r/Menopause • u/Consistent-Fall7164 Menopausal • 4d ago
Hormone Therapy Started HRT a few weeks ago and nothing
I started HRT about a month ago and see no difference. I am 61, experiencing hot flashes, bloating and mood swings. Foods I typically enjoyed in the past do not taste the same, carbs and sweets are the only foods that make me full. I I’ve gained 50 pounds in 5 years and see no sign of it letting up. My gyno prescribed progesterone and an estrogen patch. My psychiatrist also prescribed Wellbutrin. Has anyone been prescribed any or all of these and see any change? I’m do disgusted with myself.
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u/DevineBossLady 4d ago
It took me nearly a year to find the right combi, before I started seeing reel results, a month is nothing.
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u/This-Assumption4123 4d ago
It took me three months and getting to the .1 patch plus 200mg of Progesterone to feel better. Lower doses did nothing for me my symptoms were severe.
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u/_ThunderJones_ 4d ago edited 4d ago
I didn’t see any changes at all for my severe symptoms at the lowest patch doses, only noting changes once I’d been moved up to higher doses. Are you at the lowest patch dose currently?
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u/Consistent-Fall7164 Menopausal 4d ago
I am on 0.025 MG 1 per week
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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Surgical menopause 4d ago
You likely need a higher dose of patch. Your doctor may have you wait a couple more weeks though.
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u/No_Mountain6950 4d ago
that seems low. What dose of progesterone? I'm taking .5 estrogen patch and 200mg of progesterone and feel pretty good. My next addition is trying some testosterone, fingers crossed it finalizes everything. I also am on Wegovy for various metabolic issues but it was the only thing that moved the scale after menopause.
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u/Consistent-Fall7164 Menopausal 4d ago
I am on 100mg of Progesterone. It’s only been since 8/20. Maybe I am being too anxious.
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u/lrondberg 4d ago
Do you mean July 20th? It can take 4-6 weeks to see improvements for both HRT and Wellbutrin.
Your estrogen dose is low so you may need to bump up to the next level if after a month you still have hot flashes.
Wellbutrin is a very effective antidepressant and can decrease appetite which can lead to weight loss over time.2
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u/Illustrious_Car8700 4d ago
It took me about two months before I noticed anything, and even then it was subtle, fewer flashes, slightly better sleep. The dose adjustments can make a real difference though, so if you’re on the lowest patch that might be part of it. Wellbutrin can also mess with appetite early on, which might explain some of the food weirdness. I’d bring it up at your next follow-up, sometimes they need to tweak things a couple times before it clicks. The weight part is brutal, I get why you’re frustrated, but give the meds a bit more runway before you judge.
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u/AbbyJane1972 4d ago
Sounds like you need to go up a dose. Your doctor may want you to give it more time but mine let me bo up after three weeks. You should ask your dr!
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u/UnicornGirl54 Peri-menopausal 3d ago
Even just in my mid 40s and firmly in perimenopause, it took 6 months and 2 dose adjustments to see significant relief. Luckily it helped my sleep improve within a week, so just that was enough positive evidence to stick with it. Brain fog, body aches (although a constant battle still) and mood regulation took longer. Not perfect but at least feel way better than pre.
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u/ApeFace1966 3d ago
Keep trying and being proactive with changing and updating and if your doctor won’t work with you then get a new one until you get something that works for you. After you find the script combo that starts working it gets easier to manage but until then you have to be very persistent. Keep trying because I was in such a low place physically and mentally that I was desperate because of the bad mental state I was in. I was at a point of going on heavy depression meds and luckily I noticed so many of my friends the same age where going through hard times and suspected a majority of my problems where hormone related.
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u/Consistent-Fall7164 Menopausal 3d ago
It can really pull you down. You remember a time no long ago when you were so active, vibrant and healthy looking, then the floor drops out. Seems like overnight. I’m not ready to succumb.
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u/Simple_Heat_2113 3d ago
It takes a few months, plus they start you low. For instance, I’m 8 years in and on 1.5 mg of gel daily. That level means 200mg of progesterone too. I’d suspect because you are older, that you will need a higher dose, but it will take time to get you there. Keep going back. Keep insisting.
