Will progesterone help if I suffer from clinical depression?
Menopause is associated with some depression and that estrogen supplementation can lift one?s mood. Elevated mood occurs when noradrenalin, the form of adrenaline active in the brain cells, is raised. A good example would be after strenuous exercise or when something pleasant happens to get you excited.
Long term use of estrogen, however, can have a negative effect on mood. And imbalance of copper and zinc ratios leads to exaggerated stress reactions, serious mood swings, and depression (similar to women suffering PMS ~ estrogen dominance).
The balance of zinc and copper are very important in the brain?s regulation of mood and reaction to stress. Vitamin B6 is the vitamin most commonly needed by these particular enzymes, which is why it is often effective in treating depression.
Estrogen has potent effects on the brain. That works to your advantage when it?s in balance but to your disadvantage when it is present in excess or is not balanced by progesterone.
If hormone balance is achieved and your diet contains healthy amounts of fresh, unprocessed foods, the mineral imbalance corrects itself.
All this needs to be taken into account when addressing your individual needs and concerns with your healthcare professional.
carol | Mar 4, 2005 | Reply
I am 60 yrs. old and post menopausal. I startedtaking 200mg. of progesterone by mouth and it was too much for meso my doctor lowered it to 50mg. using the cream.I was able to sleep on 200 mg. but not on 50mg. I suffer from anxiety and depression since I went into menopause 10 yrs. ago.and I am on 20 mg. of Celexa. I feel terrible since I started taking the progesterone about 7 weeks ago and I amhaving trouble functioning.I had my estrogen levels and progesterone tested and it came back some estrogen and no progesterone.Should I stay on this or I am one of those people who can’t take it. I also take benadryltosleep since the insomnia is so bad and seems to have gotten worse since I started taking the progesterone. The anxiety seems better though.
Thanks,
Carol
Catherine Rollins | Mar 10, 2005 | Reply
Dear Carol,
The transdermal delivery has to be better for you (by-passing the liver). However, you may not be getting enough progesterone, or the cream you are using isn’t doing the job. If, after 7 weeks of progesterone supplementation, your salivary levels are close to zero, you have to start questioning “why”.
And if you aren’t getting progesterone into your body, then you aren’t getting any of the benefits of progesterone!
It begs the question, “What does your doctor think?”
Our Network has received reports from women who, after a night-time application of progesterone cream, are unable to sleep. It’s very much an individual thing. Although when we deliver to the body a significant (high) dose of progesterone, typically when given orally, women tend to feel sleepy.
It would be interesting to observe how you feel when you eventually do get your progesterone levels up within a healthy ratio to your estrogen levels (200-300:1).
In light & love,
Catherine Rollins
Director, Making Plans Pty Ltd
www.natural-progesterone-advisory-network.com
“Advocating & Supporting Women’s Right to a Safer Form of HRT.”