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Suggest Treatment For Hot Flashes In An Elderly Person On Effexor

Posted on Mon, 21 Nov 2016

Question: I have awful Hot Flashes and yet my "labs" are "normal". I am 56 years old. dx with premature ovarian failure when I was 35 years old. I was taking Effexor to help with symptoms but... it was not helping.... I d/c ed the Effexor about 3 weeks ago. I can find no rhyme or reason for the symptoms. They last anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 minutes. with horrible drenching sweats.

Answered by Dr. Geeta Sundar (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hi, welcome to HCM, Can you tell me if you have checked your blood pressure

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome to HCM, Can you tell me if you have checked your blood pressure? Yes it does sound like hot flushes. If possible, wait it out for some time and I believe the symptoms will wear off. Meanwhile do some vigorous exercise. Try an over the counter menopausal drug with iso flavones that will ease the flushes.This will also help. But if it does not---you have various options.

Like I said check your blood pressure.
Try Reloxefene under your doctor's supervision.
Low dose of HRT under doctor's supervision. Please revert back--regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Geeta Sundar (11 hours later)

I have had blood pressure checked and monitor it over time. Generally I run between 80/60 up to 140/80 over the past 4 years. I have struggled with this for several years. I have Started using Topical Prempro about 45 days ago. The frequency of the episodes is decreasing.... fewer per day but the intensity .... (The severity of heat/flush, itchy tingly sensations - like little pricks in the skin, sweating ranging from little shine on the upper lip, dripping sweat from the scalp/hair line, sweat pouring off of neck/chest and back.) The intensity has increased. Sleep cycle is disrupted. Generally, I have been "waiting it out" for the past 15 years. I'm just looking for a miracle that will cause the symptoms to STOP now. I know there is no such thing but... thanks for listening.

Answered by Dr. Geeta Sundar (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hi dear, here's a list of foods rich in phyto estrogens

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, here's a list of foods rich in phyto estrogens that prevent flushing (from my book). This should help in reducing hot flushes. And I would still think a low dose of anti hypertensive will help too--
Food sources of Phyto-oestrogens or isoflavones are----

Carrots Tomato whole wheat
Beetroot Apple yam
Pumpkin Plum saunf (fennel) seeds)
Potato Papaya Bengal gram pomegranate Black pepper Cucumber
Garlic Oats Dates
Brinjal (egg-plant) cherries Soya
Jeera (cumin) Peas
Lin-seed (Red clover) par-boiled rice Barley
Hope this helps--best regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T