[MSsMom]

I have bipolar 2, 48 yrs old, just new to site, and just started hot flashes which have messed up my sleep and I am a mess now after a week of being waken many times--and sometimes stay awake-- in the night with hot flashes.

I am at a real low point, my brain is a mess--even mixed state at times--, have SI but not abnormal when not doing well. I just push through or my 16 yr old daughter.

Question--does menopause destabilize someone with a mood disorder?

I take--clonopin, tegritol, geodon, and wellbutrin

[kindachaotic]

Yes, it affected my moods & sleep even on my meds.
I'm 54 now & have been on Premarin for almost 3yrs. It has been a life saver but that's just me. Always a personal decision about HRT.
Hope you feel better soon.

[Yoda]

I have bipolar, ADHD and PTSD and when I became perimenopausal I couldn't sleep much at all. I never had problems sleeping before, even after drinking coffee but when menopause came I got 4 hours at best. And my mood swings were more erratic and troublesome. But I finally ended up on a mix of drugs that helps me sleep and keeps my mood steady.

[lad007]

I think that if you don't sleep and you know we need to sleep with BP it's bad to go without proper sleep.
My friend had similar trouble with the flashes and the not sleeping, and go some patches from her doc that she says have helped a lot. So I am not sure if the menopause effects the moods, or the lack of sleep.

[Lsa157]

I have bp2 and am going through menopause. My doctor had me on lamictal because it was cheaper, but I was a mad woman. So he put me back on seroquel and added estroven (over the counter for menopause symptoms, all natural). My hot flashes have stopped and I can sleep again and my husband says I am a different person. Try the estroven, but ask your doctor first.

[MSsMom]

Thank you all--your posts were really helpful--I will see a doc about a menopause med