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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by leeran on March 26, 2003, at 14:38:06
In reply to Hormones, posted by pumpkin on March 26, 2003, at 13:53:20
Hi there,
I meant to reply to "jim" or "jimi?" about this yesterday.
I take natural hormones that were supposedly formulated based on the hormone levels detected during a blood test my gynecologist took last spring.
They are prepared at the Beverly Hills Compounding Pharmacy and luckily, they ship them out at no additional charge because I'm about 15 miles from there and with heavy traffic it makes it seem like 115 miles.
The "formula" is a combination of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone - which I think makes me feel a little more like my "aggressive type A 'old self'" As you probably know, women produce testosterone (low levels) and as we age those levels taper off (similarly to the other important hormones).
Apparently there is a fairly accurate blood test for determining hormone levels and perimenopause. One doctor took the test and wanted me to go on synthetic hormones (a suggestion I ignored for a year), then this other gynecologist (who happened to also be doing my liposuction) took a blood test and found the same thing (low levels of all the 'mones or 'moans' as I like to call them).
During perimenopause - and even before - our hormone levels can shift wildly, causing all kinds of mood swings, depressed feelings, etc. I've read that pinning these levels down is more difficult because there can be many factors that contribute to what the levels are from day to day. In my case, my hormones were definitely low - i.e. menstruation tapering off almost completely - and the blood tests just confirmed the obvious.
Regarding my own hormones being messed up while on anti-depressants: early menopause runs in my family (my mother, a heavy-duty smoker) was finished with menopause by age 37. I didn't start any anti-depressants until my later thirties (I'm 44 now) and even then, I could sense a shift in my so-called "cycles."
You mentioned headaches. Do you think that's related to the Lexapro? I've read on this board that many people have experienced headaches with this medication. Of course, fluctuating hormones can play a part in this as well.
I've scoured the internet for articles about A.D.D. and menopause and I've found a few (not many). My own psychiatrist thinks that A.D.D. can mask itself as depression because the disorganization can affect our self-esteem and make us feel even worse about ourselves. I took an "online test" for A.D.D. and my husband answered the questions as well (the website encouraged having a close family member take the test with the individual in question in mind). I had never really thought that I might have A.D.D. until recently, when my 15 year old son went back on Adderall and I saw what a difference it made in him. I joke w/ my husband that I'm sure I "caught" it from N. (son) and ex-husband (father of N.). Of course, we know it's not an airborne "disease!"
I think I may have had slight tendencies toward it growing up, yet I maintained good grades and did well in my career.
My strong feeling is that the decrease in hormone levels (along with a lot of stress for a few years in my thirties, stress that also weakens the adrenal glands) is what contributed to what I now see as a full-blown case of A.D.D.
My metabolism was so bottomed out that I would want to sleep for hours on end (this was different than a "depressed" sleep - it was actual exhaustion). That did pass - even before I started on the Adderall - but since age 35 I gained FORTY pounds! Luckily, I've taken off twenty of that in the last two years but it hasn't been easy and I literally had to have liposuction to help redistribute the disgusting middle section I had acquired.
SO - for me, that's been the menopause journey so far.
With Adderall I truly feel more like I did in my twenties and thirties. More focused, more energy, less liable to space out totally (but I still DO space out, and many a times I wonder why I'm so cold when I realize I've been standing there with the refrigerator door open trying to figure out what the h*ll I was looking for).
Basically, I think these pyschotropic drugs are great for trying to reconstruct what "normal" is - or should be - for each individual. But I liken them to plastic surgery. You can tweak and pull and add but you're still not going to create absolute perfection. In my opinion, it's an artificial means to obtain a liveable/livable end.
Hope this doesn't violate any rules -
I'm going to copy and paste a brief paragraph about estrogen and A.D.D.
In females with ADD there are significant hormonal influences. ADD symptoms seem to be worse at times of significant hormonal fluctuations, such as the week before menses, after having a baby, during perimenopause and after menopause. Current brain imaging work demonstrates that low levels of estrogen correlate with decreased brain activity, causing women to feel more tired and have greater problems concentration. So a woman with mild ADD symptoms may have major problems during low estrogen states.
> Leeran
> Read your post about natural hormones. Sounded
> like me when I went off all anti-depressants.
