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Menopause Depression Drugs

Depression is more common among women than men and is especially likely to occur during the years leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause. Gradually declining levels of estrogen may be responsible for an onset of depression in middle-aged women.

  1. Symptoms of Depression

    • Symptoms of depression include two or more weeks of a depressed mood most of the day every day along with loss of appetite and loss of interest in people or activities that you usually enjoy. You may also experience insomnia, fatigue, irritability or restlessness.

    Types of Medication

    • Your doctor will rule out other possible medical causes for depression such as thyroid problems before treating you with medication. Depression during menopause and perimenopause can be treated by hormone therapy, antidepressants or a combination.

    Hormone Therapy

    • Hormone therapy can provide relief of many of the symptoms of menopause, including depression. It may include estrogen or progesterone replacement or a combination. Relief from depression may follow relief from hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. This type of therapy is not sufficient to treat severe depression.

    Antidepressant Medications

    • If you are moderately or severely depressed, your doctor may recommend antidepressant medications. Most often, antidepressants prescribed for menopausal symptoms are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Zoloft, Prozac or Paxil.

    Considerations

    • If depression is mild, your doctor will probably recommend either hormone therapy or low-dose antidepressants. For more severe depression, a combination of the two is likely to be prescribed. Psychotherapy may be recommended in addition to whatever medications are tried.

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