The Daily Regimen

[AdminAnnie]

Place to post and comment on our current and adapting daily regimens for managing PMDD, it's symptoms, side effects and overall quality of life. What works, what doesn't, what's changed, how it all feels, struggles and success. Not intended as medical advice, I am posting for my own sake, the sake of others looking for examples of treatments, as well as to be transparent about my disorder with others, as it is an invisible illness.


My Current Regimen

Lupron Depot 3.75mg (Leuprolide) monthly injection
Estrace 1mg daily add-back estrogen
Clonidine 0.1mg daily for hot flashes
Ativan (Lorazepam) 1mg twice daily for anxiety, 1 nightly for sleep if Valium isn't sufficient
Valium (Diazepam) 2 before bed
Imovane (Zoplicone) - optional for sleep if Valium isn't sufficient

I do not keep my meds at hand because I can be a suicide risk. I am dosed by family, except for the Estrace and Clonidine, and the Lupron is injected by the OBGYN nurse.

I'm hoping to be able to drop all the meds but the Lupron and estrogen, once we find the proper dosage that stops the hot flashes but keeps me emotionally stable. I feel like I'm on a see-saw, a teeter-totter, a fulcrum. Like Goldie Locks: this porridge gives me hot flashes and insomnia, this porridge makes me disagree and yell at everyone about nothing, this porridge makes me want to die violently.

I'm hanging a sign on my life: GIRL CLOSED - UNDER CONSTRUCTION - ENGAGE AT OWN RISK

[AdminAnnie]

Received my 3rd Lupron injection today. Have been moody, depressed and physically sick and uncomfortable. Lupron hasn't kicked in completely yet, but Gyno is optimistic so we're sticking with it and treating the side effects in the meantime.

So all the other medications are the same, with the addition of
Effexor 3.75mg in the morning - to ease menopausal depression