Endocrine Withdrawal Syndrome after stopping HRT

Posted by monarchbfly @monarchbfly, Jan 8, 2023

Hello,
I am wondering if anyone has experienced endocrine withdrawal syndrome after stopping hormone replacement therapy? I am 54 years old. Last June, I was prescribed Premarin .45 and 100 mg progesterone daily to combat hot flashes. I felt great the first month, then felt horrible by September, like I was overmedicated. I then stopped cold turkey. Two days later, I was awoken in the middle of the night by a heart rate of 155 and high blood pressure that lasted a few minutes. I went to ER and they couldn't find anything. A month later, I started having tachycardia episodes, high and low blood pressure episodes, shaking, extreme insomnia, feeling like I was wired, anxiety and dread, etc, all day and night. After 3 paramedic visits, 2 ER visits, an endocrinologist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, gynecologist and a PCP, all giving me a full workup and blood tests, they didn't find anything wrong with me. I felt like I was going to die. I ended up couch bound for 7 weeks. The endocrinologist thinks I may have had endocrine withdrawal syndrome that mimicked opioid withdrawal syndrome. Apparently this can be a thing after discontinuing estrogen. He put me on .25 divigel and no progesterone. I am slowly stabilizing, but still have occasional symptoms that are or mimic POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). I can function somewhat but am nowhere near my original energetic self and it is destroying my life. Has this happened to anyone else? How did you fix it? Thank you.

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Profile picture for achase311 @achase311

@nicscud22 Hi, it WILL pass. There are plenty of women on the FB group for whom it has passed, and we need to count on that. I recovered from benzos prescribed for anxiety in the wake of breast cancer 10 years ago so am doubly sensitive--would never have taken it if I had known how cross-tolerant progesterone was. I started in January with 100 mg. and after two months same thing--woke up one night like a bat out of hell, and then didn't sleep again for three nights. Since then sleep has been rough. Lots of night sweats, intrusive thoughts and depression in the day, and panicky feelings. I will hold us all in my prayers. Just keep holding on and knowing you are not crazy--this is the drug.

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Profile picture for memem36 @memem36

@achase311 how are you doing now? I’m going through this and have seen several doctors but no one gets how bad it is. I need help!

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Thank you for your email.

Please be advised that this email account is no longer being monitored. For advising, academic, or educational inquiries, please contact Angela Thompsell, Chair, Department of Art & Design, at athompse@brockport.edu or (585) 395-5074 for assistance.

For all other non-personal inquiries, please email artanddesign@brockport.edu, and we will do our best to forward your message to the appropriate person or office.

Thank you for your understanding.

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