> I would read a book and cry! I couldn't figure
> this out, so I started Lex. I've had people
> tell me about perimenopause(they think I'm
> starting), but the blood tests tell differently.
> I wonder if your hormones could be messed up
> while taking anti-depressant meds? I would love
> to get an "accurate" count. What do you mean
> by "natural" hormones? Better safe, than sorry!
>
> Meanwhile, guys, my doctor changed my Lex to mornings. What a "trip" I've gone on! My emotions are going everywhere! This is day
> 16 for me, and I'm hanging in there. Depression
> is still bad, have some problems with anxiety,
> and I'm tired. My appetite is bad, but my
> motabilism is slow, so I haven't lost much weight.
> I would like to get rid of these headaches too!
>
> After struggling for over two years with this-
> I'm starting to think that something else is up!
>
> Thanks for the posts- they are an encouragement
> to me!
>
>
Posted by annlanka on March 26, 2003, at 15:35:15
In reply to is there anything else, posted by skyeXX on March 26, 2003, at 13:54:47
> Ive been on lexapro about two months. Im not depressed anymore but having the horrible sexual side effect=NO INTEREST anymore, IM only on 10 mg is there anything else to take
hi skyeXX-
i feel your pain. I have been on lexapro for 5 months and am still totally asexual! it sucks- howver, my roomate and i discovered that if you take your medication in the morning the day before you are going to be sexually active and then the day you have sex, wait till after the deed is done to take the medicine. I dont know how concerned you are with taking your medicine at specific times everyday- but i found i could do this like once a month and have no ill effects from mistiming of taking my medicine. But you should probably ask your doc first about that one. It at least allowed me the big O a couple of times! (sorry for the graphics guys)annlanka
Posted by annlanka on March 26, 2003, at 15:38:46
In reply to Re: Hormones, posted by leeran on March 26, 2003, at 14:38:06
hi-
was wondering if anyone has taken or is currently on effexor- i just got samples today and am supposed to lower my lexapro and add the effexor. could anyone tell me their experience with effexor?
thanks
annlanka
Posted by blkvettes on March 26, 2003, at 15:52:26
In reply to effexor, posted by annlanka on March 26, 2003, at 15:38:46
> hi-
> was wondering if anyone has taken or is currently on effexor- i just got samples today and am supposed to lower my lexapro and add the effexor. could anyone tell me their experience with effexor?
> thanks
> annlanka
Posted by lil' jimi on March 26, 2003, at 15:59:10
In reply to Re: Hormones, posted by leeran on March 26, 2003, at 14:38:06
> I meant to reply to "jim" or "jimi?" about this yesterday.
>hi leeran,
you can call anything you please, just don't call me late for supper! <heh, heh>
great post there ... way informative ... Thanks for the good info!
got me to thinking ... i have heard tell this about the fat gut syndrome on guys ... that we tend to establish entrenched eating habits as youngsters when our metabolisms can burn off anything we eat and then as we age our testostorone levels fall off and our metabolisms slow down, but we don't change our eating habits, so ... by (or before) 35 here comes the big gut on (sometimes) otherwise thin frames.
my theory is y'all gals also have your testostorone levels fall off by about 35 in a parallel to what happens to us... along with all that other stuff .... maybe?
just a thought anyway.
peace,
~ jimp.s. my grandma always called me "little jimmy"... "jim" was already taken when i registered for Psycho-Babble.
Posted by leeran on March 26, 2003, at 16:20:37
In reply to Re: Hormones » leeran, posted by lil' jimi on March 26, 2003, at 15:59:10
Lil Jimi - reminds me of Purple Haze - which reminds me of the state of affairs in and around my gray matter now and then.
Re: thickened middles. When we're under stress our bodies produce cortisol.
Copied and pasted:
Cortisol affects fat distribution by causing fat to be stored centrally—around the organs. Cortisol exposure can increase visceral fat—the fat surrounding the organs—in animals. People with diseases associated with extreme exposure to cortisol, such as severe recurrent depression and Cushing’s disease also have excessive amounts of visceral fat.
"Everyone is exposed to stress, but some people may secrete more cortisol than others, and may secrete cortisol each time they face the same stressor," Epel adds. "We predicted that reacting to the same stressors consistently by secreting cortisol would be related to greater visceral fat."
> > I meant to reply to "jim" or "jimi?" about this yesterday.
