What do you take for hot flashes?

Hi,
I recently stopped taking Prempro after ten years due to breast cysts.  I was doing okay for a couple weeks but now get hot flashes and night sweats, along with insomnia.  I've heard black cohash may help.  Has anyone tried it with success?

[japdip]

May I suggest that you also post this question on the "Womens Health" Community. You may get some good answers there. Thanks..

[Maddie6]

Okay, thank you. Sorry,  I am just getting familiar with this website, so hope I didn't post on wrong forum.  I will check on "Women's Health" forum.

[SueYoung55]

Hi,
I take Lexapro and it's stopped my hot flashes. If you've had BC be sure to ask your doctor before you take natural remedies as some can cause issues.

Best wishes :)

[Maddie6]

Hi,
Thank you for your response.  I'm glad the Lexapro is helping you.  I just did a quick search on it.  I'll check with my doctor on this drug.  I've had two biopsies, and fortunately both were benign.  Thanks for the info on taking natural remedies.  You're so right, as some can cause issues and interactions with other medications.  Take care.

[katarina777]

Something that also helps is a drug called Clonidine. (it's not the same as Klonopin) It's a blood pressure drug but prescribed for multiple other purposes also and it's great for sleeping and very short acting. helps with hot flashes as well. Ask your doctor about it, although many docs don't know anything about the use of this drug except for blood pressure.

[Maddie6]

Hi,
Thanks for the info on Clonidine.  I'm glad it's helping you.  That's very interesting that some of these drugs are for one medical issue but can also be prescribed for other medical conditions.  I take Methotrexate which is a chemo drug, but my doctor prescribes it for rheumatoid arthritis.  I'm getting off the subject here.  

Thank you so much again for the info on Clonidine, and I will discuss with my doctor.  I sure could use some help for insomnia.  Take care.

[katarina777]

I know how it is. Was put into menopause by chemo and then with those hormonal drugs. The insomnia and those hot flashes are terrible, and when severe, really a huge big deal and interference with normal life, so I understand. I hope you get some relief. Katrin  (A normal starting doe is .1 mg, and then can be increased)

[Maddie6]

Hi and thanks again.  It sounds like you've been thru a lot with the chemo and then side effects.  Yes, impossible to sleep and does interfere with daily things.  I drink coffee to stay awake during day which probably doesn't help my insomnia.  Have a good day.

[RITZGAL]

I was on Prempro for about 12 yrs. Weaned off between Feb and Apr.  Flashes are more like showers and pour out of my scalp too.  Sleeping problems too.  Just this past few weeks those sweats are much improved and down to just a few a day.  I am 63.  It took a good six mos. to be tollerable.  Now I start Evista for lcis and osteoporosis.  That is supposed to cause flashes.  My doc says Effexor and Clonidine will help flashes.  I do not want to take Effexor, and Clonidine may lower my blood pressure too much since I am already on two blood pressure meds.  I will try the Evista and if get flashes again, I may just stop.  I read magnesium helps, so I tried.  It did help quite a bit, but unfortunately, if you take enough, you get diarrhea. Some choice.  So if anyone knows of other alternatives for flashes, please post.

[Maddie6]

Hi,
Wow, same here with the sleeplesssness and wet scalp.  Lots of tossing and turning all night and weird dreams if I do fall asleep a short spell.  I'm 62 and was on Prempro about that long, too.  My doctor told me to try a taper, but instead I did cold turkey.  Maybe that was a mistake, but the last mammogram, I had several benign cysts and so wanted off it right away.  My Primary Doctor was keeping me on it to help my bones,  I'm on Boniva IV thru my Rheumatologist, and I only need it once every three months.  I also take calcium with magnesium.  Good luck with the Evista.  Keep me posted.  Take care.

[RITZGAL]

Just a quick comment.  I stopped Prempro entirely by April.  July 29th was my 6 mo mammogram.  Tech told me she was astonished because my last mamo showed cysts of all sizes and there was almost nothing there now.  I did notice some visible changes that happened so fast.  Everything seemed to go south all of a sudden.  Did you notice any changes after stopping Prempro?  Maybe I'm nuts.  

[Maddie6]

Hi again,
This is exactly the reason why I stopped taking the Prempro.  I had my yearly Mammorgram just this past September 14.  I received a call the next day asking me to return for more diagnostic screenings on my left breast only.  I then returned two days later for a second Mammogran and then also an Ultrasound same day.  The findings showed an 8 mm benign cyst and also several other subcentimeter benign cysts.  The next day, September 18, I abruptly stopped the Prempro and let my doctor know I felt I had been on the Prempro long enough and also due to the breast cysts.  So for me it's only been a little over a month since I've stopped the Prempro.  I was told I don't need to return for a year.

That is amazing your screening showed no cysts after six months.  this gives me hope.  I do have a call in to my doctor to see if she can prescribe something to help with the hot flashes and insomnia.  I have to say she did ask me to do a taper, but when I called, it had already been a week since stopping the Prempro, si I decided to go cold turkey,  Maybe not the best decision on my part, but then again maybe so.  Take care.

[Maddie6]

Well, this is very strange.  My doctor's nurse returned my call which I had left asking for something to relieve my hot flashes since I had gone off the Prempro.  My doctor wants me to go back on the Prempro until I feel better, and then in 4-6 months do a taper.  Have any of you done this method?  I explained to the nurse that because of the benign cysts diagnosed on the Mammogram and Ultrasound, and two previous benign biopsies, I'd prefer not to go back on the Prempro.  

[bluebutterfly2222]

I think that is a good decision:

April 2008, JAMA, Women have  a slightly increased  cancer  risk for three years after stopping HRT.

March, 2008, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, HRT may increase disease recurrence in breast cancer survivors

January 2008, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers an d Prevention., Post Menopausal women on combined HRT have higher risk of rare type of Breast Cancer.

There are several antidepressants that can reduce hot flashes. Accupuncture was rated equal to Effexor in one study for reducing hot flahes. Regular exercise had been shown to both increase bone mass and decrease hot flashes.

If you are concerned about BC, it makes sense to try some of the (probably) safer alternatives...

[Maddie6]

Hi and thanks for your response and the information on HRT.  The doctor herself called me a short while ago and seemed bent on getting me back on the Prempro and doing a very gradual taper which would take quite a while the way she explained it.  I don't think she was listening to me.  I was doing some research on the antidepressants for reducing hot flashes and ran across the acupuncture as an alternative treatment.  I have the name of a good acupuncturist that several people have used and may go that route.  Thanks again.