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What Causes Recurrent Severe Hot Flashes Especially At Night?
Question: Why, at age 83, am still having severe hot flashes? I'm taking estrogen .0375 mg. which seem to help a bit, but I'm experiencing about 10 flashes per day, especially at night. What else can I try? I have gone the black cohosh, etc., route and have found no relief.
Brief Answer:
Life style changes help in reducing hot flashes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I am Dr Ramadevi Wani. I will be answering your concerns today.
Estrogen is the most effective medicine to treat hot flashes and you are already taking it.
Since this alone is not working discuss with your doctor and consider using small dose of antidepressants (like fluoxetine, venlafaxine), clonidine or gabapentin in addition to estrogen. These drugs are also effective in treating hot flashes.
Before you start using these second medicine make some lifestyle changes and see.
-Reduce weight if your BMI is more than 25.
-Stop smoking if you are a smoker. Smoking increases hot flashes.
-Cut down on coffee, alcohol.
- Avoid hot spicy foods specially in the evenings. Try to find out what triggers hot flashes and avoid them
-In addition to Black cohosh, start using soy proteins in your diet.
- If possible exercise regularly. Go for a walk daily morning. Simple yoga exercises, meditation and breathing exercises are of great help to relax your body and mind and help you get sleep at night. So join yoga class.
- Wear thin loose cotton cloths at night. Use layered bedding, so that if you have hot flashes you can remove a layer or two. Use fan/air conditioner at night
I hope this helps.
If you have further concerns, do write to me. I will be happy to answer.
Life style changes help in reducing hot flashes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I am Dr Ramadevi Wani. I will be answering your concerns today.
Estrogen is the most effective medicine to treat hot flashes and you are already taking it.
Since this alone is not working discuss with your doctor and consider using small dose of antidepressants (like fluoxetine, venlafaxine), clonidine or gabapentin in addition to estrogen. These drugs are also effective in treating hot flashes.
Before you start using these second medicine make some lifestyle changes and see.
-Reduce weight if your BMI is more than 25.
-Stop smoking if you are a smoker. Smoking increases hot flashes.
-Cut down on coffee, alcohol.
- Avoid hot spicy foods specially in the evenings. Try to find out what triggers hot flashes and avoid them
-In addition to Black cohosh, start using soy proteins in your diet.
- If possible exercise regularly. Go for a walk daily morning. Simple yoga exercises, meditation and breathing exercises are of great help to relax your body and mind and help you get sleep at night. So join yoga class.
- Wear thin loose cotton cloths at night. Use layered bedding, so that if you have hot flashes you can remove a layer or two. Use fan/air conditioner at night
I hope this helps.
If you have further concerns, do write to me. I will be happy to answer.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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