Hello everyone, I am new to this and only wish I joined sooner <3 I finished chemo in Dec 2021 and radiation Feb 2022 so have started on Tamoxifen. Holy moly - these hot flashes are the devil! :s Does anyone have tips to manage these? I’ve struggled through the Perth heatwaves and humidity. I actually timed my flashes and they happen bang on every half hour for 3-5mins, sometimes longer at night! I feel like a walking-sauna! On a positive, at least I won’t need to rug up during the winter :D xx

Hi All! I've been on Exemestane for nearly 18 months now and I can confirm those hot flashes are the WORST. But my oncologist has just put me on a new medication which is helping amazingly. I've been on it for 4 weeks now and can say the hot flashes have reduced to almost nothing and when I do get one it's much less intense - more the feeling that one is coming but it doesn't eventuate. It's called 'Ditropan'. Perhaps have a chat with your oncologist if this might be an option for you.

Hi @FTA. My hot flushes were insane. I have brought them under a semblance of control with two medications, Gabapentin (I take two before bed) and Oxybutynin (which is Ditropan as mentioned by @Philippa above, half in the morning and half at night). These have transformed my quality of life. I still get hot flushes but they are nowhere as nearly intense or frequent. Speak to your oncologist or GP about them. Good luck! K xox

Hi @kmakm,so lovely to hear from you, I do hope all is well in your world and that life is treating you ok,wendy55

Hi @FTA, I have been on tamoxifen now for over 1 year. I started taking it at the end of 2020 following my active treatment. I initially had really bad hot flushes about every hr but much worse at night. I would strip the sheet and use a fan and air con. I live in humid Brisbane. Not much else I could do however it did all settle down after 2 or 3 months. Hang in there. Speak to your oncologist if it doesn't settle. I still get the odd hot flushes now and then but nothing like at the start. Best wishes

Thank you @Cath62 <3 I hope it will subside in time!!

Hot Flashes | BCNA Online Network

FTA
Member
3 years ago
Hi @TonyaM, that’s wonderful to hear the Endep worked and you had some relief. I tried my Gabapentin once and it wasn’t great. I even took half my prescribed dosage and I was restless, dizzy and nauseas the entire night. The next day I felt like I was hungover 😞 I was told not to stop it abruptly but I can’t continue having nights with side effects from the Gabapentin let alone my existing symptoms!!
@kmakm - Did you feel any side effects from the Gabapentin at all?
TonyaM
Member
3 years ago
Hi @FTA,
The hot flushes are the pits! I’d feel like I was combusting every 15mins.
I got prescribed Endep 10mg which is a VERY low dose antidepressant. It really helped and had no side effects.
I slept with a small bedside fan blowing on my face in summer. I always carried a hand fan everywhere and a bottle of cold water. I’d fan my face as soon as I felt one coming on- head it off before it takes hold.
FTA
Member
3 years ago
Thank you for your advice @Philippa and @kmakm <3 I was referred to one of the menopause centres at the hospital and the doctor who was so compassionate suggested Gabapentin so will test how I go. A little nervous as I’m quite sensitive to medication so hope I don’t feel additional side effects.
Afraser
Member
3 years ago
@kmakm
Ditto! Good to hear that something has improved! Best wishes.
wendy55
Member
3 years ago
Hi @kmakm,
so lovely to hear from you, I do hope all is well in your world and that life is treating you ok,

wendy55
kmakm
Member
3 years ago
Hi @FTA. My hot flushes were insane. I have brought them under a semblance of control with two medications, Gabapentin (I take two before bed) and Oxybutynin (which is Ditropan as mentioned by @Philippa above, half in the morning and half at night). These have transformed my quality of life. I still get hot flushes but they are nowhere as nearly intense or frequent. Speak to your oncologist or GP about them. Good luck! K xox
Philippa
Member
3 years ago
Hi All! I've been on Exemestane for nearly 18 months now and I can confirm those hot flashes are the WORST. But my oncologist has just put me on a new medication which is helping amazingly. I've been on it for 4 weeks now and can say the hot flashes have reduced to almost nothing and when I do get one it's much less intense - more the feeling that one is coming but it doesn't eventuate. It's called 'Ditropan'. Perhaps have a chat with your oncologist if this might be an option for you.
FTA
Member
4 years ago
Agreed @iserbrown ! It’s insane what our bodies go through & how strong we are to fight it even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Thank you for sending this through, I’ll definitely take a look! Much appreciated <3 Best wishes to you too x
iserbrown
Member
4 years ago
@FTA

Dear oh dear! It's a strange thing when diagnosed all sorts of different things happen that you least expect - hot flashes - I only experienced for a short time but boy they are a so and so!
Here's a booklet from the BCNA website that may help you

Take care and Best wishes

bcna_menopause-booklet-august2019-web.pdf
FTA
Member
4 years ago
Thank you @Cath62 <3 I hope it will subside in time!!