Estradiol and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Tho...
• November 8, 2020

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I would not recommend generic estradiol patch by Mylan. It is a total waste of money. I was given Vivelle-Dot after surgery. It worked great, the brain fog and the mood swings disappeared. I could tolerate myself and my family. My husband and kids would tell me that I seemed happier. I really felt like a brand new person. Over the years, the cost, even with insurance, just gradually went up and now my insurance doesn't pay at all. So the pharmacy switched me to Mylan, the generic. This patch wouldn't stay on for more than a couple of hours before I had to tape it on. The feelings of being on edge, anxiety, mood swings, anger, fatigue, and hot flashes were unbearable. Vivelle-Dot by Novartis is the only one I have found that I can take. I'm now having to have my doctor put brand name only so the pharmacy will fill it, and I have to pay out of pocket for them at $206 a box. The pharmacist keeps trying to switch me back to generic. I keep telling them it's like throwing money away if it doesn't work."

• Unh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2020

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "This patch is not the same as their competitor. They ran out of my usual brand. So I have been on Estraderm for 2 weeks, I am bleeding, my anxiety is through the roof. I am exhausted. All the symptoms I had before starting the estrogen patch. So who knows what is in this patch."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2016

Estradiol for Oophorectomy "After using Vivelle patch for a number of years following a complete hysterectomy, my insurance company refused to pay for it at the same level due to the Mylan generic. Within a few weeks of switching to the generic, I began to develop adverse symptoms (insomnia, breathing difficulties, anxiety, constant headache). When I made the connection and switched back to Vivelle, the symptoms subsided. Unfortunately, my insurance company refuses to pay for the brand name at the same level, but this is not the same drug. Now instead of paying $40 for a 3-month supply, my cost is over $150 to obtain the brand name product."

• Est...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2024

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I'm 68, I took these together with Utrogestan 100, 2 years ago. My weight gained by 2 stones. I felt better in myself, mentally, but at a cost. The downside is massive weight gain, which started to add to my anxiety, and I stopped. So, as someone that's been going through menopause for quite a number of years, I'm still struggling and cannot find a balance. Still looking, even now?"

• Nee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2018

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I started on Vivelle-Dot after taking several antidepressants, which only made my symptoms worse! I finally convinced doctors I did not need the antidepressants. I take Vivelle 0.375 in addition to progesterone. My postmenopausal symptoms were: hot flashes, 3-4 hours of sleep nightly, brain fog, anxiety, weight loss, and many more. I am working closely with my doctor, and Vivelle-Dot has been life-changing. It does take about 1 1/2 months for minor side effects of the medicine to go away-be patient."

• Pip...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 31, 2015

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "100 mg patch Estradot applied twice weekly. Keeps me sane and virtually anxiety-free. The adhesive on this brand doesn't make welts on my skin. Only drawback is removing the glue spots. :-) When using hot spas or I need to apply creams to dry skin, I use an Estrogel sachet. This allows the freshly applied patch to catch up. Absolutely satisfied and happy with this medication. ** on PBS in Australia. Lowest dose venlafaxine added when family drama hit me like a bolt."

• Jod...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2015

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "Stopped getting periods at age 45. Horrible hot flashes all day long, night sweats, dry skin, moodiness/depression/anxiety, painful intercourse, low libido. I was already using Prometrium, but it had stopped helping. Went to the doctor to ask for estrogen. She Rxed compounded bioidentical estradiol and testosterone cream. The testosterone was to help offset the SHBG effects of estrogen to boost my low libido. I have used BHRT for almost a year now, and it completely eliminated every symptom!! I will likely remain on it forever."

• Hou...
• January 18, 2010

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Thanks for everyone's reviews. I have been suffering through so many of the same menopausal symptoms. Had a doctor's appointment today and just cannot take it any longer. Hot flashes, no sleep, irritability, anxiety, heart palpitations, and many more. Excited to give estradiol (mist-spray form) and Prometrium a try... wish me luck."

• nha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2019

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Within 48 hours of putting on the patch at 0.05 mg/day, my blood pressure went up, I had head pounding, anxiety, and headache for 24 hours. I waited another 24 hours and removed it. Between 4-6 hours, my symptoms had completely abated."

