Hormone Replacement Therapy

[mapleleaf]

I am 56 yrs old and going through the lovely cycle of menopause and am dealing with all the symptoms of this process. Alot of the symptoms are as bad as the ones I suffer with my OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) depression, anxiety, mood swings, terrible hot flashes, and symptoms of my RLS like insomnia, depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, etc. etc.
So I have decided after much research and discussions with my family dr. to start HRT at a very low dose once a day. Today is day one and it will be 6 to 8 weeks before I see any difference.
My questions for the group: is anyone else on HRT? Did it exacerbate their RLS? Can you tell me if it helped you? I am looking for any and all input.

Thank you so very much!

[stjohnh]

I don't know the answers to your questions, but, since it is known that RLS occurs more frequently in pregnant women, hormone status almost certainly affects RLS in some way.

[Polar Bear]

I did an internet search and it seems that some HRT can worsen RLS in some people, other HRT is not a problem to some people.
Seems to me like a case of trial and error.
We are all so different and react differently to medications.
I wish you luck and hope this helps you.

[Yankiwi]

I went through menopause about 20 years ago and couldn't have survived without HRT. This was before the media scare about HRT.
My RLS started about the same time but I don't think there was any cause and effect with the HRT as RLS runs in my family.
Good luck.

[veldon75]

I was on it for a couple mth didn't notice much difference in RLS, but I was taking Mirapex. I stopped hormones because I didn't know if it was causing wt gain and I developed an ovarian cyst, my Gyn said it may not be because of hormones that Menopause causes wt gain.