alternative therapies for hot flashes

map66

Hello all,

I have been fighting hot flashes for about 6 months now.  I have tried vitamin e and potassium with little relief.  I finished radiation December 30th and my flashes seem to have intensified.  My Oncologist recommends Effexor and I am really trying to find an alternate route.  Any help would be much appreciated!

Moderators

Hi Map66,

We're sorry to hear you're dealing with this uncomfortable side effect! You may be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's pages on Managing Hot Flashes Naturally, which contain lots of good tips for non-medicinal options.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

map66

thank you so much! i'll check them out.

Ariom

I went through a really early menopause, starting at 38, all done by 43. I don't know if they recommend this these days, but I got relief from Evening Primrose oil.

Momine

Ariom, Evening Primrose as well as most other herbal/natural remedies most likely work because they boost estrogen somehow. In other words, it may not be safe for ER+ women.

I found that just staying calm and breathing through the sauna attacks helped a bit. It also helps to keep a glass of water next to you and sip it when the hot flashes hit.

As mentioned, exercise can help some.

Mostly though, it will usually get better eventually by itself. I went through about a year or 18 months of constant sweat attacks, but then it gradually calmed down. Now I get one hot flash before going to sleep and one on waking. They are mild and I am used to it, so it really doesn't bother me much.

flowers2

Hi! I'm also fighting hot flashes at night yet want to avoid anything that could boost estrogen and/or affect tamoxifen's efficacy. When I really need a break from the hot flashes - which is probably every third night or so - I take fish oil, magnesium ( 500 mg) and an apple cider vinegar pill from whole foods at about 8pm. For me, the apple cider vinegar pills are much more doable than the liquid apple cider vinegar. I also take my tamox around 8pm. I try to take the smallest dose possible of these supplements since I would like to get most of my vitamins from whole foods. And I'm wary of anything that reduces hot flashes. Hope this helps!

Iowawoman

I hadn't heard anything about timing when to take Tamoxifen. Could you tell me more about that?

map66

Ariom, Momine and Flowers2,

Thank you all for your suggestions.  Evening Primrose is one I haven't tried.  I'm having flashes at least every hour and all night long.  I'm exhausted!  I walk every day, do pilates and I always keep water handy.  It's been 6 months of this and it's starting to wear me out.  Thank you again for all your suggestions. 

WinningSoFar

I remember that Evening Primrose Oil is estrogenic, if that's the correct word. Check it out first.

I remember the horrors of hot flashes and I don't think I had them as much as others. I was estrogen + with my first breast cancer, so I mainly just suffered through it. What I do remember is finally taking something to sleep and having a pitcher of water and glass at my nightstand. Eventually, it just got better. But there were times I thought I couldn't endure any more!