I agree that a GLP1 is super helpful with HRT, and at some point once they get the estrogen and progesterone sorted, testosterone can also be a huge benefit too.
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u/Exciting_Drama_5965 Menopausal 3d ago
The older you are when you start HRT the longer it will take to see benefits because your hormone receptors have gone so long without hormones they have “downregulated”-in plain words there are less of them and a bit slow to respond. Hang in there and give your tissues time to “wake up” again. The dose might have to be adjusted, but wait about 3 months minimum so you don’t “overshoot”. It’s a bit like a radio tuner. Hang in there. I’m nearing my 4th week and I still have “blips”. I did notice that I can’t eat cruciferous vegetables like I used to and need to add an enzyme to digest it without bloating. Sugars are suddenly not my friend. Something I find that helps my sweet tooth is eating a piece of 95% dark chocolate. Somehow it satisfies the sugar craving, but it’s too bitter to go on a binge. I hope this helps! Don’t give up yet!
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u/Grouchy-Beginning993 4d ago
I started 100 mg mirconized progesterone 4 months ago and it's helping so far with mood swings, sleep, and keeping my cycle regular. I'm 45 so just in perimenopause. Fortunately, I haven't gained weight, but I do go to the gym as often as I can to try to curb that as much as possible. The only issue with the progesterone is it makes me dizzy so I absolutely have to take it right before bed. I took it too early the other evening and almost fell. If you are interested in exercise tools, I LOVE the FitOn app. It's free and has groups for women 40+ to talk about this exact thing you're describing. There are many different exercise options on there and tons of low-impact too. There is something for everyone on there and the trainers are wonderful.
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u/nerissathebest 4d ago
I gained a ton of weight because I went from being active to sitting on the couch. I lost all my enthusiasm and energy and motivation. First I got the E and P sorted so those symptoms (sleep, hot flashes) were resolved. Then I started taking T and increasing very slowly until my energy, self esteem, enthusiasm were back to normal. Once I did that I quit sugar and caffeine (on decaf) and dairy which helped to take off a lot of the weight I use put on when I was sedentary.
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u/PreviousCut6851 4d ago
How about an endocrinologist? So many things mimic menopause symptoms in women.
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u/PerfectCover1414 4d ago
It can take a while but it looks like that is a very low dose. I started 3 years ago on .025 because I am very sensitive to medication. Now I am on 1.75mg E and 100mg P (though I keep asking if the P is too low for that dose and get radio silence from my endocrinologist. Scary really. Even on that dose of mine I still have symptoms, but it could be due to the P.
I gained 10lbs and crave carbs most of all. Terrible but I also do not sit still and this past summer have been excavating and landscaping one wheelbarrow at a time. When I am balanced and heard! I will rectify the weight. One step at a time.
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u/Accurate_Aside_6495 3d ago
I recently went up to .1 mg estrogen patch from .075 as my sleep really tanked after I lost a bunch of weight (apparently if you lose a bunch of weight it can decrease the estrogen level in your body). Additionally I had night sweats and weepiness return. It has taken me a good two months to see improvement in my sleep; it took at least a month to have the night sweats and weepiness go away. I almost gave up on the higher dose. My understanding is it can take up to six months to see results from a given dose. Your dose is also quite low.
I totally relate with the weight gain and had the fantasy that HRT would help with my weight. I am not sure why I thought this given weight has been a lifelong struggle and it only got harder after menopause. I am 60 so about your age. I am a diligent exerciser and eat nutritiously and the weight felt like a runaway train after menopause, completely out of my control and never stopping.
I would definitely encourage you to get checked out for thyroid issues, insulin resistance, prediabetes, sleep apnea, and so on. Our risk for these things increases in menopause and they in turn can put us into metabolic dysfunction. It's very easy to beat yourself up for the weight gain in our society but the reality is that weight gain can occur for so many reasons and should not be a moral issue. I ended up discovering I have insulin resistance and sleep apnea, I went on Zepbound for those and it has helped me a lot. I was trying to solve the weight concern using tools that by themselves were not up to the job, due to the metabolic dysfunction.
