Anonymous
What DOES get rid of or really minimize hot flashes without bad side effects (like Effexor)?
May 8, 2009 - 8:32pm
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3 comments
I became post-menopausal at age 43. I'm 52. I've tried synthetic hormone treatments to relieve hot flashes and all the miserable things that come with menopause. Nothing worked. I've been on a daily low-dose (20 mg.) of Prozac (fluoxetine). Keeps me "even" but...still, not effective for the hot flashes. I can't sleep, I've got low energy, my heart pounds with little exertion, and I sweat more than I ever did previous to menopause. I'd love a REAL good solution if anyone has one!
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Anon, I'm sorry you're having such a struggle with hot flashes. They can make us crazy, can't they?!!
We get this question from many women going through the same thing you're going through. Here are some threads you might be interested in talking about ways to minimize hot flashes:
http://www.empowher.com/community/share/menopause-natural-way
http://www.empowher.com/community/share/information-hot-flashes
http://www.empowher.com/community/share/treatments-hot-flashes
http://www.empowher.com/community/share/hot-flashes-and-night-sweats-res...
http://www.empowher.com/community/ask/can-you-suggest-any-natural-remedi...
And if you're interested in trying bioidential hormones instead of synthetic:
http://www.empowher.com/community/ask/do-you-have-data-efficacy-bio-iden...
Have you considered trying bio-identical hormones? Can we find you some more information on that?
If you have read anything I write you will know that I have had great success with bioidentical hormones, I also take supplements for adrenal support. A good naturopath can get you onto some good ones.
Good luck and please let us know what you find.
Prozac is not much better than Effexor in terms of getting off someday. Here's what Eli Lilly says in the Prescribing Information:
"During marketing of PROZAC, SNRIs, and SSRIs, there have been spontaneous reports of adverse reactions occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability,insomnia, and hypomania. . . . If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate."
http://pi.lilly.com/us/prozac.pdf?reqNavId=undefined
I had good luck with low dose birth control pills for hot flashes, and there was no problem when I stopped taking them.