Hi ladies
I am really suffering with hot flashes, so much so that I went to the Dr’s yesterday to see if anything could be done to ease them. My Dr said that Citalopram is known to cause hot flashes. I have been taking the pills for 18 months now and have been reluctant to stop taking them because I thought they helped to alleviate them.
Please could someone tell me which of the two is correct. My Dr has suggested stopping the pills, I am willing to do so but not if it makes my flashes worse because I can honestly say this side effect has been the worst part of my BC journey and I’ve had it all chemo & rads. Any advice would be very very welcome.
Big hugs and good health to all of you.
Stella X
My understanding of Citalopram is that it is an anti-depressant. It would be hard for anyone to comment about this specifically unless they knew your full medical history and all other medications that you are on. If you are on Tamoxifen or Letrozole these may be causing the hot flushes. I would suggest you ask to sit with the practice nurse, or a local pharmacist, to go through all your medications and get them explained to you. Good luck with this. J.
I am currently taking Citalopram to help with the hot flushes started by chemo and currently fuelled by Tamoxifen. A year ago I was taking it for depression and they did not give me hot flushes then. My GP actually strongly recommended Citalopram as being one of the best things to take to help with the flushes and it does make a huge difference.
However it is also fair to say that each person is different and different doctors also have differing opinions on the efficacy of particular drugs.
The advice about going through all your meds with someone is an excellent idea.
Nymeria x
Hi I am on citalopram as an AD - for me it hasn’t really made the hot fulshes any worse (I’m on Tamoxifen) but it has really helped with my mood swings and depression without any noticeable side effects. I’de ask your BCN what she thinks.
cheers
Caroline
Hi Stella
I was prescribed Citalopram specifically to deal with hot flushes and night sweats. It worked really well for that but unfortunately gave me such a dry mouth that I couldn’t continue with it and had to try other things.
Sarah x
Hi Stella,
I too have been prescribed citalopram for hot flushes. I take a low dose (10mg) which is below the therapeutic dose for depression. I have been taking it for two months so far, having tried all sorts of things before, and so far it is working well for me. I was at desperation point prior to starting citalopram, and seriously considering giving up tamoxifen. I am still having hot flushes, but they are milder and fewer.
If citalopram does not work for the flushes, there are lots of other medications you can try. It’s just a case of trial and error to find one that works for you.
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