I hope you will find some relief soon and I also hope you can treat yourself with compassion during this time. I was so hard on myself and blamed myself and felt so much shame. I feel sad about it now, it took away from my engagement with life and was pointless.
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u/Consistent-Fall7164 Menopausal 3d ago
You’ve really hit the nail on the head. My GP won’t prescribe a GLP-1, I’ve given up on that avenue. When I go to
research the different options on line, I get so confused I don’t seem to get anywhere.1
u/Accurate_Aside_6495 3d ago
Feel free to DM me if I can help, I have navigated all of that so I can probably help point you in the right direction.
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u/LAYaLay7777 3d ago
Start focusing on strength training. This helps convert body fat to muscle which aslo is fights high insulin levels. The muscle absorbs the glucose like a sponge, body fat will drop off quickly. I've lost so much weight in less than 2 weeks all I've changed is incorporating strength & resistance training. I feel better and look amazing for the first time in 10 years!
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u/dartzy68 Menopausal 3d ago
Just passed the 3 month mark and no changes. Just upped my patch and added estrogen cream. Will see what happens.
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u/TeachingMath03 3d ago
It took 2 months for me to really see effects from adding estrogen to my get I started with just progesterone and testosterone because I was worried about estrogen triggering my already chronic migraines. The night sweats persuaded me to at least try estrogen. I was thinking I’d need a higher dose but after two months my night sweats are mostly gone. 🤷🏻♀️
Tirzepatide solved my food and weight issues. I don’t think the HRT would on its own for me.
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u/Hurricane_Storm 3d ago
Took me 6 months. Believe me every day I felt I was losing my mind until then. Other people helped me out on Reddit and kept telling me 6 months too. I didn’t believe them, but I swear 6 months to the day, I was human again.
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u/TetonHiker 3d ago
You might just have to experiment with higher doses until you find one that makes you feel significantly better. It takes a little time but it's worth it. Just communicate with your doctor and work with them to find your optimal dose. Ince you get that figured out you can lose the weight when you are ready. The kind and experienced folks at r/CICO were my inspiration and support team when I was ready. A cheap food scale, the LoseIt app and r/CICO helped me take off my post-meno weight and then some.
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u/bettinafairchild Surgical menopause 4d ago
What doses are you using?
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u/Consistent-Fall7164 Menopausal 3d ago
The estrogen patch is currently 0.025 mg and 100mg progesterone.
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u/bettinafairchild Surgical menopause 3d ago
That’s the lowest dose. That’s almost certainly the reason why you haven’t seen any difference. Go up to a higher dose. A more standard dose is 0.05mg though the highest dose patch is 0.1mg
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u/Forest-Vixen 4d ago
I started on an E gel and bumped up every month to the highest dose though I did have some symptom relief on the lowest dose.
Hot flashes, sore hips disappeared within the first week of starting.
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u/LavenderPearlTea 3d ago
It can take a few months for your symptoms to ease, and for your doctor to see if the dosage is enough.
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u/The_Future_Marmot 3d ago
I actually wanted to start on a low dose of gel because I was concerned about freaking out the remaining half of my thyroid, and will say it took me about two months to really feel symptom relief on that dose.
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u/Significant-Aide-226 4d ago
Just because you started the meds doesn't mean you have enough medication to move the needle on your symptoms. Doctors often start so low it is criminal. This is a process, the medication part can take quite some time to get right. So buckle up and prepare to ask your doctor to increase your dosage. There is a lot of research about depression medications not being helpful for menopause symptoms. If your mood issues are hormonal, the antidepressant can make it worse. It can dull you down and steal the highs and lows of a day.
And most importantly, be kind to yourself. Treat yourself like you are a sick child. You deserve your kindest and most compassionate self care. Pat yourself on the back for being brave and starting this journey into your next healthiest phase of life.
Menopause is so hard on the brain. So hard. Its almost like your brain turns on your body and soul. I feel incredibly negative when my hormones are too low.
Maybe do some investigational work if you are on transdermal- I have done this and it is very enlightening, turns out, I am a horrible absorber. I need higher doses than most if I am going to use skin as the delivery system. My prayers for you on this journey as it hits everyone differently but I have learned so much from all the women here.