> >
>
> hi leeran,
>
> you can call anything you please, just don't call me late for supper! <heh, heh>
>
> great post there ... way informative ... Thanks for the good info!
>
> got me to thinking ... i have heard tell this about the fat gut syndrome on guys ... that we tend to establish entrenched eating habits as youngsters when our metabolisms can burn off anything we eat and then as we age our testostorone levels fall off and our metabolisms slow down, but we don't change our eating habits, so ... by (or before) 35 here comes the big gut on (sometimes) otherwise thin frames.
>
> my theory is y'all gals also have your testostorone levels fall off by about 35 in a parallel to what happens to us... along with all that other stuff .... maybe?
>
> just a thought anyway.
>
> peace,
> ~ jim
>
> p.s. my grandma always called me "little jimmy"... "jim" was already taken when i registered for Psycho-Babble.
>
Posted by Hollygirl on March 26, 2003, at 17:38:02
In reply to Lexapro to Wellbutrin - Please advise, posted by BarbaraS on March 24, 2003, at 21:45:54
> Hi everyone,
>
> My therapist thought I might want to switch from Lexapro to Wellbutrin because of the consistent side effects that I've had. Has anyone done that, or been on Wellbutrin before? What side effects have you had? I hate having to start a different med again, so I'm trying to hang in there with Lexapro.
>
> Thanks for any help you can offer.
>
> Barbara
>My therapist told me yesterday that he wants me to switch from Lexapro to a different med because Lexapro makes me so exhausted that I don't want to do ANYTHING. I have a Dr. appointment Friday, but, like you, I don't want to keep trying new drugs! I wish there was just one magic pill that worked for everyone...
Posted by Krissy P on March 26, 2003, at 17:52:55
In reply to Re: Hormones » leeran, posted by lil' jimi on March 26, 2003, at 15:59:10
lil' jimi, what a great sense of humor!!! I had to laugh because my grandma always called me "krissy pooh" and Kristen was already taken when I registered for Psycho-Babble.
between that and the hormone thing-your post made me smile and I just wanted to tell ya:-)
Yeah, hormones sometimes suk for us women.lol
Kristen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------hi leeran,
you can call anything you please, just don't call me late for supper! <heh, heh>
great post there ... way informative ... Thanks for the good info!
got me to thinking ... i have heard tell this about the fat gut syndrome on guys ... that we tend to establish entrenched eating habits as youngsters when our metabolisms can burn off anything we eat and then as we age our testostorone levels fall off and our metabolisms slow down, but we don't change our eating habits, so ... by (or before) 35 here comes the big gut on (sometimes) otherwise thin frames.
my theory is y'all gals also have your testostorone levels fall off by about 35 in a parallel to what happens to us... along with all that other stuff .... maybe?
just a thought anyway.
peace,
~ jim
p.s. my grandma always called me "little jimmy"... "jim" was already taken when i registered for Psycho-Babble.
Posted by Krissy P on March 26, 2003, at 17:55:48
In reply to Re: Hormones, posted by leeran on March 26, 2003, at 16:20:37
Hi, that cortisol thing is interesting. I've heard of Cushing's and I know PCOS does the thick middle thing too.
*sigh*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lil Jimi - reminds me of Purple Haze - which reminds me of the state of affairs in and around my gray matter now and then.
Re: thickened middles. When we're under stress our bodies produce cortisol.
Copied and pasted:
Cortisol affects fat distribution by causing fat to be stored centrally—around the organs. Cortisol exposure can increase visceral fat—the fat surrounding the organs—in animals. People with diseases associated with extreme exposure to cortisol, such as severe recurrent depression and Cushing’s disease also have excessive amounts of visceral fat.
"Everyone is exposed to stress, but some people may secrete more cortisol than others, and may secrete cortisol each time they face the same stressor," Epel adds. "We predicted that reacting to the same stressors consistently by secreting cortisol would be related to greater visceral fat."
Posted by susan b. anthony on March 26, 2003, at 18:22:30
In reply to Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by Dr. Bob on June 11, 2002, at 7:52:48
Hi - I am new to this board and happy to have found it. I started lexapro 2 weeks agao after suffering from increased phobias about walking on wet pavements and getting anxiety attacks over them. then there are issues with crowds after 9/11. I have some symtoms - are they normal for this drug - heavy duty dreams, very quesy about 1 hr after taking.
thanks so much.......
