Hi all, can anyone advise me. My onc prescribed me venlafaxine to help my hot flushes. They knocked me off my feet for 2 days, feeling dizzy and very paniky. I stopped them and spoke to my gp who said he didnt know why i was prescribed them ???. Any way my question is being Oestrogen + can i use a lady magnet and a fried has recomended Flash Fighters and Vit B50. Im getting desperate now, going back to work tomorrow for the first time in a year and really need my sleep.
Any advise would be gratefully received. x
I used the magnet and take black cohosh and between them they’ve worked. I’ve not used the magnet in a while and carried on with the cohosh and I’ve been fine.
Hey Scally.
Venlafaxine is a type of anti-depressant. When used in lower doses than normally prescribed for depression it has the welcome side-effect of reducing the severity of hot flushes, and because it’s not an SSRI (another type of anti-d), like Prozac, it doesn’t affect the action of Tamoxifen.
Because everyone’s different, you might find that you’ve been given a dose that’s a bit high for you. So you might find that if you reduce the dose (under supervision) that the unpleasant side-effects go away but you get the good side-effect of reduced hot flushes. Alternatively, there are other anti-d’s that you can be prescribed at a low dose that might help with the flushes without making you feel as if the top of your head’s been chopped off.
If the flushes are bad, try something different to see if it will help.
(Disclaimer: I’m not medically trained, just an obsessive reader!)
Hi Scally
I am posting a link to the BCC publication ‘menopausal symptoms and breast cancer’ which you may find useful to read, please also call our helpliners for further support and information on 0808 800 6000, the lines are open weekdays 9-5 and Sat 9-2.
Best wishes
Lucy
Thanks, for your input everyone. Think im going to discard the anti depressants and opt for a more natural approach and see how I go. On a better note, went back to work today, the first time in 12 months. Apart from a bloody backache which has nothing to do with bc, ive had the best day ive had in ages. Its great just being “normal” xxx
Hi, and congratulations on being back at work! I use clonidine, it works at the moment at reducing the intensity of the flushes. Was told by medical team that black cohosh wasn’t safe as it’s interaction with tamoxifen is not well understood and it can behave like estrogen in the body. There is some useful information on the cancer research uk website. My doctor also offered low dose citalopram for the flushes, too. Take care. Tinaxxx
I have just been to doctors as I am waking every night with hot flushes then struggle to get back to sleep. I was offered sleeping tablets and prozac! I ran a mile! I would really like to cope with this as naturally as possible so any recomendations would be great!
Well done for getting back to work. Its a great feeling isnt it!
Surprised they offered Prozac since you are on tamoxifen! I have the amitriptyline (10mg) for sleep, just couldn’t do without sleeping any longer. The combination works for me, I loathe taking it all but it helps and I can function more normally. Have cut out caffeine more or less, none pm, wear layers, we have separate duvets for night time, poor OH freezing with central heating off and windows open!! X
I too wake in the night with hot flushes buis what I really hate is the sweating at night. Spoke to a lady recently who swears by her moisture wicking nightwear. Worth a mention, although it doesn’t get rid of the problem she says she doesn’t wake up drenched several times a night.
I found embracethechange.com and coolsleepwear.co.uk just by googling hot flushes and pajamas.
X
Rusty
BCN suggested taking 1000mg starflower oil. She said it would take about a month or two to kick in and she was right. I still get them, but nowhere near as bad. The other thing I now swear by is my gel filled cool pillow. I prefer it to the Chillow pillow that I’ve used for many years.