experience some low estrogen symptoms. Weepiness can be a symptom of low estrogen. Perhaps it is just too soon to tell but perhaps you could call you Dr.s office and ask someone there.

Bullsigh
liz_h
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks bullsigh. I'll give my dr. a call. In my case, the extreme moodiness didn't kick in until I started the HRT at age 51. I don't know if waiting until full menopause made the difference. Once I started the patch I had a sudden increase in estrogen. At least Today I feel sane!
Related Discussions
Menopause - Few Symptoms - HRT?
Q
Comments (8)
Cattknap - I wouldn't. I took the mini-pill for 6-7 months, just to try to alleviate some of what was happening. Some it helped, some not - but I feel better since I quit taking it. I kind of resent that there is an entire supplement/medical industry built around a perfectly natural occurence, and I'm not going to buy into it unless therte is some actual health issue that I need to address. I've had a couple of hot flashes, but I eat (and always have, before it became trendy) a high fruit/veg/soy diet. Along with plenty of chocolate. :) Known to reduce hot flashes, sweats etc. stay active & healthy as you already are, do basic common sense health screenings (like Catherine suggests) and don't worry! BTW (DH is a radiologist) a certain amount of bone loss and degeneration is absolutely normal. Most people over age 30 have some, normal, normal, normal! And I hate that your hair is still thick! Jeez. Mine's thinned quite a bit in the last couple of years...I think it's migrating to my chin.
...See More
Another reason to be on HRT
Q
Comments (24)
This resumption of symptoms (esp. vasomotor ones like hot flashes) is not unusual when you stop hormones. Tapering off the pills instead of stopping them abruptly may lessen this effect. There are also many non-drug alternatives ranging from deep breathing to fans to dressing in natural fiber layers. Switch to all cotton bedding and nightclothes if you wear anything to sleep in. Leave a fan (ceiling if you have one) on overnight to lessen the number and severity of night sweats. Hot flashes tend to happen in spurts. If you tough it out for a few weeks you may find that they disappear on their own. Of course they may recur but knowing that they are temporary can make it easier to cope with them. Keep a diary of your hot flashes for awhile. See if anything particular - a food, stress, etc. triggers them and then try to avoid the triggers. I found that sugar/dense carbohydrates triggered major hot flashes and night sweats and avoiding those after mid afternoon helped tremendously. Exercise may help. There are many other practical non-drug suggestions on the Menopause and beyond web site. To get to it, go to google and use tishy and menopause and beyond as your search terms. Have you had a hysterectomy? Do you still have your ovaries? I ask because you mention only estrogen and not a progestin. If you've had your ovaries removed, your age might also be a factor in deciding whether or not to stop the hormones entirely.
...See More
Like to hear HRT experiences, neg and pos
Q
Comments (19)
pleblanc, I know you posted this a while ago but I have just read it and wondered if you got the itching and skin dryness sorted. I have had exactly the same symptoms as you only on the soles of my feet which makes even standing up some days excrutiating. I have been near to tears on a couple of occassions recently. Mine started two years ago out of the blue and I thought it might be menopause related as I had some severe hot flashes start at the same time. My doctor doesn't think so and has been prescribing creams for Pompholyx excema. I am finally seeing a dermatologist next month so we shall see what happens. I also for a few months have had the vaginal and rectal itching. I thought it was thrush but I have no other symptoms. I have been using canesten cream which gives me relief. I find it worse during the night which could be related to feeling hot. Finally, I also get the joint pain deep in my right hip if I lie on it too long and it also wakes me during the night. I would say all my menopause symptoms started about 8 years ago but in the last 2 years it has been constant and I have been trying everything I possibly can to help myself. I am of the belief that if these problems happened to men there would be specialists in every major city in every part of the world. Unfortunately because it is the other half of the population, Drs with a special interest are few and far between. P.S I tried HRT but had a horrendous migraine which was really scary-thought I was having a stroke-and my doc took me off them immediately. My BP and cholesterol were also sky high. Sorry this is so long but wanted to let you know you're not alone.
...See More
Does taking HRT mean you will get your periods back?
Q
Comments (5)
I started Ortho Prefest about 2 1/2 weeks ago. My GYN told me that I would most likely experience some spotting for a while. I have not had a period in over 2 years (yeah - it took me a while to decide on HRT). Well guess what. Today I have started spotting. Not bad, but it's definately there. This is the only problem I have had and as long as it doesn't get any worse or last too long, I think I can take it. But I don't really want to! The only good thing about menopause was to have no period anymore. Now that's gone - just like the memory, the energy, the tight skin, the perky boobs! Isn't it wonderful to be a woman?
...See More
plumbly22
16 years ago
I've been on the combi patch for almost a year now... I don't remember getting weepy at all... but I was already at my wits end with my life/family/insomnia/hot flashes prior to starting the patches that as long as all those things improved I probably wouldn't have noticed anything else going on! I do remember that the dr was very insistent that I come back I think in 6 weeks and then at another 6 week point when I started them, to make sure all was ok and that dose levels didn't need to be higher... supposedly this patch is the lowest HRT available?? anyway, I think the schedule was 6 weeks, 3 months, then 6 months later, and then 1 year from the sttart... thus I see the dr again next month...

Give it some time... do you have a followup appointment scheduled? If not, maybe that's in order for the dr to re-assess your and the dosage.

Isn't it wonderful to start to feel semi-normal once again??? My 15 yo DD calls them my 'happy hormones' and if I'm at all crabby will ask if my patch is due to be changed!!!!
liz_h
Original Author
16 years ago
The weepiness and emotional lability didn't last long - 2 weeks or less. The good news is that the hot flashes have almost gone. The bad news is that I also had a period again! I don't know why I thought they had finally stopped - it hadn't been nearly a year, I guess it was wishful thinking.
njw753
16 years ago
I do the bioidentical hormone pellets. They changed my life completely!

My gyn does blood labs and implants the pellets in my hip about every 3-4 months. It is the easiest method I have found and I feel better than I have in years! The pellets took care of all my menopausal symptoms and more!
beauty2009
14 years ago
hi what are biodentical hormone pellets what are they for im 46 and perimenopausal i have no medication for my symptoms ie palpatations hot sweats panic attacks the only thing im taking which is helping is magnesium and calcium when i get the palps bad

HRT and mood swings?

Comments (6)

bullsigh

liz_h
Original Author

Related Discussions

plumbly22

liz_h
Original Author

njw753

beauty2009

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

HRT and mood swings?

Comments (6)

bullsigh

liz_hOriginal Author

Related Discussions

plumbly22

liz_hOriginal Author

njw753

beauty2009

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

liz_h
Original Author

liz_h
Original Author