Posted by blkvettes on March 26, 2003, at 18:37:39
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by susan b. anthony on March 26, 2003, at 18:22:30
> Hi - I am new to this board and happy to have found it. I started lexapro 2 weeks agao after suffering from increased phobias about walking on wet pavements and getting anxiety attacks over them. then there are issues with crowds after 9/11. I have some symtoms - are they normal for this drug - heavy duty dreams, very quesy about 1 hr after taking.
>
> thanks so much.......Hi there, I am surprised you did not mention being tired. All your side effects should go away with time, we hope. Just let your doc know when you go back. TAKE CARE!!!!!!!!
Posted by ayuda on March 26, 2003, at 19:01:47
In reply to effexor, posted by annlanka on March 26, 2003, at 15:38:46
> hi-
> was wondering if anyone has taken or is currently on effexor- i just got samples today and am supposed to lower my lexapro and add the effexor. could anyone tell me their experience with effexor?
> thanks
> annlankaI went the other way around, off Effexor onto Lexapro. Effexor is good -- I could not tolerate the side effects, but different people experience different side effects. I thought it did especially well with anxiety, as well as depression. You might want to check out some of the more recent threads concerning Effexor, and you'll see that people respond to it very differently.
I take it, then, that the visit went well -- good luck on the Effexor!
Ayuda
Posted by dawne on March 26, 2003, at 19:02:46
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by blkvettes on March 26, 2003, at 18:37:39
HI, I AM NEW TO THIS PAGE. I SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES AND DEPRESSION. I HAVE BEEN ON PAXIL FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS AND IT WORKS GREAT FOR MY MIGRAINS AND DEPRESSION, BUT NOT FOR MY FIGURE. IHAVE SINCE GAINED 30 POUNDS. IM SWITCHING TO LEXAPRO. ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THESE SAME ISSUES?
Posted by ayuda on March 26, 2003, at 19:06:54
In reply to Re: Hormones » leeran, posted by lil' jimi on March 26, 2003, at 15:59:10
Thanks for the insights! Why is it that we figure out more information here than my gynecologist can?
Posted by annlanka on March 26, 2003, at 20:38:26
In reply to Re: effexor » annlanka, posted by ayuda on March 26, 2003, at 19:01:47
Posted by BeeJay on March 27, 2003, at 8:58:08
In reply to Re: Lexapro side-effects, posted by Dysfunk on February 5, 2003, at 10:43:07
I was switched to Lexapro 2 wks ago after Paxil's sexual side effects were unrelieved by Wellbutrin. A week ago began having slight nausea and stomach upset, slight fever, occ. hot flashes, achiness, and uncomfortable intense dreams. Could this be Lexapro-related? How long has it been on market and what are "long-term" effects?
Thanks.
Posted by lil' jimi on March 27, 2003, at 9:00:29
In reply to Re: Hormones » lil' jimi, posted by Krissy P on March 26, 2003, at 17:52:55
> lil' jimi, what a great sense of humor!!! I had to laugh because my grandma always called me "krissy pooh" and Kristen was already taken when I registered for Psycho-Babble.
> between that and the hormone thing-your post made me smile and I just wanted to tell ya:-)
> Yeah, hormones sometimes suk for us women.lol
> Kristen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> hi leeran,
> you can call me anything you please, just don't call me late for supper!
>
.....
> peace,
> ~ jim
> p.s. my grandma always called me "little jimmy"... "jim" was already taken when i registered for Psycho-Babble.
>my dear special kristen, sweetie-pie,
it lifts my spirits that i was able to make you laugh ... laughter is great medicine and i Feel one of the best purposes of this board are achieved when we can laugh ... so i thank you very much for letting me know i tickled you ... very fun for me! ... especailly because i have always delighted in your always positive and very sweet posts... (hence, "sweetie-pie", if you don't mind, too much!)
as an aside, i witnessed the reception you got initially over at Social and i want you to know i was offended and angered that you would be targeted for such uncalled for belligerence ... one of the reasons i take meds is to feel that way less ... certainly one of the reasons i use this message board is to not have to feel that way .... and if i'm not mad about your treatment, then i'm sad about it and there's another counterproductive reaction to that poster's uncalled for hostility.
it occurs to me that someone must have issues that made them take it out on you, Perhaps Because you Are so good and kind .... sad, sad, sad.
i treasure you and your posts and i thank you for your smile(s) ... please keep on smiling (and posting, you sweet thing, you)!
