Effexor for hot flashes?

VL22

I’ve been on Tamoxifen for just over 2 months an the hot flashes are really bad. I can deal during the day, even though it can be embarrassing to break out in the sweats in public, but the nights are out of hand. I wake up every 2 hours and then have trouble getting back to sleep. I’m exhausted.

I was thinking of taking zquil some other type of none habit forming sleep aid.

Someone suggested Effexor, but it sounds extreme. I had trouble giving up Ativan, so I worry about the things I read about Effexor.

Anyone try a sleep aid or Effexor?

Thanks

exercise_guru

I take tamoxifen in the morning and effexor at 6pm. It has made a huge difference in the night time hot flashes but not in the fatigue area.

Spookiesmom

I used it for a few months in the beginning. I stopped it with no problems, the hot flashes decreased, to manageable. But I’m in Fl, everybody’s sweaty in summer anyway. A lot of the ladies here say Effexor really helps them. Try it, you can always quit.

Michelle_in_cornland

Magnesium

OZ07

My oncologist prescribed Neurontin (Gabapentin is generic). Really helps with the hot flashes, although doesn't entirely eliminate them. Originally this med was made for nerve pain, but suppressing hot flashes is a beneficial side effect. Prescription is one pill every 4 hrs. It ceases to work at exactly 4 hrs.!

VL22

Thank you for the feedback. I think I might start with the magnesium and see if that works before I go to a prescription medication

exercise_guru

Melatonin really kicks in my night flashes so you might be mindful of this if you are taking it.

The first things I would try are:

Do not take a hot shower before bed.

Caffeine and spicy foods can be triggers.

cooling sheets ( google those)

Fan by the bed

light light cotton blanket and lightweight sleeping attire.

get your room as cold as possible

During the day there are some cooling towels you can put around your neck if needed . Athletes use them.

There are three drugs they have tested for hotflashes. All worked for about 40% of women but who is to say which one worked for which women.

Gabapentin ( Neurotonin) I tried this for neuropathy but did not help my hot flashes does help some women.

Chlonadine: I was prescribed this but didn't take it.

Effexor: I was already depressed and down anyway so I finally in desperation tried this and it helped both with my mood and emotion as well as night flashes. I worry about being on it so long but I honestly can't function without it.

I was recommended magnesium for something else. I haven't tried it yet so I can't speak to that I will ask my dietician.

Lovinggrouches

Effexor really worked for me! I am grateful for it and have been on it for close to 2 years no

TheBreastlight

I also take tamoxifen and effexor in morning and night.Now I am feeling good.

kathij

Exactly one month ago, I ended 5 years of what I called "my sad pill," first Tamoxifen and then, after I had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy four years ago, Arimidex. After about a year of absolute misery on Tamoxifen, I finally agreed to go on Effexor. I was on a low dosage of just 75mg/day, and it changed everything quite dramatically for the better. Before Effexor, I had monstrous, frequent hot flashes, mood swings, and would end up in tears at some point every single day. I also had incredible fatigue, and trouble with sleep.

Each time I visited my oncologist in that first year, when she asked me how I was doing, I would burst into tears. She suggested Effexor early on, but I generally prefer to tough things out. Finally, and very gently, she suggested that maybe we should try it out. That drug really saved me. For those who don't know, Effexor is clinically proven to reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes. It didn't cure the fatigue, but I could function normally and happily again.

I still had some trouble with sleep while on Effexor (my "happy pill"), but because my days were normal again, I was able to deal with it. The #1 thing that guaranteed I would have a good night's sleep was exercise. I can't emphasize enough how important this was. I definitely recommend good sleep hygiene (you can read about it online) and meditation has also been a total sanity-saver.

Personally, I've become convinced that nutritional supplements are problematic. There is no regulation of their production, and so it's impossible to know what you're actually putting in your body. That said, While I'm suspicious of supplements, there are homeopathic remedies that I did not use, but which I would definitely trust, such as Rescue Remedy. I actually have not used it, but I've talked to a number of people who swear by it.

I began weaning myself off Effexor last week. I cut the 75mg dosage to 37.5 with no ill effect, and took 37.5mg for one week.[37.5mg is the lowest possible dosage before you have to break open the capsule and count out the time-release beads.] The day before yesterday, I didn't take the pill; yesterday, I felt a little giddy in the head in the afternoon (it's not quite dizziness; the feeling is hard to explain--sort of like a wave of lightheadedness), and so I did take it again. It's now 10:00pm, and I haven't had a pill today. I'm thinking that, if I need to, I might have to alternate every other day. So far, though, the tapering is going much, much better than I anticipated.

I hope this helps! I'm so grateful to everyone who contributes to these forums. Thank you all!

Peace,

Kathi J

VL22

thanks kathij - I too try to tough thing out and hate being on medication. However, even though I decided to take break from tamoxifen for a week to see if I’d feel better, I do, it comes with fear.

My next step is to try the Effexor. I already exercise a lot and eat well, so maybe this is the missing piece.

Thanks.