Estradiol: Mother Nature's Antidepressant

Here's a statistic for you: According to IMS Health, between 1996 and 2007, the percentage of non-mental health physicians prescribing antidepressants rose from 59.5% to 72.7%. If that's not enough to get your attention, also according to IMS Health, the sale of antidepressants in 2010 alone surpassed $11 billion.

If you're anything like me, $11 billion is a hard number to wrap your head around. So think of it this way: In 2010, there were approximately thirty million, one hundred thirty six thousand, nine hundred eighty six dollars spent per day spent on antidepressants. that's a lot of bank spent on happy pills if you ask me.

Physicians Prescribe Antidepressants for Perimenopause Symptoms

But, what really bothers me is that many of the patients being prescribed antidepressants are women in perimenopause. Unfortunately, I do not find this fact surprising. I find it alarming and deeply disturbing, but not surprising.

As a former perimenopause patient, I can tell you with absolute certainty that by and large, the medical community still doesn't know how to effectively treat perimenopause symptoms. Loading us with synthetic estrogen and progesterone didn't exactly turn out well according to a little study called the Women's Health Initiative. As a result, many physicians are at a loss as to how to help their patients. Falling back on antidepressants seems like an easy and obvious solution, it seems.

Of course, it doesn't help when the federal government funds a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association stating there appears to be a connection between the antidepressant Lexapro, and diminished hot flashes in menopausal women. From there, it's not too much of a stretch to think that antidepressants could also help mood swings, rages, and depression, all common symptoms for many women during perimenopause and menopause.

But are antidepressants really the best choice for women with hormone imbalance symptoms? Are there better and more effective solutions? And more importantly, do we have to be afraid of estrogen therapy? Some healthcare professionals say no. In fact, in spite of the ominous repercussions of the Women's Health Initiative, many physicians still believe that estrogen, and more specifically, estradiol, can be quite effective in treating mood disorders in perimenopausal and menopausal women.

What is Estradiol?

Estradiol is one of three estrogens your ovaries produce. All three, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) are lumped under the catch-all name, if you will, of estrogen. Of the three, estradiol (E2) is known to be a natural antidepressant and is primarily responsible for improving mood. Estradiol is also the key estrogen essential for optimum brain function, helping to support healthy serotonin levels in the brain - the key chemical targeted by antidepressants.

Should You Take Estradiol?

Estrogen continues to be viewed as a double-edged sword. We know for a fact that excess estrogen, and in particular, synthetic estrogen, puts women at an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, heart disease, and breast cancer. But we also know that estrogen can be extraordinarily beneficial as well.

Outside of its basic role in fertility, estrogen keeps our bones strong helping to prevent osteoporosis. In proper doses, it is actually helps prevent heart disease. It is fundamental in maintaining vaginal health and normal sexual function, and when in balance, helps us feel calm, steady, and peaceful. Estrogen has even been shown to help prevent colo-rectal disease as well.

When it comes to treating mood disorders with estradiol, it's important that you fully understand the risks and benefits associated with estrogen therapy. Because it cannot be purchased over-the-counter, you will need a prescription from your physician for estradiol which is available in both bioidentical and synthetic formulas. Bioidentical estradiol is available in pill form, patches, creams, sprays, and gels.

If you do decide to take estradiol, it is important that you communicate regularly with your physician to monitor any physical or emotional changes that may occur. It is also important that you continue to have regular blood tests to monitor estrogen for proper absorption and normal levels.

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/18/antidepressant.hot.flashes/index.html

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1025-us-antidepressant-sales-rise-to-11b-due-to-primary-care-docs/

http://www.healthywomen.org/condition/estrogen