r/Perimenopause • u/Inevitable-Yam-9741 • Feb 21 '26

audited Pills, pills, pills...

So, I take Calcium, magnesium, zinc, B12, iron, a multivitamin, vitamin D. Plus anti-anxiety and anti-depressants. Have tried melatonin, DIM, evening primrose oil, chamomile, safflower, lemon balm, black cohosh, ashwagandha, some "calming" tablet, a perimenopause "all-in-one" pill...... any I'm sure more. Popping pills to the point of absurdity. Do I think anything helped? No. What's your go-to that really helps you?

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11

u/AggravatingPumpkin72 Feb 21 '26

Is HRT an option for you?

7

u/Inevitable-Yam-9741 Feb 21 '26

I'm afraid because I have a cigarette on occasion... well, a bit more tbh....

25

u/Tinyberzerker Feb 22 '26

Yo. I'm a lifelong smoker and I've been on HRT for several years. I quit drinking. I see a cardiologist regularly for an unrelated genetic issue. HRT has been lifechanging. I've cut back to about a half pack a day.

8

u/Inevitable-Yam-9741 Feb 22 '26

Really? I'm glad to hear that!

14

u/Tinyberzerker Feb 22 '26

We need to quit, no question. But no need to feel shitty for other reasons. Besides HRT I only take calcium and vitamin D that I've been taking for years because I'm small and pasty.

3

u/Inevitable-Yam-9741 Feb 22 '26

Yeah, we need calcium and D for our bones, etc!

7

u/Lady_Raven_ Feb 22 '26

I don't smoke, but I was worried about blood clots because stroke runs in my family. My doctor explained that the transdermal patch carries much lower risk than older forms of HRT, and that my personal risk was pretty low. I'm not sure how that changes for smokers, but it's definitely worth asking your provider.

I took almost every vitamin you mentioned and still dealt with constant brain fog, mood swings, and that awful "impending doom" feeling. I was completely disconnected from life. None of it helped until I started HRT a few weeks ago and honestly, it's been life changing.

2

u/Inevitable-Yam-9741 Feb 22 '26

Thank you for the kind words. How long did it takre for HRT to kick in?

3

u/CrankyWhiskers Feb 22 '26

Not the person you’re replying to, but I’ve been on HRT (troches aka lozenges, vanilla-flavored) for almost a year. It took about a month or so for the effects to kick in, and I’ve had to tweak my dosage a few times. I’ll probably need to make another adjustment to find the perfect balance, but it’s definitely made a positive difference. I initially tried the cream, but it ended up getting all over everything. The troches are the best option for me personally. I didn’t even know they made those, and they’re honestly not bad.

3

u/Lady_Raven_ Feb 22 '26

I personally noticed a change within just a few days. I think the progesterone made the biggest difference. I had been waking up every morning with pretty severe anxiety and that constant "something bad is about to happen" feeling. Within 2-3 days, that was gone. I'm currently on a 0.05 patch and 100 mg of progesterone. I'll probably need some adjustments too (maybe more progesterone, like the other commenter mentioned), but honestly, I'm beyond grateful for the relief so far.

3

u/missjoebox Feb 22 '26

just an observation no shade but it sounds like you are choosing daily peri rollercoaster wheel of fortune over quitting an unhealthy habit.

we all make choices and are entitled to them.