![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ZAPPA on January 19, 2004, at 14:36:13
I am a 48 year old female undergoing psychotherapy and drug treatment for severe depression. I have asked my M.D. and my psychiatrist of the relation of depression to the possible onset of menopause. They pretty much blew off the suggestion instructing me to continue with Effexor XR and psychotherapy. Problem is, the Effexor is giving me "brain zaps" and my doc wants me to stop the med cold turkey.I have been off for about 7 days but the zaps are increasing but less severe.
I am wondering if I could benefit by hormome therapy for the depression. I went through severe depression after the births of each of my three children, but I survived, or so it seems. It makes sense to me that my problem could be hormone related. Does this hit home with anyone?
Posted by helenag on January 19, 2004, at 15:41:58
In reply to CHANGE OF LIFE AND DEPRESSION, posted by ZAPPA on January 19, 2004, at 14:36:13
Yes, hormones certainly do have a bearing on our mental well-being. Many studies have been done on the effects of estrogen and progesterone and testosterone on the neurochemicals involved in mood regulation. Turns out Mr. Rogers is right: We're all of one piece.
I am pushing fifty myself and have signs of the upcoming change of life. I never suffered from post partum depressions, however. My pregnancies were the best times of my life, however, as far as moods go.
I have asked both my pdoc and family physician about hormones interfering with my moods. Both agreed that it is entirely possible. My pdoc suggested alternative medicine, a group of women who practice holistic medicine. My family doc said that it was practically impossible to regulate emotions with hormone therapy but he was willing to try a low dose birth control pill. I wasn't willing to take it. Nor any other synthetic hormone. I figure I am on enough meds right now, thank you.
As to your Effexor XR questions: I have been on the drug for over three years and have never experienced what you wrote about as far as the increase in creativity. Perhaps your depression had began to lift and you felt your creativity coming to the fore again? I did have brain zaps when I first started taking the drug. They went away in the first few days. I have found effexor to be a very effective drug with no side effects that I am aware of except if I miss a dose for more than two days (which I don't do anymore)
Hope that this helps. Please search out your answers through this board and other sites. There is a wealth of information out there. Also, a book called, Women and Moods, I think that is the title. It speaks to the topic you refer to.
Helen.
Posted by CarolW on January 19, 2004, at 16:38:03
In reply to CHANGE OF LIFE AND DEPRESSION, posted by ZAPPA on January 19, 2004, at 14:36:13
My therapist recommended that I have my estrogen tested due to my current depression. She said to be sure to get the individual estrogen levels checked(the estradiol, etc...) as well as other hormone levels. She recommended Dr. Susan Love's Hormone book. Dr. Christiane Northrup's Menopause book is another good source of info. Also, you should have a complete thyroid panel as a deficiency in thyroid hormone is a common source of depression in middle age women. Be sure to take supplements that women need, especially the B-vitamins, calcium, etc... Also, eat only really good foods (whole grains, lots of vegetables...) as sugars and white flour stuff makes our blood sugar go the wrong direction, which can create a depressed feeling. Personally, I did get some benefit from taking an anti-depressant. But, the side effects I experienced, and the problems getting off it it, has made me try some natural alternatives. But, each of us have to make those choices for ourselves. Just do what's best for you.
Posted by Mariposa on January 19, 2004, at 19:37:44
In reply to Re: CHANGE OF LIFE AND DEPRESSION, posted by CarolW on January 19, 2004, at 16:38:03
Also check out *www.herplace.com*, Dr. Elizabeth Vliet has a lot to say on the subject of hormones.~~~8|8
Posted by sac on January 19, 2004, at 21:19:17
In reply to CHANGE OF LIFE AND DEPRESSION, posted by ZAPPA on January 19, 2004, at 14:36:13
It is worth having your hormone levels checked. I am 35 and have been treated for depression for 15 years. However, after the birth of my second child I became bipolar (family history also). I was never able to go back on birth control pills and my PMDD (which I never had prior to my second child) was out of control. I've been bouncing around with various Antidepressants and mood stabilizers for the last 3 years. Somehow, it has always felt very hormonal for me. At my request, my Pdoc sent me for blood tests on my estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, LH, and FSH. These tests were used to determine whether I was perimenopausal. Well it turns out I am and my estrogen was VERY low. I am now on Premarin (despite the controversy) along with my other meds and am increasingly finding more mood stability. Don't let the doctors dismiss your feelings try to look into having your levels check, there just may be something going on.
> I am a 48 year old female undergoing psychotherapy and drug treatment for severe depression. I have asked my M.D. and my psychiatrist of the relation of depression to the possible onset of menopause. They pretty much blew off the suggestion instructing me to continue with Effexor XR and psychotherapy. Problem is, the Effexor is giving me "brain zaps" and my doc wants me to stop the med cold turkey.I have been off for about 7 days but the zaps are increasing but less severe.
> I am wondering if I could benefit by hormome therapy for the depression. I went through severe depression after the births of each of my three children, but I survived, or so it seems. It makes sense to me that my problem could be hormone related. Does this hit home with anyone?
Posted by Geralyn on January 19, 2004, at 22:21:50
In reply to CHANGE OF LIFE AND DEPRESSION, posted by ZAPPA on January 19, 2004, at 14:36:13
I am 45 and raised the same issue with my doctor. He said it didn't really matter if that was the problem because the preferred treatment is antidepressants anyway. Don't know if this is a common opinion, but thought I would pass it along. I've had a long tough year trying various combinations of AD's, but I do think I am better overall. I'm sure a lot of my problem is hormonal because I used to be profoundly depressed when pre-menstrual.
Posted by ZAPPA on January 19, 2004, at 22:36:10
In reply to Re: CHANGE OF LIFE AND DEPRESSION » ZAPPA, posted by helenag on January 19, 2004, at 15:41:58
> Yes, hormones certainly do have a bearing on our mental well-being. Many studies have been done on the effects of estrogen and progesterone and testosterone on the neurochemicals involved in mood regulation. Turns out Mr. Rogers is right: We're all of one piece.
>
> I am pushing fifty myself and have signs of the upcoming change of life. I never suffered from post partum depressions, however. My pregnancies were the best times of my life, however, as far as moods go.
>
> I have asked both my pdoc and family physician about hormones interfering with my moods. Both agreed that it is entirely possible. My pdoc suggested alternative medicine, a group of women who practice holistic medicine. My family doc said that it was practically impossible to regulate emotions with hormone therapy but he was willing to try a low dose birth control pill. I wasn't willing to take it. Nor any other synthetic hormone. I figure I am on enough meds right now, thank you.
>
> As to your Effexor XR questions: I have been on the drug for over three years and have never experienced what you wrote about as far as the increase in creativity. Perhaps your depression had began to lift and you felt your creativity coming to the fore again? I did have brain zaps when I first started taking the drug. They went away in the first few days. I have found effexor to be a very effective drug with no side effects that I am aware of except if I miss a dose for more than two days (which I don't do anymore)
>
> Hope that this helps. Please search out your answers through this board and other sites. There is a wealth of information out there. Also, a book called, Women and Moods, I think that is the title. It speaks to the topic you refer to.
> Helen.>
> Thanks, I appreciate your responses....
ZAPPA
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.