Hot Flashes.

Sherryg683 · 04-27-2006, 09:43 PM

What in the heck can I do for all these hot flashes that I've been having. They are keeping me up at night and happen all day long. I'm taking sleeping pills with little help. Do any of you know how long these things will last, will they go away on their own or do I need to see my GYN for help I am off chemo and taking herceptin only...sherryg683

mekasan · 04-27-2006, 11:15 PM

If you are not prescribed any other anti-depressant, ask your onc for effexor. It' is an antidepressant that has a side effect of slowing down or stopping hot flashes. (and who couldn't benefit from a little anti-depressant during this stressful time).

I was temporarily put into early menapause w/ Lurpon injections. I suffered severe hot flashes at least one per hour. They were so bad that my boyfriend could see it happening (I would turn red, and sweat would be out of control in a matter of minutes). I, too, could not sleep.

Finally, as I spoke to my onc about a separate issue, I began sweating. I mention how bad they were and she said "why didn't you tell us sooner...". She started me on one pill per day for one week (the loading dose), which helped slightly. She did state that most people don't feel a great difference until they take 2 pills per day. As soon as I hit day 7, I uped it to 2 and the flashes were practically gone. When I did have one it was nothing to sweat over

Good luck
Shannon

Kimberly Lewis · 04-28-2006, 04:06 AM

hi, been battling awful flashing, sweats and sleepless nights.
Effexor didn't work for me - it was not a drug I could personally reccomend. I am now using neurontin, it doesn't give me the "weird" feeling that E. did and I am sleeping great now no need for the sleeping pills that I did get, Lunesta and Sonota. I hear that there is a new derivative of neurontin, forget its name that is even better.... hoping you find the right ingredients for your peace. Being faithful to exercise helps enormously, I do 3 miles a day plus kyaking whenever I can. I love it!

juanita · 04-28-2006, 05:15 AM

I thought I had hot flashes before I went through chemo, with being in perimenopause. But then chemo put me into menopause and the hot flashes got worse. I took effexor for awhile, and it quit working. I was sorta getting used to the hot flashes, but then they put me on cholesterol medicine. What I did before was just warm flashes compared to this. I work in a school cafeteria and the big walk in cooler seems to cool me down pretty good. But getting comfortable at night is really hard. And as we go into summer I think I might be cooking from the inside out. I will ask again about getting on the effexor, they didn't tell me to take two a day for it. And I will look for the ne- oops chemo brain, I forgot how to spell that other one already.

tousled1 · 04-28-2006, 06:37 AM

I too suffered from hot flashes and my onc put me on neurontin -- didn't like the way it made me feel. I now take effexor and ativan which seem to help immensely.

Andi · 04-28-2006, 08:35 AM

I too, suffered the "once an hour" hot flashes and total body sweats. I didn't want to take an anti depressent so I kept refusing any help. When I was doing my radiation, my radiation oncologist asked if I would like to try clonidine (which I understand is an old med for blood pressure). She said it sometimes will help, but usually takes about 30 days to really notice anything. I tried it and have been on them about 3 months. It hasn't taken them all away but I would say 60-75% of them and those that remain are not as strong. I don't have high blood pressure, so they watch mine to make sure it doesn't go too low, which it hasn't. My dosage is .2mg tab once a day. I am still taking the herceptin once every three weeks and I do notice that I have more flashes for a couple of days after my infusion, then they subside after that.

lexigirl · 04-28-2006, 08:40 AM

I also suffer from the hot flashes. At night they are the worst! I do notice that if I take an ativan before bed that I don't wake up with a flash. I really don't like to take any more pills than necessary, but when my body needs a good nights sleep I will take a 1mg ativan. It really does help.

Lexi

Patty H · 04-28-2006, 06:15 PM

I have really bad hotflashes. The effector helps some if I take it twice a day. But it has been over 4 years since they threw me into menopause and I am still wondering if the will ever quit! Patty H

MCS · 05-01-2006, 09:28 AM

Thank you for posting this thread.

I was menopausal before I started chemo. I had an endometrial ablation that took my period away but still was having periodic hot flashes.

Lately, I have had more events and it's very unconfortable.

What was the bad effect of neurontin?

I will try the ativan before going to bed and see if that controls it. Otherwise I will bring up to doc.

Thanks again

XO

MCS ( maria)