having hot flushes especially at night,have trouble getting to sleep because of them,has anyone had success with evening primrose?or something else,never know what I can take? Oncologist said ask pharmacist,pharmacist said ask doctor about a script for getting something,what? Was thinking something natural?what can a doctor subscribe?thought low dose antidepressants but don’t really need them?oncolgist doesn’t say much I think he just thinks suck it up,foes losing weight help?

If it was men who had menopause you can bet they would have funded the research to sort it out by now. Difficulty getting and maintaining an erection as you get old? Viagra discovered in the 20th Century.Something that almost every woman on earth goes through that causes extreme discomfort, massive sleep disturbance and the cascade of troubles that stem from that, emotional distress, mood swings, loss of libido, painful sex? Nah, too hard basket. We don't even understand why you get hot flushes. You're exaggerating anyway. Take some hrt that might put you at risk of cancer and be on your way deary.

The only way I survived 4 yrs of Tamoxifen was by taking a very lose dose antidepressant called Endep(10mg).It helped with hot flushes,sleep and low mood.I had no side effects and it really helped.I had to do my research and then suggest it to my oncologist.We really shouldn’t have to suffer in silence when there are options

Good luck getting a doctor to write you a prescription for sleeping pills. I have really struggled to find any medical professional who will take the sleep deprivation of chemopause seriously. Having eventually established that I am not a doctor shopping drug addict, my GP will now give me Temazepam but they have never yet enabled me to sleep through the (Letrozole) hot flushes. Even when I take two. They just enable me to get to sleep a bit easier.I am also on 150mgs of the anti-depressant that they give you to reduce the effect of the flushes. It doesn't always work for everyone and I don't know if it does for me. If it is working I'd hate to think what I'd be like with out them... A small pile of ashes as a result of self-combustion I reckon.I have small sprays scattered round the house, hand fans, fans that plug into my phone, do a yoga breathing exercise, keep iced water to hand in the evening (when they're at their worst) and am about to track down a chilly towel that @kezmusc recommends.They're awful and my eyelid is twitching as I write I'm so tired (blepherospasm!), but what to do? Better than having cancer... Good luck. K xox

@Milly21 I tried numerous natural remedies for my chemo induced hot flushes but sadly none of them could compete with the chemo even though they worked prior to this whole BC thing. I have reduced my wheat and sugar intake as per my Osteopath recommendation and this has helped but I still get 4-5 a night (I was getting up to ten) plus some during the day. Anything is worth trying though as we all respond differently.

Yet they've already found a regime of drugs to help MEN OUT WITH the unpleasant side effects from Hormone Inhibiting tablets for their Prostate Cancer treatment ..... and they haven't even trialled them on women yet .... HELLO???? We are definitely classed as 2nd rate citizens :( https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/20231/men-dont-like-hormone-tablet-side-effects-for-prostate-trying-new-meds#latestI've had a few shocking sleeps in recent nights - the heat is not helping at all - as well as the side effects of the hormone inhibiting drugs that seem to have ramped up in recent days. :( I HAVE been using a small portable dehumidifier/aircon in the bedroom & altho it is noisy (I wear ear plugs to counteract it!) I do believe it is helping me marginally to get a better sleep now & then.I took 1 x Temase last night before going to bed & I did actually have a good sleep (for a change!)It is largely trial & error tho, I think, @Milly21

Hot flushes tamoxifen | BCNA Online Network

Brenda5
Member
7 years ago
As time goes by you get used to the sweats especially that one in bed just before you nod off to sleep. Now I just have aircon on (yep big electricity bill) and fling back all the covers. Don't panic, it only lasts about 5 minutes. I am sometimes asleep before it has finished and I wake up freezing under the aircon and pull all the covers back on and off to sleep.
Its no better on Letrozole than it was on Tamoxifen and I got the muther of all sweats in the hospital yesterday in preop registration. I didn't panic even though I was completely wet under my shirt. I just walked over and had a few paper cups of cold water in the room and straight away I started to feel better and cool off.
Just remember it doesn't last long and then you are good for a little while afterwards. :)
iserbrown
Member
7 years ago
@Milly21
Easy to blame tamoxifen as it does have it's side effects however maybe it's time for a GP checkup - full bloods will let you know if you are low in iron or something else is happening. For me that is how they detected underactive thyroid - fatigue, weight gain were the culprits. This was when I was on tamoxifen.
Please get yourself checked - no point trudging along

Take care
Milly21
Member
7 years ago
Feel like I blame tamoxifen for everything lately,been taking for 2 years,lately been so fatigued,feeling tired most times,only work 2 days a week but coming home for a nap,thinking it can’t be age as only 42, feel like old lady worries me it’s something else.
iserbrown
Member
7 years ago
I was fortunate enough to sail through menopause, late compared to most, and when I was on Tamoxifen I did not experience the hot flash. When I was much younger I would take Evening Primrose Oil as periods, although regular, were often uncomfortable, however, I am not sure that is something that is compatible with tamoxifen - you would need to check with your Onc. Advice offered above certainly is worth asking about as well as!

Take care
TonyaM
Member
7 years ago
The only way I survived 4 yrs of Tamoxifen was by taking a very lose dose antidepressant called Endep(10mg).It helped with hot flushes,sleep and low mood.I had no side effects and it really helped.I had to do my research and then suggest it to my oncologist.We really shouldn’t have to suffer in silence when there are options
kezmusc
Member
7 years ago
Hi @Milly21,

Hot flushes are the absolute pitts.
You wont be recommended to take anything with phytoestrogens in it because they don't know if it will interfere with the drugs. So no promensil, no remifen, no menopause ease, no nothing with black cohosh or red clover etc etc etc etc , zip, zilch.
If it's any consolation, and it's not I know, it does back off a bit over time but it took 10-12 months before I got even close to a reasonable nights sleep.
I still get the flushes 17 months later but not as supersonic as they were thank goodness.

My husband is a terrible insomniac and uses restavit which works well for him and you can buy it over the counter (they will keep an eye on you though).
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
I was 51 and was still getting my period when I was diagnosed. 51 is the average age of menopause in Australia. The hope is our bodies adjust and eventually it all settles down. Some women suffer for five years before that happens. My mother is 84 and still gets the odd hot flush. :/
Milly21
Member
7 years ago
Maybe they get better as I get older,I’m 42 ,as I get closer to real menopause age?
Patti_J
Member
7 years ago
I have taken Tamoxifen for five years. I had hot flushes.
I am now taking Letrozole with another 2 drugs. More hot flushes. Grrr. I love Winter!!!
arpie
Member
7 years ago
Yet they've already found a regime of drugs to help MEN OUT WITH the unpleasant side effects from Hormone Inhibiting tablets for their Prostate Cancer treatment ..... and they haven't even trialled them on women yet .... HELLO???? We are definitely classed as 2nd rate citizens :(
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/20231/men-dont-like-hormone-tablet-side-effects-for-prostate-trying-new-meds#latest

I've had a few shocking sleeps in recent nights - the heat is not helping at all - as well as the side effects of the hormone inhibiting drugs that seem to have ramped up in recent days. :( I HAVE been using a small portable dehumidifier/aircon in the bedroom & altho it is noisy (I wear ear plugs to counteract it!) I do believe it is helping me marginally to get a better sleep now & then.

I took 1 x Temase last night before going to bed & I did actually have a good sleep (for a change!)

It is largely trial & error tho, I think, @Milly21