HRT and mood swings?

18 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.

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Comments (6)

bullsigh
18 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
18 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!
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I have had no post-menopausal problems including hot flashes. This was a pleasant surprise to me because I had such horrible periods and PMS and I had read that the two are linked. My emotional state is the best it has been in my entire life. That surprised me too. I think getting off the estrogen roller coaster was good for me. I also reconnected to my faith so it is hard to say what comes from what. I have finally been released from a lifetime of painful shyness. It is such a joy not to have to plan every outing, every vacation, and weigh job offers on the basis of "when is my period due and what facilities will be available" Spending entire days in the bathroom because the flow was so relentless are over. Lying in bed trying not to scream from the cramps is over. Becoming suicidal once a month is over too. I have taken nothing and am glad for it, but all of my friends are either on HRT or tranquilizers to handle their post-menopausal problems. I guess I am just lucky or maybe I used up all my bad karma on the 44 years I spent trying to deal with all that mess and pain.
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The best way to handle menopause is to educate oneself about it and look at it as a natural step in a woman's life. We tend to over-medicalize everything from the menstrual cycle to childbirth to menopause. Yes I had hot flashes, yes I was a bit irritable and edgy for the first year but I knew these things were normal and they too would pass and they did. Took nothing. Tried to keep busy,eat healthy and take time for myself. On the other hand I know women who were put on HRT before they even had one side effect of menopause. It was to "prevent" all the bad stuff they were told they would get. Never bothered to wait to see if they would even have a need for the drug. Of course there are a relatively small number of women who may need chemical assistance. But most women would be just fine if they didn't buy into the everything a woman does is an illness carp. Anything "natural" that works is probably doing the same amount of harm that HRT drugs can. Unless it's some snake oil placebo so many are fond of taking. But if you're taking a natural product full of estrogen , it's still estrogen.
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Hello Garule, I have been on bio identical hormones for about 3 years now. I do not use the patch. I take oral progesterone and an estradiol creme. I weaned off of the testosterone as I felt it was doing little good. You are not alone! The only benefit I feel are reduced hot flahes, however having said that I still experience terrible symptoms. Extreme flushes of heat that last for what seems hours accompanied by gastric distress, headaches, mood swings, anxiety etc. Don't no why I bother with them at all! Blood tests come back showing "normal" hormone levels for a woman my age..55. There are days where I feel almost normal, but the hormones have provided little relief. I would swear I am suffering from an autoimmune disease considering how awful I usually feel. Sorry you are struggling as well. hoping there is a light at the end of this crazy tunnell!
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plumbly22
18 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
18 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
18 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
17 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?

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HRT and mood swings?

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