Withdrawal from hrt

I still had hot flushes after coming off patches but it wasnt too bad.

I had to go on HRT patches at 40 due to a hystericalectomy...stayed on them until I was 55 then tried coming off them via my gp. Not a good idea. Hot flushes, mood swings and fatigue. Went back on them after 4 years and altho my gp "reminds" I need to come off them - at 66 I won't be doing. Everyone is different but for me they are keeping me sane!

I'm also on Kliofem Ms daisy. At the age of 65, my GP is quite happy for me to stay on them as long as it suits me.
We had a specialist Nurse come to talk to us a work about the Menopause , HRT etc. One of the things that stayed with us was how little knowledge she said the average GP has, unfortunately in particular male GPs.
Unless there are significant reasons why your GP thinks you should come off it, I would definitely ask for a second opinion. Don't be fobbed off by them.

Gp took me off HRT gynaecologist prescribed different type.gel and capsules. Both heart and Orthopedic surgeon nodded approvingly when I announced still on HRT I’m mid seventies. The advantage also didn’t have to come off them prior to surgery

I have been on HRT for 20 years with regular checks and no problems. I tried coming off it for a year as my then GP refused to prescribe anymore! I had the dreadful side effects described by mancjules even though I did it very gradually.

I went back on HRT after seeing a different GP and a gynaecologist, but unfortunately it looks as if I’m going to have to change to a different type as I now have bleeding and the gynaecologist thinks the type of HRT I am on is the cause. Just waiting for some test results to confirm.

I had to come off about 8 years ago. It hasn't been good I must say. Spare you the details. It may been psychological... I felt written off, ended.

I was on it for 7 years from about 55-62 because I had very bad hot flushes, sleeplessness and mood swings. My GP said I had to come off it, I had no choice because at the time there was a scare about the connection between breast cancer and HRT. Thankfully I was retired by then but the hot flushes were really bad for many years. After breast cancer four years ago I was put on an oestrogen blocker and the hot flushes came back with a vengeance along with other side effects.

I,m 72 and have been on HRT for decades and have no intention of coming off. My GP was reluctant until I pointed out that if I did, the resulting lack of sleep due to night sweats,the muscle ache and mood swings would have me back and I would be so depressed he would suggest anti depressants.He had to agree that it was possible. The small added risk is far outweighed by the quality of life HRT allows me.

I wouldn't want to come off it. I find a lack of oestrogen makes me emotional and paranoid just like I was with PMT. I agree with lovingit, quality of life is far important than the small risk, not only for me but for the people around me too.

I’m 67 I came off it 6 years ago after being on it for 10 years it was my decision as I’ve never liked taking tablets. The only think I found was my night sweats came back but no where near as bad as when I first started peri menopause. However now we know so much more about hrt I wish I’d stayed on it. But it’s not advised to go back on it after a long break, but apparently there isn’t any research done on this, so I’ll stay off it.

i'm another who has been on hrt for years and has no intention of stopping!
i had a total hysterectomy at the age of 47 in 1994 because of ovarian cancer and went straight into menopause.
i'll be 76 in august and feel so good on hrt. i weighed up the pros [hopefully no osteoporosis] and the cons [chances of breast cancer] and decided i'd prefer the pros.
my mother had osteoporosis and suffered broken and brittle bones and i didn't want that.
i have my prescription for hrt on repeat and just request a new lot of tablets when i run out.

Stay on it as long as you can. I took it from 40 ( hysterectomy) to 60 when my GP said I had to stop. I wish I’d never stopped. I ended up giving up my high powered job as I was just too tired ( night sweats) & too emotional to cope any more. I’m enjoying my retirement but in hindsight I wish I’d worked for longer and given up when I wanted to, not when I had to as people were noticing I wasn’t top of my game anymore

I have tried to come off HRT twice. I was on Livial for approx 6 years. Was advised by my GP to come off it and with his advice went cold turkey and stopped my tablets completely. Was fine until all the symptoms that had disappeared came back with a vengeance. Hot flushes, palpitations, anxiety etc.

So I went back on it. A couple of years later I tried again, this time by weaning myself off it over a few months. Again, all went ok initially but then the symptoms came back again, just as bad.

I decided to see a private menopause specialist and was given the 3 big boys, oestrogen gel, progesterone tablets and testosterone. This concoction worked perfectly for me and sorted out all the issues that Livial hadn’t. I’m not coming off it again that’s for sure!

It amazes me how many of you are on HRT.

In Denmark we have been told for 20 years that it increases the risk of cancer in all parts of the female reproductary tract and that it should only be used for very short periods of time.

Hot flushes can be caused by other factors than the menopause, and mood swings might benefit more from counselling than from hormone treatments, as they too are not necessarily part of the menopause, or indeed of the menarche.

Started on HRT in 1993 at age 40 after having Hysterectomy plus Ovaries removed too.
Had been on them till about 18 months ago when tried to come off of them. Terrible hot flushes and feeling awful. GP didn’t want me going back on them so I went to a private Menopause clinic and was prescribed patches.
Was also told I can be on them indefinitely.

So much better. Yes I know there is a slight risk of Breast cancer, but I believe it’s quality of life not quantity that matters most.

There was a discussion on Women's Hour this week about the research linking long term use of HRT to dementia in later life. There were also reports about this in the press. I find this extremely worrying.

I've never been on HRT and still get very hot and sweaty - I assume from this that symptoms would start again for many if you come off them.
After the dementia reports earlier this week it was stressed that this was just one report and that others have said the opposite. Personally I believe that it is wrong to come off any medication too quickly, unless it is damaging in the short term.
For example obviously for women who have had some oestrogen-sensitive type of breast cancer it would be essential.

(I'm over 70)

I'm 57 been in menopause since my mid 40s and am not allowed HRT, I envy anyone who can have it...

I was on HRT from age 40 when I had a hysterectomy, this continued until I was 62. My Dr refused to prescribe them any more and I started having hot flushes almost immediately, now at the age of 75 the hot flushes continue.

I use topical oestrogen pessaries and cream prescribed by my GP. I have GSOM as it's called now (Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause) or VA (Vaginal Atrophy as it used to be called.) This condition is often extremely painful and my life wouldn't be worth living without the partial relief it brings. I will need this medication for the rest of my life and maybe increasing doses of oestrogen. If I needed to take oral HRT, I would because GSOM has ruined my quality of life. It is a common condition which I'd never heard about until I got it. Even GPs often seem unaware of it or how negatively it can impact women's lives. I had urinary problems and pain for years but very rarely tested positive for a UTI (though often given antibiotics which didn't help.) None of the medics considered GSOM/VA. Now I have horrible pelvic and vaginal pain instead which limits my life. Of course (?) people don't like to hear about a painful vag but women need to be aware of it because treating with oestrogen topically (or stronger HRT if necessary) improves the condition and prevents it getting worse.

I am not on HRT and haven't been since I was 45. Decided to stop after 2 years as I felt I just could not keep up with my body wanting to rush everywhere. Yes the flushing and sweats returned but only for a few months. 76 now and wonder just how I'd feel if I had kept on the drug, I'd probably have been flying by now.

I’m 60 and was told by a GP in April I should stop taking HRT owing to my age. I was on Utrogestan and Oestrogel. Apart from the odd hot flush I’ve been perfectly ok. I did wean off it over 3 weeks but really am surprised that I seem to be fine.

I was on HRT for 20 years - came off it at age 60 as my doctor recommended this. No problems at all - but after 2 years developed breast cancer - and had a mastectomy- was this due to HRT? Who knows?