Anxiety occurs twice as often in women than in men. Further, changes in the production of the hormones progesterone and estrogen that occur during menopause often contribute to or worsen anxiety symptoms. Progesterone in particular is linked to anxiety and panic attacks, as it affects neurotransmitters in the brain that help control emotions and sleeping patterns. This hormone is supplemented as part of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women who have not had a hysterectomy or undergone the surgical removal of the uterus.
Step 1
Keep a careful record of the onset and duration of your anxiety, then schedule an appointment with your doctor or mental health specialist.
Step 2
Speak with your doctor or mental health specialist about your anxiety and any other symptoms you may be experiencing. Show her the records you kept if necessary. She may prescribe progesterone, alone or as part of a hormone replacement therapy, to help balance the emotions you're feeling.
Step 3
Take the recommended dosage of progesterone for the anxiety. There are a number of brand name prescription medications that supply progesterone to the body. Progesterone is ingested as a single daily dose of 200 to 400 mg, often at bedtime. Swallow the progesterone tablet or tablets whole with a glass of water, with or without food.
Step 4
Take the progesterone according to the schedule recommended by your doctor. You may be required to take this medication on a rotating schedule. Take progesterone exactly as instructed.
Step 5
Consume only the recommended dosage of progesterone; do not exceed this amount. If you miss a dose, continue on your regular schedule, but do not double the next dose or take two progesterone tablets in one day.
Tips and Warnings
- Certain foods and herbal supplements, such as wild yam, may help naturally increase progesterone levels in the body. Talk to your doctor about trying these if your anxiety symptoms are mild. Do not drink grapefruit juice with oral progesterone-replacing medications. Grapefruit juice can cause increased levels of the hormone in the body. Read the label of the prescription medication carefully to avoid any food or drink that causes interactions.
- If your doctor prescribes a hormone replacement therapy that uses both progesterone and estrogen, be aware that adverse side effects can occur in some people. These include an increased risk of stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and heart disease. Discuss all risks with your doctor. Taking progesterone on its own can also cause side effects in some individuals. These include headache pain, breast tenderness, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and muscle or joint pain. Report any severe or ongoing side effects to your doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Prescription progesterone
References
- PubMed Health: Progesterone
- Women to Women; Anxiety in Women: Causes, Symptoms and Natural Relief; Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP
- RxList.com: Prometrium Dosage and Indications
- Fertilinet.com: Natural Solutions
- "Ceská gynekologie / Ceská lékarská spolecnost J. Ev. Purkyne"; [Does Grapefruit Juice Increase the Bioavailability of Orally Administered Sex Steroids?] [article in Czech]; H. Fingerova, et al.; March 2003
