 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / May 2004Effexor for hot flashes?
After 5 months on Lupron with unrelenting hot flashes, my husband finally broke down and decided to take something to help alleviate them. Much to my amazement, the oncologist prescribed low dose time released Effexor which is an antidepressant. I was expecting Megace which I know has been traditionally used for hot flashes. After researching it on the internet, I do see that Effexor can reduce the hot flashes by "60 percent" and is being utilized as such. Just curious - anyone else tried it and how successful was it in alleviating the hot flashes? Thanks, Sandi > After 5 months on Lupron with unrelenting hot flashes, my husband > finally broke down and decided to take something to help alleviate [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thanks, > Sandi Just a note of warning. Effexor can cause a person to go into anaphylactic shock. It did with my wife. I had to rush her to the emergency clinic where she was VERY near having her airway completely closed. They gave her epinepherine and admitted her for the night. She did recover. We now have and Epi-Pen in case she shows signs in the future. And I realize that most people my not have any adverse reactions. I just want you to be aware things can happen...read up on the drug and educate yourself.... Just my .02 worth... Philski I've tried the Effexor, I've had better results with Paxil. Megace is contraindicated for those with a history of PCa. DanR > I've tried the Effexor, I've had better results with Paxil. Megace is > contraindicated for those with a history of PCa. > DanR Didn't the Paxil knock out your libido? Curt quit taking it after a few days because of that reason. I will bring up the Effexor at his next doctors visit.  SignatureLori Devoted wife of Curtis, Stage 4 Prostate cancer at age 40 PSA 865 Dec 30,2003 44 Feb 23,2004 17.3 Mar 15,2004 18.9 Apr 16, 2004 mets to bone and lymph Lupron Q3months Casodex 50 mg daily http://community.webshots.com/user/lorismiller-date What libido? I've been on HRT since Sept....hopefully it's reversible. > What libido? I've been on HRT since Sept....hopefully it's reversible. I got 4 months worth of Lupron. The actual effects lasted about 5-1/2 months. But then everything came back. Alan > > What libido? I've been on HRT since Sept....hopefully it's > reversible. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Alan My first 4 mo shot of Lupron started to wear off after about 3 1/2 mo and I was making a little testosterone again. So when I got my second 4 mo shot at the end of April I had to go through some of the "withdrawl" symptoms again as it took effect. My URO says that the 4 mo life can vary + or - a several weeks or so depending on the individual. Since I will probably have to stay on the damn stuff for at least another year or two, I'm going to have the 1 year implant done next time. So much for Libido (:>) > > > What libido? I've been on HRT since Sept....hopefully it's > > reversible. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > year implant done next time. > So much for Libido (:>) I've always been surprised at how many drug dosages are given without any special analysis of a person. I weigh 148 pounds. Another guy may weigh 248 pounds. Yet we'd be given the same amount of Lupron and lots of other drugs. I imagine that for a lot of drugs that's right, but I always wonder if the "average" dose only works properly on the "average" person. > I've always been surprised at how many drug dosages are > given without any special analysis of a person. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > if the "average" dose only works properly on the "average" > person. I agree. I'm 6'4" and 210 lbs. So I can see where yours could last longer than mine. When my dog or cat get shots they are weighed first and dosed accordingly. Maybe I'll see the Vet for my next Lupron fix (:>) >Subject: Re: Effexor for hot flashes? >From: "olfart" olfart65@excite.com [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >When my dog or cat get shots they are weighed first and dosed accordingly. >Maybe I'll see the Vet for my next Lupron fix (:>) There is only one item that is being affected by the Lupron- the pituitary gland. Lupron tells the pituitary that there is plenty of testosterone in the blood, and the pituitary in turn tells the testes to stop making it. > >Subject: Re: Effexor for hot flashes? > >From: "olfart" olfart65@excite.com [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > gland. Lupron tells the pituitary that there is plenty of testosterone in the > blood, and the pituitary in turn tells the testes to stop making it. I understand this Danny, but the effect of the Lupron does not seem to be constant over the 4 mo period for a 4 month shot. And it's effective period seems to vary with the individual-my URO has confirmed this also. I was starting to make testosterone after about 31/2 months. He would have given me my next shot then except that Medicare would not have paid for it. It may not be body size or weight that determines the effective length of the shot - could be other factors. >Subject: Re: Effexor for hot flashes? >From: "olfart" olfart65@excite.com [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >not be body size or weight that determines the effective length of the >shot - could be other factors. Yes, that was the point of my post. The implant releases Lupron at some relatively constant rate and that creates a blood level that the pituitary reads. There isn't much else that absorbs the Lupron, although my breasts were a little prominent for a while... ;-} > After 5 months on Lupron with unrelenting hot flashes, my husband > finally broke down and decided to take something to help alleviate [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thanks, > Sandi I've been taking Effexor for about two years (as an anti-depressent). Other that the fact that . very occasionally, my face and ears feell flushed I don't really know what a hot flash is. gn I took it for awhile for hot flashes. It didn't really help, and I did not like the way I felt on it. My sister has been taking it for awhile for depression, and it works for that, but she still has hot flashes. My doctor said that he felt that it helped about 40% of the women he gave it to for hot flashes. Your comment "very occasionally, my face and ears feel flushed" was interesting. I feel the same way quite often and don't know what to make of it. I would think that a hot flash has more to it than that. I'm not taking anything for that yet. > I've been taking Effexor for about two years (as an anti-depressent). Other > that the fact that . very occasionally, my face and ears feell flushed > I don't really know what a hot flash is. > > gn > Your comment "very occasionally, my face and ears feel flushed" was > interesting. I feel the same way quite often and don't know what to make of > it. I would think that a hot flash has more to it than that. I'm not taking > anything for that yet. I hate to bring this up but are you a diabetic. My doctor blames my 'flushed' feeling on my diabetes. But then he blames just about every bad feeling-nausea, sweating, etc-on diabetes. So I'm sure there are many reasons for the 'flushed' feeling. Mention it to your doctor. Mine says that it is nothing to worry about. When I do get flushed ut is usually in the eveniing. gn > > I've been taking Effexor for about two years (as an anti-depressent). > Other > > that the fact that . very occasionally, my face and ears feell flushed > > I don't really know what a hot flash is. > > > > gn Thanks for the tip Gary. Nope, I'm not diabetic. But I will take your advice and mention it during my weekly visit with my oncologist (during the rad treatments). Since it's not significant, I didn't consider it worth mentioning. Too many other *important* things such as impotence to concern myself with <g>. I can feel flushed anytime. Like now for instance. > > Your comment "very occasionally, my face and ears feel flushed" was > > interesting. I feel the same way quite often and don't know what to make [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > > > > > gn |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.