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Hot flashes and post breast cancer
I am 79 and had to stop HRT 5 years ago due to breast cancer diagnosis. I still have hot flashes and mood swings. Tried just about everything with no success. It is a terrible way to live and taking it out on my family. I am just about ready to go back on HRT. Any recommendations?
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What have you tried so far? Do you remember the dosages?
I don’t recall the dosage and I threw them out.
Gabapentin which I could not tolerate and didn’t help
Various SSRs
Herbal medications over the counter
Hi @marika105, and welcome. I'm sorry you're dealing with hot flashes again -- how frustrating! They can be so disruptive and really affect overall quality of life.
There was a new non-hormonal medication approved this past fall that is specifically for hot flashes. It's called Elinzanetant (brand name Lynkuet). It's also supposed to help with sleep. It might be something worth talking to your doctor about. https://www.breastcancer.org/news/elinzanetant-for-hormonal-therapy-hot-flashes
If your blood pressure will tolerate it it, sometimes clonidine (traditionally a med to lower BP) can be tried
Have you tried all the non medication recs?
Stay Cool: Dress in layers, use fans, sip ice water, and keep your bedroom cool.
Avoid Triggers: Limit caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and smoking.
Deep Breathing: Paced, deep breaths can calm the body.
Mindfulness/Yoga: Meditation, yoga, and hypnotherapy can reduce stress.
Exercise: Regular physical activity
At one point I was taking 3-4 cold showers a day. Very inconvenient, but it sure did help
Thank you for your suggestions. I have tried all of the above except for blood pressure medication. Look at the side effects of some of these medication’s and it scares me to death. Particularly deliver impact. I also don’t want to be tired and have fatigue and joint pain. I would be trading one sentence for another. I wish I could go back on hormone replacement.
@klp Thank you for the information. My concern with the medication is the effect on the liver. I have high enzyme scores already since the removal of my gallbladder. I will discuss this with my physician.