New to HRt

I was perscribed 0.5 mg of estrogen, 200 progesterone and testosterone. Although my estrogen levels were 111 I was still experiencing hot flashes and the feeling that I was losing my mind. I have also been taking t3 and DHEA along with the bio identical for the last month. I just had my blood levels tested 2 days ago but do not yet have the results. I am still experiencing hot flashes, anxiety/panic attacks as well as difficulty staying alseep. Should I ask my doctor to increase the dosage or is there a stablizing period before the beneficial period. I am also experiencing breakthrough bleeding.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

When changing the levels of medications, especially when they are given to affect mood and anxiety, it is a good ideato give them at least a month or so. This is particularly true for thyroid medication which can take up to 3 months to see the total affect. Thyroid levels can really increase anxiety if they are too high. Estrogen levels cause an increased need for thyroid harmone (the more estrogen, the more thyroid is needed as a general rule of thumb). DHEA is in part turned by the body into estrogen and testosterone.

Talk with your doctor to oversee these interactions and allow enough time for the desired effect. Increased testosterone can also cause an uneasiness or feeling of anxiety.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD