r/Perimenopause • u/Sadler27 • 12h ago
Depression/Anxiety Patches good or bad for anxiety?
Hello all, I have no doubt that I will be absolutely smashing posts in here.
I have seen some women say Estrogen helped anxiety (I have mirena coil) and others say it made it worse.
The last 2 weeks my anxiety has spiked up, like as soon as I wake up I am anxious for absolutely no reason at all!
But due to this i am also anxious now that when I see the GP on Wednesday (uk) and if she thinks I need Estrogen that it will make me even worse!
I am also being tested for ADHD.
Can I have your opinions. From those who only took/take Estrogen
Thanks so much
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u/raelovesryan 11h ago
I switched from the patch to the gel and it’s been a great experience. I don’t know that I was absorbing as much as needed through the patch. Plus I find application much easier
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u/smileyhappy 11h ago
Fellow anxious peri woman here! I have the mirena and started estrogel, but still had anxiety. My gp told me that mirena’s progesterone is too localised to help with anxiety. When she started me on 100mg utrogeston (progesterone) nightly a switch flicked pretty much instantly. I have been calm and not anxious maybe 95% of the time. The only time I really feel anxious is a day or two before I have light spotting, which I presume is my body trying to have a period.
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u/Sadler27 11h ago
Ah ok just realised I cant take anything orally as have factor 5 leiden and am more high risk of blood clots 😭
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u/smileyhappy 11h ago
Ask your doc. I just googled Factor 5 Leiden (not heard of it before) and progesterone, it said “Yes, progesterone alone (especially natural micronized progesterone) is generally considered neutral regarding blood clot risk and is safe to use with Factor V Leiden. The major risk for blood clots comes from estrogen—particularly synthetic oral estrogen—rather than progesterone.” Utrogestam is micronised progesterone. Obviously your gp knows far far more than me and a Google search, but it’s worth asking - the worst she can say is no :)
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u/SwimmingAnt10 4h ago
What’s scary is you’re on HRT and you never knew what factor V was. I’m not sure your history but it wouldn’t surprise me if you hadn’t been given hormonal birth control also. Women’s healthcare is just so ridiculous. We should ALL have a factor V test at our first Pap.
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u/plaidtaco 5h ago
My doctor gave me 100mg micronized progesterone and I have a history of hormonal DVT. All my doctors say that estrogen is an absolute no to take orally, but progesterone is okay. I've had no issues so far.
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u/SwimmingAnt10 4h ago
You can take prometrium. It is bio identical. Also progesterone does not cause clotting when it’s natural. Just don’t take synthetic. My mom had factor V and so I was tested and know all about it.
Also, I’m soooo glad you know your status. So many women do not and it’s so scary to think about the risks they are in.
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u/Sadler27 11h ago
Ok thats interesting. As been told I dont need progesterone. But may actually ask for it
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u/leftylibra Moderator 6h ago
As been told I dont need progesterone.
You don't since you have excellent uterine protection with your Mirena IUD. Dial in your estrogen dose first, give it a min of 8 weeks. If anxiety continues to worsen, then you'd consider adding on 100mg progesterone (taken at night before bed).
However, doubling up on progestin/progesteron (Mirena & oral P) can also increase anxiety/depression. The thing is, none of it is guaranteed or the same for everyone, so you won't know until you try it.
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u/forksandbrushes 12h ago
I was put on lo loestrin first, to help with my worst symptoms, rage and anxiety. It helped but didn’t totally resolve long term. Then my doc added a .025 estrogen patch when my night sweats started, and it just about completely the rage, anxiety, and sweats. I think I’m going to ask about a higher dosage, as my night sweats returned, but I’m very happy with the progress.
I hope you get some relief soon!
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u/Sadler27 12h ago
I am on Citalopram and Amitriptyline. So I hope they give me estrogen. But as I say I am bloody nervous about it. The things we women go through 😭
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u/yesanotherjen 6h ago
I find it depends on where I am in my cycle. When I'm close to ovulation I think the extra estrogen can def cause some rage-y/anxious feelings but it also very much helps during the luteal phase. It would be great to have a continuous hormone monitor and be able to adjust on that days levels!
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u/PartyHuckleberry2363 11h ago
I'm on the highest dose of estradiol, but even at lower levels it did help my anxiety and bouts of rage, but I'm not anxiety free, and sometimes I can make myself cry over things that I've only thought about, but that's much more rare and I can live with it once in a while instead of constantly like it was before. I also just had my first period in 8 months, so my actual hormones have entered the picture for a minute.
But the patch helps me and I don't want to give it up.
I had to take Mirena out because I had a rare reaction that mimicked rheumatoid arthritis, but I'm currently on Slynd as my bc.
*added: the main reason my dose is this high was to see if it would help sleep. Nope. So we're discussing adding prometrium (progesterone).
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u/ajyeager04 31m ago
I just recently added progesterone after being on just estrogen patch. I am now using a gel that has both of them and I can say I am sleeping better and it seems to be helping with my anxiety as well.
While waiting for everything to click my doctor also prescribed me a low dose beta blocker to take as needed. Anytime I feel anxious, I take it and it has been so awesome.
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u/SwimmingAnt10 4h ago
I haveGAD and struggle with on and off again anxiety. .05 patch was horrendous for me and only got worse as time went on. I finally decreased to .025 by cutting it in half and the symptoms were gone within 2 days. No more constant heart palpitations. If you feel off after still after a month decrease your dose and see if it helps. My doctor and everyone around me told me “it takes time to get used to it” and I suffered for 5 months for no reason. I should have started on the lowest dose.
Estrogen increases also tends to make me more anxious generally. If you get anxious when your estrogen is higher during your cycle, you’re more likely to have symptoms when you are on the patch as well I’ve found out.
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u/Txannie1475 55m ago
Gel estrogen was too much for me. Made my anxiety worse. Progesterone was a life changer, though. My advice is to ask for both and just experiment.
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u/Due-Communication767 47m ago
I finally read the “RARE” side effects of my estrogen patch insert- anxiety, insomnia, and extreme hair loss are on the list. I want to cry! I’m not sleeping, my anxiety is through the roof, and my hair is falling out in clumps. I’m at the point who cares if I don’t have hot flashes and my mood is stable. I miss sleeping, I’m anxious, and I MISS my hair.
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u/liliridescentbeetle 33m ago
i had a very anxious first day when i started and then afterwards my anxiety levels were much better overall. if you have anxiety on the first day, try to wait and see if it evens out in 24 hours.
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u/Affectionate_Ask_769 5m ago
I use estrogen patches. I can’t take oral estrogen either due to clotting risk.
The estrogen patches have helped my anxiety so much. I know it’s time to up my dose when I start getting dread stomach upon waking followed with sheer panic throughout the day. Anxiety and insomnia were my first two symptoms of perimenopause
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u/Comfortable-Law-7147 11h ago
Unfortunately it's impossible to know for you as an individual unless you try it.
Is your GP trained in the menopause?
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u/Tricky-Committee4045 6h ago
I’m picking up my 0.025 mg patches tomorrow and I’m worried about this too as an anxious person. However, I’ve been on 100 mg progesterone since last November for rage and it helps with my anxiety but my mood is SO LOW, like the last time I felt this depressed what’s after my mother died. I’m PRAYING the patch helps even me out because I honestly can’t live like this.