- (See also ‘Thryoid issues’, ‘Endocrine problems’)
- Having non-menopausal hot flashes
- Having severe tension or increase of withdrawal symptoms happening around the time of your period
- Increased cortisol levels
- Sluggish thyroid, possibly leading to a new diagnosis of ‘hypothyroidism’
What are withdrawal-induced hormonal imbalances?
Hormonal imbalances are a commonly reported experience both while taking and coming off psychiatric drugs. Though there is significant research documenting the impacts that these medications can have on various aspects of the body’s endocrine and reproductive functioning, it seems there’s been less of a focus on the impacts that coming off these drugs can also have. Prolactin, estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones are some of the most commonly reported hormones to be impacted by psychiatric drugs and withdrawal.
Typically, men and women report extreme mood swings, brain fog, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, migraines, insomnia, anxiety and an overall intensification of other hormone-related symptoms. In the withdrawal community, you’ll hear frequent reports of women having incredible difficulties around the time of their period, or during menopause, as the natural fluctuations and changes in hormones become compounded by the withdrawal-induced hormonal changes. In fact, some women describe the time surrounding their period as “sheer hell”—they report feeling “possessed”, “ridiculously emotional”, and “beyond weepy”. They describe feeling unable to leave their bedroom, and afraid to be around their children, because of how unpredictable and emotionally volatile they feel. Some men report being diagnosed with “Low T” (a marketing name for low testosterone) in withdrawal.
Photo courtesy of SeRGioSVoX and Flickr Creative Commons.
Hormone problems/Hormonal imbalances
What are withdrawal-induced hormonal imbalances?
Hormonal imbalances are a commonly reported experience both while taking and coming off psychiatric drugs. Though there is significant research documenting the impacts that these medications can have on various aspects of the body’s endocrine and reproductive functioning, it seems there’s been less of a focus on the impacts that coming off these drugs can also have. Prolactin, estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones are some of the most commonly reported hormones to be impacted by psychiatric drugs and withdrawal.
Typically, men and women report extreme mood swings, brain fog, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, migraines, insomnia, anxiety and an overall intensification of other hormone-related symptoms. In the withdrawal community, you’ll hear frequent reports of women having incredible difficulties around the time of their period, or during menopause, as the natural fluctuations and changes in hormones become compounded by the withdrawal-induced hormonal changes. In fact, some women describe the time surrounding their period as “sheer hell”—they report feeling “possessed”, “ridiculously emotional”, and “beyond weepy”. They describe feeling unable to leave their bedroom, and afraid to be around their children, because of how unpredictable and emotionally volatile they feel. Some men report being diagnosed with “Low T” (a marketing name for low testosterone) in withdrawal.
Photo courtesy of SeRGioSVoX and Flickr Creative Commons.
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