Anxiety & PMS

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2006
Anxiety & PMS
7
Wed, 09-06-2006 - 9:39pm

Anyone else feel like their anxiety quadruples in the days leading up to their "monthly visit?" I can be feeling great and then for a couple days I'm really anxious, impatient, crabby, etc. Which only leads to more anxiety for feeling anxious! Just wondering if this is common?

My therapist said some women actually up their dosage of SSRIs during the week before their period every month to help balance out.

Anyone heard of this?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-03-2006
Wed, 09-06-2006 - 9:48pm

My anxiety increases tremendously before my cycle. I also feel a little paranoid too. My psychiatrist did say that if it is a real problem that I could increase my SSRI's a few days before as long as my cycle was regular. I haven't had to do this yet but that's not to say I won't in the future (especially when menopause hits)!

Best of luck,
Jamie

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2003
Wed, 09-06-2006 - 10:21pm
I've not experienced this (yet?) although I'm not 100% sure if Effexor is considered an SSRI? Still very new to the drug thing! And I'm on birth control pill so I'm wondering how that will effect it as well?? Any thoughts?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2003
Wed, 09-06-2006 - 10:32pm
My anxiety would be really bad not only before/during my period, but around ovulation too.
Photobuck
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 12:45am

This is a very common complaint & mentioned many times on the board. I can usually tell that my period will be starting in about a week because of increased anxiety. Occasionally, I have an *out of the blue* panic attack):


As for increasing meds, that may be an option for some folks *IF* the dr. prescribes their meds in that manner. I would advise anyone thinking of doing that to check with their dr. Good luck! (((hugs))) jan





 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 12:03pm

If you haven't been experiencing any problems, Briane, then you should be ok. In fact, adding the effexor should be a big help with anxiety during your cycle. In the past others have posted about changing their birth control pills & noticing increased or even decreased anxiety. Have you changed your prescription? (((hugs))) jan





 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2003
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 4:19pm
Not recenlty - I take Yasmin - although I took Ortho-Cyclen for YEARS then it went off my insurance list - go figure! So they made me switch to Yasmin the beginning of this year but I never noticed a difference even in that switch!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Fri, 09-08-2006 - 1:32pm

Yes, my anxiety is always worse during this time.

Sheri Ann