Hot Flashes Update: Hi Ladies, About a... - SHARE Metastatic ...

SHARE Metastatic Breast Cancer

6,548 members8,104 posts

Hot Flashes Update

Shar313 profile image
18 Replies

Hi Ladies,

About a month ago I wrote for advise to deal with Hot Flashes while taking Letrozole and Ibrance and I wanted to give you an update. I saw my onc and she recommended that I begin taking Gabapentin which is an anti-seizure medication that is know to work with hot flashes. She mentioned that it must be taken for a while (2 weeks or so) before I see any change. Well I am now on day 17 and I continue to have 21 hot flashes/24 hr period. I have an appt with my onc on Tuesday and I'll be asking her for a low does of Effexor. More to come.

Written by
Shar313 profile image
Shar313
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
18 Replies
Rbeth profile image
Rbeth

Hi. I have been taking Venlafaxine which is Effexor for years. I take the lowest dose and break it in half. One half at night and one half in the morning. Works great. I had flashes and night sweats with arimidex 10 years ago. The five years of arimidex was supposed to keep Cancer from coming back.

I also take lorazepam for anxiety.

The faslodex stopped working so the oncologist had me on letrozole. I hope it works. Give me spasms in my intestines so I now have meds for that. Yes, and I get dizzy when I stand up.

So keep a sense of humor as this is the only sense we have.

Reenie

Shar313 profile image
Shar313 in reply to Rbeth

Renee,

A sense of humor is a good thing to have with this disease. 😂😂

Sharon

Rbeth profile image
Rbeth in reply to Shar313

Have a great weekend. Smile, it makes you feel happy. Thanks for your feedback. Reenie

Shar313 profile image
Shar313

Thanks Sandra. 😉

NPmary profile image
NPmary

I really don't think there are any meds worth taking for hot flashes - don't know of any that are effective and why take a pill to just have more side effects?

Purple60 profile image
Purple60

I know we all react differently to medications but low dose Effexor has been amazing for me. Frequency and intensity of hot flashes have decreased. The effect was almost immediate after starting. Good luck. I hope you have the same results!

Shar313 profile image
Shar313 in reply to Purple60

Thanks, me too!

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi

My onc gave me effexor for hot flashes but it makes me feel weird. She also suggested Remifemin.

Shar313 profile image
Shar313 in reply to mariootsi

Good to know their are so many choices. 🙏🏼

equavel profile image
equavel in reply to mariootsi

I have tried all available meds to reduce hot flashes plus acupuncture...nothing has been effective and effexor made me feel super weird. I think the best thing is to think of oneself as a "hot woman"

I have been on Ibrance and Letrozole for 1.5 years with good results so far. I have gotten used to feeling more tired...however I actually think that it is improving. I swim a minimum of 3km per week and walk my dog for up to 1 hour per day..

I have had some difficulty with the lack of co-ordination of the medical system...I got furious and wrote a letter to the admin with some positive results. The pivot nurses could not easily accss the info wrt my blood work, The pharmacist needs 36 hrs to be able to get the Ibrance as pharmacies do not stock it...so there were delays in starting my Ibrance which affected the scheduled onco appointment and prior blood work to asses neutophil levels...some times it is worth complaining!!

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi in reply to equavel

It really is.

Lemur2015 profile image
Lemur2015

My onc has never offered anything for hot flashes. I have about 30+ a day/night. I only had about 4 a day on Faslodex but the injects were to painful and switched to letrazole. I see him in a couple of weeks and will inquire. They seem to be getting worse. Thanks for the info. I hate to take another pill but at wits end...

Shar313 profile image
Shar313 in reply to Lemur2015

I’m with you. I hate taking another pill, but my quality of live is not so good right now. Good luck to you. Let us know what you and your onc decide.

Lovemylakie profile image
Lovemylakie

My oncologists approved Black Cohosh and it has helped tremendously. I am on Ibrance/Faslodex.

Shar313 profile image
Shar313 in reply to Lovemylakie

I tried that and acupuncture, but they didn't work. Thanks for the suggestion :)

Sharon

Barbteeth profile image
Barbteeth

Acupuncture works a treat for me..no night sweats any more

Give it a try...better than taking more pills

Barb xx

Shar313 profile image
Shar313

Hi Barb, yeah, I tried acupuncture for about 3 months with no change, that's when I decided to go with the medical route. I wish I could've stayed without another medication, but having this many hot flashes is not tolerable. :(

Sharon

Barbteeth profile image
Barbteeth in reply to Shar313

Oh that’s a shame

Barb xx

You may also like...

Hot Flashes!!!!!

peritoneal mets. I've been taking Letrozol since 2/13 and I'm on my 2nd round of Ibrance which was...

Hot Flashes

Ibrance, Letrezole and Lupron. These hot flashes every 30-40 are terrible. I don't want hot flashes...

Hot flashes

still having the worst hot flashes. What do some of you do to combat those hot flashes. It’s...

Hot Flashes/Flushes— is this a positive response in treatment for us MBC chicks?

I heard having these super funky hot flashes could indicate a silver lining in cancer...

Hot flashes and night sweats oh my!!

Good morning Ladies, I am wondering what you have done to combat these terrible hot flashes and...