How to minimize hot flashes from Tamoxifen?

nokomarie

RozHopkins said:

Tamoxifen
Yes, terrible hot flashes. No matter when I take it I personally still get flashes through the night countless times. The ceiling fan we had put up is a godsend. Wear mainly or only cotton, bedding too as previously mentioned. Fan at work on your desk would be a good idea, if you have a desk, and a hand held fan in your purse. Effexor I use too and it does help some but they are still frequent and uncomfortable to say the least. Avoid if you can, spicy foods, hot drinks and alcohol. It's just not fare is it..................... Like one other lady mentions at least I know it is working. Good luck.

Cool off with Black Ice
I am closing in on the last month of five years of tamoxifen and I actually think I might live through it. My oncology nurse practitioner put me on effexor and it made a little difference and then my regular doctor put me on effexor xr. Helps a little, but on even semi warm days I look like a melted, red faced, sweaty mess. I always wonder if people in the grocery store think I have something contagious. I will be glad when this is over.

I did find a couple of things that helped during the summer. A cool handkerchief around my neck helped and then I found a product that you can put in the freezer and put around your neck that keeps cooling for at least an hour or so. The product is called Black Ice and it worked for me. Looks a little dorky, but better than being "drippy"!

Hope you find something to work for you. Best wishes!!

survivorbc09

debi.18 said:

Effexor~
My onc also prescribed Effexor for me. What a miracle! Mine are so mild now I hardly notice them. It started working after just a couple of days!

Now.....if they would only give me a pill for the weight gain!

Hugs, Debi

I am not on tamox, but, I
I am not on tamox, but, I know several pink sisters that do take Effexor and swear by it.


Good luck,

Jan

spiper41

Battscave said:

I was told to try black
I was told to try black cohosh from the local health food store. I take Effexor too to try and calm down the hot flashes, and this seems to be working for me. Thank God

Black cohosh is a no-no

At the very beginning of my mets diagnosis, my oncologist said no to anything estrogenic, including black cohosh and soy.  I would check with your doc before doing this.

spiper41

Multiple approaches

I tried Effexor but was not happy about the sexual side effects.  It was very difficult to get off of it, so I won't be doing that again.  My oncologist came up with clonidine patches.  Clonidine is a blood pressure medication that isn't very effective in pill form but is very effective in the patch.  I started on the smallest dose and am now up to the highest dose.  It has helped a lot with the hotflashes, and my blood pressure is great.  The longer I have been on Arimidex the worse they seem to get.  Now I'm using the patch and getting acupuncture twice a week and a Chinese herbal preparation called Zhi Bai di Huang Wan from Seven Forest.  The Zhi Bai was prescribed by my naturopath who is very knowledgeable about oncology.  I take six before bed time.  It seems to take all three for me to control the hot flashes, but I often don't wake at all at night.  When I do, I go back to sleep.  I will have a few mild ones during the day.  This is a huge improvement.  Before I was waking up three and four times a night and unable to sleep after 3 or 4 AM, and I was miserable during the day.  The acupuncture and some other herbs also help with general dryness.  My eyes are no longer painful, and the vaginal dryness has improved.  I'm a happy camper. 

peanutcat

Hot Flashes

Yes, it is better to take it in themorning. Then you can dress in small layers take themoff as you get warm and cool. that is what I do. Try it. Let me know if you try it or if this works for you.

 

HUGS!!!

disneyfan2008

I have six months to go on

I have six months to go on Tamoxifin and never had hot flashes-about 2 yrs into taking it i had to have total hysterctomy due to enlarge uterus.

I never knew it was an issue with the med...

RozHopkins

Black cohosh is a no, no

As previously said including anything soy plus imitation meat.  Sorry.  Hot flashes were all day and night and Effexor which I have been taking didnt touch them.  Sorry again. It depends where you are I think hormonally and where you are in the menopause.  It is so true all of our bodies react differently so go for it, try all Oncol suggests and see if something suits you.  Just recently changed from tamoxifen to three monthly implant.  It's a miracle, though early days, hot flashes are few.  I have a feeling ovaries may be dying, finally.  We'll see.  Good luck.

TriciaT

Hi

How many IU of vitamin D do you take daily

Thanks

Lorraine2

I take Gabapentin 100mg every other night with Tamoxifen which helps with hot flashes and nerve pain. I am also trying a smaller dose of Tamoxifen since I had so much tiredness and strong mood swings with very dry mouth and eyes. Maybe this will help you, too!