• Kat...
• January 3, 2020

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I love Climara, it has saved my mental health by reducing night sweats, hot flashes, and anxiety to almost nil. I use the .05 patch and only had to pay a copay through my HMO, so worth it. I gave it an 8 because of issues with it staying on. I lived in California with hard water, and it stayed for about 4 days if I put it on right after a shower and also used a bandaid over it for the last 3 days. I moved to Texas and only brought 3 months' worth. Here, I can't get it to stay past one or 2 days unless I apply a large bandaid at the beginning, and even still, only 3 to 4. I think it's because the water is soft and just takes the sticky right off. Or maybe because of the humidity, but I worked out twice a day in California and still didn't have this problem. Don't know what I will do in the future as I can't afford them without insurance... maybe Mexico. Lol! I will try the surgical tape and see if it can stand up to the soft water."

• Suz...
• September 24, 2020

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Don't think it's for me. I felt okay the first few days, then the patch started to make me itch and wouldn't stick properly anyway. Then, four days in, I got a headache, body aches, and anxiety. They want me to stick it out for another ten days. That is very unlikely to happen at this point. I think I'll try other options."

• DeJ...
• August 18, 2017

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I am 60 years old and have been using Climara 50 patches since 2008 (9 years). It has definitely relieved the night sweats and the constant anxiety feeling. I have tried a couple of times to go on a half dose, but the symptoms resume, but I will try again. I have never had problems with the patch itself. The edge can be a little sticky when I put it on, but I always wipe a smear of talcum powder around it to prevent it from sticking to my clothes. I now have a serious hearing problem (not resolved), so of course I'm concerned that it may be connected with this medication. But six years ago, I had a massive amount of antibiotics for a staph infection following surgery, so of course this could be the cause."

• Tan...
• February 27, 2019

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Mylan patches are too big, gave me a bad skin reaction, and they just don't adhere to the skin. Alvogen was the best for a reasonable copay ($10.00)... now I can change to Climara, but it will cost $48.00 copay... I'll go broke! I'm going to try the Minivelle w/a ($10.00 copay). Hopefully I have success. I hope it works! I don't want to go through that hell again. Anxiety, depression, heat flashes, and fatigue. If not, I'm going to go to Climara and go broke."

• Che...
• August 2, 2018

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I tried it for 4 days and couldn't take it, I only used 1/2 (I cut it) because I have had issues with the pill in the past causing weight gain and depression and wanted to start out slow and experiment. Also, my sister's doctor told her to start out with just 1/2, and that worked for her. I thought it might be different now since I am postmenopausal, but it really wasn't that much different from when I used to try birth control pills. My anxiety itself may have lessened, but it basically traded itself for depression, and it did not help my hot flashes at all. Maca and Dong Quai actually work better for me. I had more hot flashes on Climara than off. I slept well the first couple of nights, but last night I woke up at 4 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep. I removed nearly all of the patch today (I left 1/4 to see if that will do anything, and also I don't think it's good to go on and off abruptly) and am going back to Maca and Dong Quai. Too bad it didn't work for me."

• Acc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2017

For Hypoestrogenism "The gyno put me on 8 mg estradiol for 3 days, then 4 mg, which quickly brought my nonexistent estradiol levels back to normal and stopped the horrible joint pains and anxiety. I had to lower the dose to 2 mg, and even that is making me very, very tired. It also caused muscle atrophy! I used to be very lean and athletic, now my body is soft and fatty. But.... I sleep better and feel very relaxed. I'm 40 years old - and my hypothalamus doesn't make enough hormones. In addition, I take a 50 mcg vaginal tablet once a week - it shrank my clitoris! I also take a small dose of testosterone, but the estradiol seems to overpower that. My libido is still gone."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2022

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Have recently been prescribed this as Evorel patches are in short supply. These patches are of a larger circumference, and the adhesive is much poorer. To date, the maximum I have gotten out of a patch is 48 hours, and even then it’s usually hanging by a thread. It says it all to me that the patch leaves absolutely no residue on my skin where the Evorel did, and I had to remove it with baby oil. Ironically, one of my biggest menopausal side effects is anxiety, and I’m now stressing every time I put a patch on. I’ve asked for a review of my HRT medication, and I’m going to ask to be put on the oral-only medication. I can’t be doing with the stress."

• Swe...
• January 2, 2018

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I was put on estradiol when I was 38 after a hysterectomy. I had no problems with it. I recently weaned myself off of it. I have felt horrible ever since: hot flashes, mood swings, depression, and anxiety. I was on it for almost 17 years."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2021

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I started the Mylan estradiol patch approximately 1 month ago. I then switched to Climara (brand). The difference was slight, however, both patches tend to lose effectiveness by day five. The first indication for me is insomnia. I'm able to sleep days 2-5, but day 6, nope. And the day I change the patch is worse. Breakthrough anxiety, insomnia, night sweats. This method may work for others, but it's inconsistent for me. I do share the consensus that the generic is not as effective."