meds for hot flashes

cherylynnie · 07-24-2006, 02:34 PM

Has anyone's oncologist prescribed medicine for reducing hot flashes and night sweats? Mine has prescibed neurontin, which is a seizure meication. He says that it may seem odd that he is placing me on this but that it will work. When I talked to one of the onc nurses last week she seemed to not have heard of this before. Sometimes I wonder if we are all just big guine pigs.

The taxotere started the hot flashes and sweats which were mostly at night. Now I have them anytime since starting the tamoxifen.

Thank you to anyone who responds!

Becky · 07-24-2006, 04:01 PM

I have also heard that the antidepressant, Effexor, works too. I had an oophorectomy in order to take an AI with Herceptin but did not experience very many hot flashes (thanks to my mom who said she had none). My gyne told me he would put me on the Effexor if I needed it since I was also ER+ and couldn't ever do HRT.

Hope this helps.

Becky

PS - I find I do get hot flashes if I am already hot or if I have had a couple of alcoholic drinks. I really get a good one or two since its summer and I can be hot and drinking at the same time (we do have to live it up sometimes!!!!)

Sherryg683 · 07-24-2006, 04:15 PM

Aghh, the hot flashes. My Oncologist told me there wasn't really anything that he could prescribe that would really work (don't know if he just didn't want to bother or think it was that big of a deal). He said they would eventually decrease and I'd get use to them. Well, they have decreased but I still have them daily..just not as often. Anytime I drink alcohol, I feel like I'm sweating bullets. I'm going to talk to my Gyn. about it next time I go...sherryg683

Leslie S · 07-24-2006, 05:11 PM

Hi,
I have used Neurontin for several years for diabetic neuropathy. Because I was already using the Neurontin before being diagnosed with breast cancer, I can't say for sure if my hot flashes would have been worse without the drug. Even though I do have some hot flashes, I don't think I had them as bad as some other survivors that I know. And I really am not bothered with night sweats. My advise would be to try it. I have not had any bad side effects. Also be assured that the hot flashes will decrease in severity and frequency as time goes by.
Leslie

dskdrive · 07-24-2006, 05:49 PM

I am and have been on neurontin and it really relieved the night sweats. I dread the day my oncologist takes me off of it.

Berta · 07-24-2006, 06:26 PM

Cheryl: I had big time problems with hot flashes. I had hysterectomy with ovaries removed 9 years ago and then took hormones until BC diagnosis on 11/04. I had big problems through chemo with hot flashes. Then between chemo and herceptin it got better but then got progressively worse to the point I couldn't sleep due to hot flashes on the herceptin. My onc thought it was med related and prescribed Effexor for me. That did the trick. I have very few hot flashes now and I intend to stay on the Effexor for several months . (I just finished last dose of herceptin 2 weeks ago). After a few month, I'll try it without the herceptin and if I'm better, then I'll quit, If not , I'll take it for a long time. Good luck. BERTA

Kimberly Lewis · 07-24-2006, 07:06 PM

Hi - I tried effexor first and didn't like how it made me feel. The "brain" effects were strange. I did neurontin and that seemed to help more without the side effects. I am an epileptic though so maybe my body was more in tune with that type of med. Hope you find something that helps. Mine made me misrable when the Chemo through me into meno-madness.

Yorkiegirl · 07-24-2006, 08:15 PM

My PCP put me on Effexor and I as well didn't like tej feeling it gave me, so I stopped it. I HATE, HATE the Night Sweats, I can't sleep.

I'm waiting on my Chillo Pillow to arrive and I hope that will help me some.

Since I am Er/Pr-, there is nothing they can give me. Ah well.

I'ts been in the triple digits temp wise the last week and I can tell you this was not fun at all.

I walking around in places with a cool pak on my neck.

mts · 07-25-2006, 06:37 AM

I have not had a hot flash since I began Effexor in 2005. I also only take half the dose and it works really well for me. A few months ago I had forgotten to refill my Effexor, I figured it stayed in my system a few days... anyway, I had withdrawals from the effexor. I was dizzy, could not lift my head, could not drive! I understand that if you try to get off of it, you need to do so incrementally so you won't have the "withdrawals".
If you decide to take it, start out with half a dose (cut the pills in half) and work your way up...

Maria

cherylynnie · 07-25-2006, 08:24 AM

Becky, Sherry, Leslie, dskdrive, Berta, Kim, Vicki, and Maria,

I am glad to know that others have been prescribed neurontin. The first pill I took made me dizzy and I took a nap. But for the most part I have not had other side effects. Just have been dizzy a few other times.

He has talked about Effexor but said it would increase my appetite. And neither he nor I want that.

I am not sure if it is helping although some days are better than others, but he wants me to try it for another month to see if it helps.

Vicki - I hope the chill pillow works for you!

Take care of yourselves everyone and God Bless!

Thanks!