Menopause Support Group

Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.

1,907 Members

4,054 Posts

0 Online

megsmom8816 09/02/2013

Hello All

I am in full blown menopause...my last period was four years ago. Lately, probably for the past six months, my anxiety has really increased. Here is my situation:

My husband is severely depressed and has been for about six months, and is also suffering from anxiety. This has put a ton of pressure on me, and along with my menopause symptoms, has increased my anxiety greatly. I am a high school teacher, and for the past couple of years it has become almost too stressful for me at times. School starts tomorrow, and I was wondering if it is safe to take a low dose (.25) of xanax to help me at least get through the first week. I have taken a pill here and there throughout the summer (maybe 5 times) and found it to be helpful. I am afraid of getting addicted, but my doctor did prescribe them to me last year when I told him the anxiety of my job was getting to me.

I would hope not to stay on them for very long, but something to help me with these symptoms. For the past week, anticipating going back to school and dealing with my husband, I have had stomach aches, dizziness, diarrhea, and an overall "not right" feeling. I took one this morning and it has helped.

Do you think it is safe and/or recommended? I hate a crutch, but I need to keep my job and my sanity.

Thanks!

hotmom1 09/02/2013

I have never tried them, but I know they are addicting as my brother was on them for years. Yes, they are addicting and he had a hard time coming off them, but managed it with his doctor's help. I don't think a week is enough time to get addicted, but maybe you can think of another stress reliever that is natural. Exercise helped my brother a lot. Good luck!

Heathersfaith 09/02/2013

If you believe yourself to have an addictive personality then I wouldn't advice it. However if you believe that you can take them just when you absolutely need them and not a daily thing then I don't see anything wrong with a as needed anxiety med. Be aware if you begin to need more and more or if the dose doesn't seem to be doing the trick. Have your ever tried Proggressive Muscle relaxation it does wonders for me as well as making sure that Im taking a break from whatever Im doing throughout the day a 10 min or so small break to just focus on breathing and calming yourself. (meditation)
I have to really make myself do these calming exercises if I don't or forget then I start to feel really tense and it just builds up and builds up until I literally feel jittery and emotional. Crazy I know but its where Iam.. I hope you can find some relief soon. Good Luck to you

JeanneA 09/03/2013

Hi, I take .25mg of xanax daily, my doctor prescribed it. If I were you I would take that dose daily for a while and see how you feel I think it would definitely help you at this time. It's such a low dose that you shouldn't get addicted unless you start increasing it which I wouldn't advise. You would need to have a chat with your doctor if it got to that stage.

Heathersfaith 09/03/2013

JeannA exactly! If we go to our doctors requesting for the low dose anxiety med to be decreased the chances of him doing that are great following about three to six months you would have to go back and raise it again. , and again , and again. If we read the fine print we would see that on these meds that they were created for short term use only . We can find a way to alleviate the stress without chemicals that are foreign to our bodies by nature. Just my take . Pease

megsmom8816 09/04/2013

So school started yesterday, and I took half of a .25 and even at that low of a dose I felt some relief from the rapid heart beat I was feeling while driving to school. I didn't need more throughout the day, and I did not take one today. I don't intend to take it daily, but I do like having some help when this job becomes overwhelming.

Heathersfaith 09/05/2013

Im glad you got some relief , as I ponder on what I could do to alleviate my anxiety this morning. Its crazy . Im not scared nor worried about anything and it feels like Iam scared or worried . I feel it in my chest the most , a quivering feeling , like being cold . Its kind of scary . Have a good day!

deleted_user 09/05/2013

hi megsmom, I take xanax in a low dose, they really do help with anxiety. I also did take one at night to help sleep when I was in a very stressful situation. I didn't have any trouble dropping the nightly dose when it was no longer needed. I think if someone can't cope with things and it is making them unwell. there is a place for this drug. Hope everything is going ok for you.

ROZIA 09/05/2013

yes you can take it everyday....

deleted_user 09/06/2013

Meditation! and, maybe it's not you who should be taking the drugs. Also, natural herbs help reduce menopause symptoms including anxiety.

dazedanconfusedd 09/08/2013

I was on 1 mg xanax three times a day every day for almost 5 years. Everybody said that was such a bad idea and you will become dependent on them, blah blah blah!

So my doc put me on klonopin and then xanax for break through panic issues. I went off xanax all together and I did fine without it. The only reason I am back on it is lots of anxiety is back in my life!

Glad the low dose helped!

Heathersfaith 09/09/2013

daze I hear ya! I have been there and done that , and it was so difficult to try and deal with my anxiety without any medication.
I personally feel so much stronger for learning to do on my own what a medication does. Its freeing, and its also a daily thing to work on it yourself . It requires you to think of yourself , and self care is a must. .
I know everyone can't do this because of severe depression , and lethargy that causes self care / and general overall functioning difficult.
Be well everyone : )

deleted_user 09/15/2013

Hi megmom,
I feel for you. I got bitten by the anxiety bug at 41 when this peri menopause started. I am now 48. It's been a long rough ride. I started on xanax. Currently I do not take anything. I had a hard time coming off of low dose. I took them everyday. I think antidepressant was better for weaning off. If you do go on even short term make sure to wean off slowly. Check with your doctor. One thing I learned through all this experience is not to listen to other about medicine. ASk the doctor or the pharmiscist. I got myself in a bad place listen to others about medicine. I am surprise with being 4 years since period is done that you would still have bad anxiety. I thought it would level out after a while. Did you get it primary when you entered peri menopause? Just curious for own for my self and dealing with all this. I feel for you it's gotta be rough teaching and going through it. Another thing magnesium does help anxiety. You can research it. You can ask pharmacist. It's ok to take that too as far as I know. Hang in there!

megsmom8816 10/06/2013

Actually I may have had anxiety before....slightly....at times. However, it was menopause that really brought it on. In the past month I have only taken it three times, and only half of a .25, so I am pretty sure that I can keep this under control and not get too reliant on the medication.

BobSue2008 10/07/2013

I had what some might classify as psychotic symptoms during the first year of menopause (my symptoms didn't start until AFTER my last period). I even got to the point I considered suicide because I didn't know what was wrong other than I felt like I was losing my mind. Literally, the depression and panic were awful.Daily praying myself out of bed because of fear, going to work. I couldn't go into a store without feeling like I was going to die. After about 9 months of these awful feelings, a counselor said "sounds like a bad menopause". Went straight to the gyn, got on HRT, Got on AD and 8 months later I got on ativan. That was 2010. I still take ativan, I have an HRT patch and am on 2 antidepressants Menopause took something away from me I won't ever have back. I'm guessing there are ladies out there who feel the same way. I pray to never, ever be like that again. Take the medicine.

BobSue2008 10/07/2013

I need to add these came upon me overnight almost literally. Last period March, 2009. Panic attacks started within a month. I went from an assertive professional (RN) to a panic ridden mess within 30 days. Just an aside, I still have occasional panic attacks, but not as bad. I still have anxiety, I still am depressed. But....I don't drive home crying and screaming anymore. Yep, that bad and I haven't exaggerated anything.

Join the Conversation