birth control pills vs. antidepressants
Question:
I am seeking advice and/or comments on behalf of my sister, who does not have direct access to the internet. She is 44, has been having what to me are very obvious per-menopausal symptoms for a few years, and they are lately getting much worse. Her symptoms are: night sweats (no daytime flashes) insomnia mood swings depression anxiety attacks. She had spoken to her doctor about a year or so ago, who came back with the "you’re too young" line. At that time, she was "only" having the night sweats and insomnia, but since then, the mood swings and anxiety attacks have intensifies — she went to her doctor again, a month or two ago, and was offered anti-depressants. She declined, and has been using vitamin E, Siberian ginseng, and dong quai, all with no appreciable effect. I have been giving her access to many of the messages on this newsgroup and on the menopause mailing list, which have helped her immensely, through the knowledge that she is not alone, and is not going crazy. She has also done some reading. Lately the mood swings are worse, she has blown up at some meetings, I gather, and it was suggested by her boss that she seek counselling. Monday, she went back to the doctor — pointed out that her working life was being affected, and was again offered anti-depressants. Her doctor is of the view that HRT is only for after you’ve stopped having periods. She expressed reluctance, on the grounds that if the problem was hormonal, of which the mood swings were a symptom, shouldn’t she be treating the problem, not the symptom. Based on some of the posts to the mailing list, where a number of women still having periods have reported significant relief from low-dose birth control pills, she asked about that. The doctor seemed reluctant, but gave her a prescription. The bad news is that she can’t start for about a month, as she just had her period, and apparently you’re supposed to start them at the same time as a period. Also the doctor said the bc pills would take a couple of months to have an effect. The doctor also said that relief would be faster (a few weeks) with the anti-depressants. She favoured Zoloft or Paxil, and clearly preferred the antidepressant option. So, the moral of the story is (I hope) that some doctors will listen to you if you make the effort, but it does require effort. It was hard for my sister to assert herself this way. My sister would appreciate any comments you may have on the options her doctor gave her — your experiences, how long to get relief, etc. Thanks a million, Ann C. — Ann Cornellier, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada av…@freenet.carleton.ca
Response:
Ann Cornellier (av…@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) wrote:
: Her doctor is of the view : that HRT is only for after you’ve stopped having periods. See a new doctor. I’m on HRT, and I still have periods, and it’s wonderful! : The doctor said the bc pills would : take a couple of months to have an effect. Not necessarily. Also, given the severity of her symptoms, she may want to try HRT. The doses are more easily controlled, not set as in bc pills. She might also want to look into melatonin for help w/ the insomnia. Karen kar…@netcom.com
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> av…@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Ann Cornellier) writes: > I am seeking advice and/or comments on behalf of my sister, who does not > have direct access to the internet. She is 44, has been having what to me > are very obvious per-menopausal symptoms for a few years, and they are > lately getting much worse. Her symptoms are: > night sweats (no daytime flashes) > insomnia > mood swings > depression > anxiety attacks. > She had spoken to her doctor about a year or so ago, who came back with the > "you’re too young" line. At that time, she was "only" having the night > sweats and insomnia, but since then, the mood swings and anxiety attacks > have intensifies — she went to her doctor again, a month or two ago, and > was offered anti-depressants. She declined, and has been using vitamin E, > Siberian ginseng, and dong quai, all with no appreciable effect. I have > been giving her access to many of the messages on this newsgroup and on the > menopause mailing list, which have helped her immensely, through the > knowledge that she is not alone, and is not going crazy. She has also done > some reading. > Lately the mood swings are worse, she has blown up at some meetings, I > gather, and it was suggested by her boss that she seek counselling. Monday, > she went back to the doctor — pointed out that her working life was being > affected, and was again offered anti-depressants. Her doctor is of the view > that HRT is only for after you’ve stopped having periods. She expressed > reluctance, on the grounds that if the problem was hormonal, of which the > mood swings were a symptom, shouldn’t she be treating the problem, not the > symptom. Based on some of the posts to the mailing list, where a number of > women still having periods have reported significant relief from low-dose > birth control pills, she asked about that. The doctor seemed reluctant, but > gave her a prescription. The bad news is that she can’t start for about a > month, as she just had her period, and apparently you’re supposed to start > them at the same time as a period. Also the doctor said the bc pills would > take a couple of months to have an effect. The doctor also said that relief > would be faster (a few weeks) with the anti-depressants. She favoured > Zoloft or Paxil, and clearly preferred the antidepressant option. > So, the moral of the story is (I hope) that some doctors will listen to you > if you make the effort, but it does require effort. It was hard for my > sister to assert herself this way. > My sister would appreciate any comments you may have on the options her > doctor gave her — your experiences, how long to get relief, etc. > Thanks a million, > Ann C. > – > Ann Cornellier, > Ottawa, Ontario, Canada > av…@freenet.carleton.ca
44? I wish I was 44. I am going on 39 in July and my cycle became rather messed up a gear ago. Last May, my doctor pretty well told me that I was going through the change. Since then I have not really taken any active steps although I have been offered hormone therapy, the pill and even the option of a full hysterectomy. I declined. Recently things have gotten a little out of hand. My fuse is about 1/16th of an inch, I have insomnia and I am now getting some hot flashes. In February, you know, that short month, I had three cycles with two of them being really bad. Now, I admit, I should have taken the step I took today. My sister is a pro-active health care provider and so we spent a couple of hours today. My estrogen and progesterone (sp) are totally out of whack. Besides working through some emotional issues that have increased my sense that I would like to strangle someone, anyone, she has put me on Yam Root which increases the amount of estrogen my body produces as well as Progesterone. Even though I have to wait about a week to receive them I feel pretty good about them working. They will slow down the process of menopause somewhat but it will make it a little easier. Tell your sister, good luck, and that it is my understanding that once one goes on regular hormone therapy your body loses it’s ability to ever produce those hormones again. That idea tends to scare me a bit. And…don’t let anyone tell you that "you’re too young." …daye
Response:
Ann Cornellier (av…@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) wrote:
: My sister would appreciate any comments you may have on the options her : doctor gave her — your experiences, how long to get relief, etc. Hi Ann. I can’t comment on menopause, since I think I’m just starting into the early stages, but I *can* comment on depression. I’ve had two serious clinical depressions, both of which happened while I was on the BCP. I think your sister’s symptoms sound exactly like depression; that is, they are the same symptoms I had when I was depressed. I took Prozac with the first episode and went to a therapist. I saw immediately relief within a few days. I was a new person. I only took Prozac for about two months, just long enough for me to get feeling better and take charge of my problems. The second episode, which happened about two years later, was much better because by then I recognized the symptoms. Again, I took an antidepressant (Zoloft this time) but only for a few months. I felt better within a couple of weeks — Prozac works faster. I don’t think your sister need be afraid of antidepressants. I really felt like they saved my life and I didn’t have to stay on them for very long. The pill has never helped me with any of those symptoms. I don’t know if this helps, but it’s my experience, for what it’s worth. BTW, I haven’t had an episode of depression for several years now. 
My best to your sister; I hope she gets better soon. Julie Stutheit ju…@aracnet.com Portland, Oregon — ————————————————————————— Juliann Stutheit Portland, Oregon, USA
