hot flashes

If your looking for something other than hormones you might trying Clonidine. It is a blood pressure med I think. My oncologist gave that to me and it helped at a loe dose.

Thanks – I may ask my Dr about that – my BP is already low so this may not work for me – but I’m willing to try anything at this point!

I really feel for you. I had a hysterectomy and my hot flashes were so bad at night that i didn’t feel that I would be able to live like that. I am now taking premerin because I had other problems but the clonidine was a life saver. Please let me know how you are doing.

I took Premarin for years after the hyster. but since it is estrogen – I didn’t think I should be on it for 30+ years so I took myself off – ever since then the hot flashes started – I am almost ready to go back on the estrogen and risk breast cancer than put up with these …lol. I hope my Dr has some better advice next Wed when I see him. Thanks for the support.

Well – went back to Dr and he has put me back on a mild dose of Estrogen – Soy based – so is a low risk of breast cancer/heart disease. Only been on it less than a week – no change yet….

I am having the same issues, I had a complete hysterectomy February 2015 over 3 years ago and my hot flashes feel like they are getting worse. In the beginning I was on Premarin but it didn’t help at all and I gained weight super fast so I stopped taking it. Lately it seems that I’m having more and more hot flashes my whole body radiates heat and I turn really red, and my sleep is so off track I sometimes feel crazy! I am not a fan of doctors especially because my hysterectomy was done unnecessarily!! Is there anything over the counter to try that actually works to at least decrease the amount I have a day? I’ve tried several vitamins friends and family have suggested with no relief… I appreciate any kind of help!!

Hello, @mrsrose381, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sorry to hear your hot flashes feel like they are getting worse, and the conjugated estrogens (Premarin) didn't help.

We have had other members talk about hot flashes, so I'm inviting a few of them to join this discussion and share about their experiences and what may have helped them. Since you are wondering specifically about potential over-the-counter options to help the hot flashes, I'm hoping they may have some insights about that. Please meet @snooterbell @youngsally @texasduchess @cherylannm @caityduck.

While waiting for their responses, I thought you might be interested in reading this Mayo Clinic information on hot flashes: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790

@mrsrose381, since you are still looking for a longer-term solution to these hot flashes, how do you manage them in the meantime? Does anything provide relief at all?

I honestly just suffer through them, I stopped wearing makeup because it melts off and setting spray didn’t help.. I looked into over the counter menopause supplements but upon doing research the side effects didn’t seem worth it… so I take nothing I just melt through them

@mrsrose381 Hi there. I went through hot flashes from menopause about 8 yrs ago. Then, I went through years of hot flashes from my mac disease. Here are some tips that may help. Don't sleep on a mattress has a foam layer in it's topper. Use only 100% cotton sheets, no polyester/cotton blends (they don't breathe) have a ceiling fan and turn the temps down low at night. May need a sleep aid to help you sleep through the hot flashes. I took ambien, but it left me in a fog the next day. I found tjat a half dose worked better. I tried black cohash, that did nothing. I went on hormone replacement therapy, that helped some. I still throw the covers off and on every night, but it is second nature at this point. It just stinks tjat we must go through this. I hope yours don't drag out too long.

@mrsrose381 I have had hot flashes for more than 4 decades. Had a hysterectomy at age 43 in 1999. The thoughts that @windwalker stated are good. I would love to think of them as "power surges" but sometimes I am exhausted afterwards. Simply put, I just deal with them, drink cool non-alcoholic liquids, keep air moving around me as needed. Dress for hot flashes then carry extra jackets for when they go away. Too many other health issues to worry about stinkin' hot flashes!
Ginger