HI Tex… and anyone lease who may be taking this drug. Because of the Tamoxifen, my hot flashes are out of control. During the night, it's like every hour almost. My Oncologist has been trying to get me to try a low dose of Prozac, but I have been saying no because of the effects to MC. What about Effexor? Is this one any less likely to cause problems? Help!
Thanks
Leah
Effexor? Help Tex!
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Hi Leah,
Well, SNRIs may be slightly less likely to cause MC problems than SSRIs, but there is still a risk. And Effexor seems to be the most effective SNRI for the job, but are you still taking any antihistamines? Are you aware that a certain antihistamine — specifically, Zyrtec (citirizine), has been successfully used to suppress/prevent hot flashes? Check the discussion at this link:
http://www.drugs.com/answers/hot-flashe ... 10262.html
Here's a link to a news article about it:
http://the-medical-dictionary.com/zyrtec_article_4.htm
You're very welcome. Please let us know if this works, if you decide to try it.
Tex
Well, SNRIs may be slightly less likely to cause MC problems than SSRIs, but there is still a risk. And Effexor seems to be the most effective SNRI for the job, but are you still taking any antihistamines? Are you aware that a certain antihistamine — specifically, Zyrtec (citirizine), has been successfully used to suppress/prevent hot flashes? Check the discussion at this link:
http://www.drugs.com/answers/hot-flashe ... 10262.html
Here's a link to a news article about it:
http://the-medical-dictionary.com/zyrtec_article_4.htm
You're very welcome. Please let us know if this works, if you decide to try it.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I so understand the feeling Leah. Jaki, my closest person in the world, used to walk around with a little hand fan which she used when the flash overwhelmed her.
I have this terrible problem with sweating, especially from my head, so I used a fan too. With me it's way beyond that.
That said - if there is anything more benign than Effexor I would try it first.
I have this terrible problem with sweating, especially from my head, so I used a fan too. With me it's way beyond that.
That said - if there is anything more benign than Effexor I would try it first.
Leah, I don't want to dissuade you from using Effexor at a low dose if it might help your hot flashes. But I strongly agree with Lesley that discontinuing it is horrible. I took it for anxiety about eight years ago, and it really didn't help that at all. I didn't have terrible side effects WHILE taking it, but even with a slow and careful tapering schedule, weaning off of Effexor was a nightmare, unlike--and worse than--any other SSRI or SNRI drug I'd taken prior. Google the term "brain zaps" and you'll know just what I'm talking about. I remember sitting in my office at work with jolts of electricity going through my head, a perpetually racing heart and shaking hands. This went on for several weeks, and my doctor at the time actually prescribed me a benzodiazepene drug just to deal with the withdrawal symptoms until they were gone.
Effexor is the reason I will never take another SSRI or SNRI. With or without MC, I believe they are hell on our bodies.
Again, we're all different. I was prescribed a dose on the high end of the spectrum because of a serious anxiety disorder. If your doctor suggests a very low dose will help with the hot flashes, then maybe you'd have a different experience.
Fiona
Effexor is the reason I will never take another SSRI or SNRI. With or without MC, I believe they are hell on our bodies.
Again, we're all different. I was prescribed a dose on the high end of the spectrum because of a serious anxiety disorder. If your doctor suggests a very low dose will help with the hot flashes, then maybe you'd have a different experience.
Fiona
Well, according to the research report it might. Zyrtec is the only antihistamine that has been reported to help in this situation.Leah wrote:Do you think it would make a difference by changing?
Frankly, the odds are probably better that Zyrtec will help, than the odds that Effexor will help (at least without some sort of Draconian side effects).
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.