Mirth power!
~ jim
Posted by blkvettes on March 27, 2003, at 9:30:55
In reply to Re: Lexapro side-effects, posted by BeeJay on March 27, 2003, at 8:58:08
> I was switched to Lexapro 2 wks ago after Paxil's sexual side effects were unrelieved by Wellbutrin. A week ago began having slight nausea and stomach upset, slight fever, occ. hot flashes, achiness, and uncomfortable intense dreams. Could this be Lexapro-related? How long has it been on market and what are "long-term" effects?
>
> Thanks.Hi there, you may be having withdrawl from the paxil if you just quit taking it 2 weeks ago. I had terrible withdrawl from zoloft and paxil. That could go on for another week or two if this is the case.
Posted by blkvettes on March 27, 2003, at 9:37:36
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by dawne on March 26, 2003, at 19:02:46
> HI, I AM NEW TO THIS PAGE. I SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES AND DEPRESSION. I HAVE BEEN ON PAXIL FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS AND IT WORKS GREAT FOR MY MIGRAINS AND DEPRESSION, BUT NOT FOR MY FIGURE. IHAVE SINCE GAINED 30 POUNDS. IM SWITCHING TO LEXAPRO. ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THESE SAME ISSUES?
Hi there, are you exercising? If not you should try that first. Your paxil is working great for your symptoms that you tried to get rid of. If you do exercise and eat right then I will let the ladies take on the weight thing with lexapro!!!!!!! TAKE CARE!!
Posted by susan b. anthony on March 27, 2003, at 17:20:24
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by blkvettes on March 26, 2003, at 18:37:39
> > Hi - I am new to this board and happy to have found it. I started lexapro 2 weeks agao after suffering from increased phobias about walking on wet pavements and getting anxiety attacks over them. then there are issues with crowds after 9/11. I have some symtoms - are they normal for this drug - heavy duty dreams, very quesy about 1 hr after taking.
> >
> > thanks so much.......
>
> Hi there, I am surprised you did not mention being tired. All your side effects should go away with time, we hope. Just let your doc know when you go back. TAKE CARE!!!!!!!!Well, I don't think I am any more tired than usual - I travel about 1 1/2 hours each way back and forth to work and getting up at 5:30 gets to you.
Alot of people mention weight gain - I would eat when having attacks and feeling depressed, so I think i might be having the opposite effect - anyone experience this?
One of the side effects mentioned for this drug is "Sensitivity to sun light" - does anyone know about this?
thanks
Posted by Okpolosi on March 27, 2003, at 18:25:55
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by dawne on March 26, 2003, at 19:02:46
Yes I had terrible headaches first few weeks. Also have had several episodes of depression taking Lex. Everyone says to give it time, some need longer than others.
Week 9 for me at 10mg.
Posted by Okpolosi on March 27, 2003, at 18:30:07
In reply to Re: Lexapro side-effects, posted by BeeJay on March 27, 2003, at 8:58:08
I had all the SE's you mention, but they will subside. I'm at week 9 and doing much better.
You might find it helpfull to go back and look at older posts, as I have done to see that you are not alone. It really helps to hear that others have gone through what you are going through, and it does get better.
Posted by baracuda on March 27, 2003, at 19:41:05
In reply to is there anything else, posted by skyeXX on March 26, 2003, at 13:54:47
sorry - cant help you there ... my sex drive diminished when i had my 'nervous breakdown' and never came back - so if i can be without depression maybe i will worry about the sexual dysfunction later.
if you find anything keep us posted...
Posted by baracuda on March 27, 2003, at 19:44:10
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by susan b. anthony on March 26, 2003, at 18:22:30
i found that i was very queasy about an hour after tne meds too but the dreams are way less intense than the prozac. another thing that i'm being told by my friends and family is that i seem 'drugged' all the time - im kinda zoned out most of the day.. but im not stressing about anything. its kind of like smoking a joint!
Posted by Krissy P on March 27, 2003, at 20:27:14
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by baracuda on March 27, 2003, at 19:44:10
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
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