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Menopause

Withdrawal from hrt

(39 Posts)
Shelmiss Sat 01-Jul-23 11:51:45

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!

Overthemoongran Sat 01-Jul-23 11:48:29

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

Lupatria Sat 01-Jul-23 11:44:59

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.

Juicylucy Sat 01-Jul-23 11:25:25

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.

icanhandthemback Thu 29-Jun-23 23:16:32

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.

lovingit Thu 29-Jun-23 23:10:16

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.

Jane43 Thu 29-Jun-23 11:11:48

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.

BigBertha1 Thu 29-Jun-23 09:48:11

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. sad

Bakingmad0203 Thu 29-Jun-23 08:27:15

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.

Gwyllt Wed 28-Jun-23 23:01:24

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

mumski Wed 28-Jun-23 22:40:18

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.

Mancjules Wed 28-Jun-23 22:29:58

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!

tanith Wed 28-Jun-23 18:58:32

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

Msdaisy Wed 28-Jun-23 18:14:15

I recently had a medication review and was advised by gp to stop my hrt (Kliofem) as I’ve been on it over 10 years. I’m 63.
Has anyone stopped taking hrt and if so how did you feel? Did any menopause symptoms return? I’m worried how I’m going to feel