Forum Discussion
Relief from hot flushes - Magnesium
Hi girls
I just thought I'd share something that I stumbled upon. I started Tamoxifen and Armidex a few months ago and was ok for a month or so but then the hot flushes and night sweats began. As others have described, in the middle of the night your eyes flip open and you're lying there feeling anxious with a feeling of WTF and then all of a sudden you just heat up like a furnace and can't go back to sleep for at least an hour - and potentially rinse and repeat in another couple of hours.
I read somewhere the Magnesium was supposed to help. So I bought some from the Chemist Warehouse, I take 1 in the morning and 1 at night and viola, very very reduced hot flashes, maybe one in the day and I don't seem to be woken up with them at night (seemed to get almost instant relief - like overnight).
Hugs to all on this horrible cancer journey xx
12 Replies
Hi Everyone
This is Kara from BCNA's Policy Team. I've had a look at this and found one recent study that looked at whether magnesium decreased the frequency and severity of hot flushes. 41% of the women reported a reduction in their frequency, and 76% reported a reduction in their severity. So, like a lot of things, it seems to help some people but not others.
It is always a good idea to check whether any complementary medicines you are taking or thinking about taking are safe to have with your breast cancer treatments. We know that some, St John's Wort for example, can reduce the effectiveness of tamoxifen (and some chemotherapy drugs). You can talk to your doctor about this. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in the US has a terrific website that provides evidence-based information about the safety of herbs and other products with cancer medicines. It does not show any contraindiction for taking magnesium with tamoxifen, meaning it is safe to take magnesium with tamoxifen.
Hope this helps.
Kara- Hi Angie, THe tops of my feet got a bit red & itchy but If I leave it for 20 mins to dry before I go to bed it seems ok. Havent had a re-action anywhere else .
Thanks ladies for your comments. Yes who knows why some things work for some and not others, perhaps its whats also being taken..... I've also been taking Healthycare Mega B Energy Booster.... my partner's a bit of a health pill guru lol (so I'm on many things and who knows if its all these things combined) - or perhaps its all "mind over matter" as all the experts say about the placebo effect..........
Hi Angie,
Im on Tamoxifen - my surgeion mentioned magnesium at a forum - i have bought a magnesium spray - i put it on before bed and I find I sleep better - it does make your skin a little itchy when you first start. Apprently the spray is absorbed better than a tablet but that of course was by the people selling it! Karen
Hi Angie,
Im on Tamoxifen - my surgeion mentioned magnesium at a forum - i have bought a magnesium spray - i put it on before bed and I find I sleep better - it does make your skin a little itchy when you first start. Apprently the spray is absorbed better than a tablet but that of course was by the people selling it! Karen
- Hi, This grabbed my attention as I am a magnesium convert. I have a muscle disease that causes severe cramping and pain. I get magnesium by intravenous at a doctors clinic in Melbourne. I was a guinea pig when he discovered it at a conference. I cant get to the clinic as often as I would like to . A friend was at her doctor recently and he put her onto a company that is all organic and has spray, roll on, flakes for a foot bath. They give specific instructions where to use it for which ailment . I dont own or work for the company and I suppose I cant say what it is on here but if anyone wants to know just send me a pm. I had a spray from another company and it was gritty and had to be sprayed on and left to dry for 20 mins before a shower. Too unpleasant but this stuff I got is wonderful . I sleep so deeply now and wake refreshed. Great for pain areas too. I could go on and on and on . lol
I am on arimidex andI have been taking magnesium for leg cramps, works wonderfully. The number of hot flushes have reduced but are more intense when they do come. Glad you have found some relief, take care,
Hazelxx
Good morning Angie1966
This caught my eye this morning. I will definitely be giving it a go because on top of the numb hands and feet I have hot flushes all night long (exaggeration) it just feels like its all night long because of the number of times I wake to turn the fan on that I have beside my bed aimed straight for the face to cool down. The chemist warehouse knows me by face now so I've certainly kept them busy since being diagnosed and the battle continues, now for my next shopping adventure with them is "magnesium" woop!
Good morning Angie1966
This caught my eye this morning. I will definitely be giving it a go because on top of the numb hands and feet I have hot flushes all night long (exaggeration) it just feels like its all night long because of the number of times I wake to turn the fan on that I have beside my bed aimed straight for the face to cool down. The chemist warehouse knows me by face now so I've certainly kept them busy since being diagnosed and the battle continues, now for my next shopping adventure with them is "magnesium" woop!
Good morning Angie1966
This caught my eye this morning. I will definitely be giving it a go because on top of the numb hands and feet I have hot flushes all night long (exaggeration) it just feels like its all night long because of the number of times I wake to turn the fan on that I have beside my bed aimed straight for the face to cool down. The chemist warehouse knows me by face now so I've certainly kept them busy since being diagnosed and the battle continues, now for my next shopping adventure with them is "magnesium" woop!
