I received a "Menopause Survival Kit" in the mail today. Included in the package was a box of Remifemin. It says that it is black cohosh which I have heard of but do not know what it is.

Can anyone tell me about this stuff and does it work?

Thanks a ton!

Jeaninne

Hi Jeannine

When my mother and aunt were going through menopause they heard about black cohash. I believe it is supposed to help with hot flashes and nightsweats. I will ask my mother and post again.

Take care
Tara

Oops! I spelled your name wrong,sorry Jeaninne!

Dear 'stichnanny'

Yes I have heard of black cocash and it is thought to be the natural answer to many Menopausal Symptoms.I have never tried it myself but you could read about it and maybe try it for yourself.

Good Luck
Elizabeth

Dear Stitch.

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I asked my mother about it and she said that it helped her with her hotflashes. I hope that it helps you too!

Take care
Tara

I took it for 4 years - it took 2 weeks before it started working, but then it really helped me with the flushes. Not completely gone, but much less! Good luck!
Jonie

[quote name='Jonie' date='Oct 22 2008, 03:02 PM' post='246892']
I used it for awhile, the doctor I was going to at the time had an interest in natural remedies. I think it helped with the hot flashes, and I also feel it helped with my constant anxiety. After awhile I tried other brands of black cohosh as it was a little less expensive and seemed to have the same effect. I still pop my black cohosh along with a lot of other vitamins. It may be in my head, but whatever works.

I knew I could count on you ladies! Thanks for explaining and clarifying this stuff. I may give it a try since it is not a medication.

Hugs everyone,
Jeaninne

I saw my new gyn yesterday and she suggested I try black cohosh, the Remifemin in particular because it's guaranteed to have the exact amount of black cohosh in it that it says on the label. She said that some studies show that it's effective in reducing hot flashes and other symptoms, but other studies show that it's not effective. She said it's possible that the successes are due to placebo effect, but when it comes to reducing hot flashes do I care if it's because of placebo or the actual pills ??? :-) Because of the low incidence of side effects, it might be worth a try. I haven't tried it yet, but I am going to buy some very soon. I am currently having hot flashes, mostly during the night but some during the day too, the type where I just get too warm and then I get clammy, not the intense rapid-onset fire-like type. I would like to get some relief because it's affecting my sleep.

Anyone curretly taking Remifemin that can share their experiences with it?

Anyone currently taking Remifemin that can share their experiences with it?

I took the Remifemin brand for about 9 months after my hysterectomy. It definitely helped me with more than just the hot flashes. The manufacturer warned to discontinue after 6 months of use but that you could restart it again if need be. This product was definitely a help to me but I think it also caused me some problems because I stayed on it after the 6 month recommended period. After using it & having no problem, I started waking thru the night & being extremely dizzy. I didn't connect it to the black cohosh so I continued to take it & got even worse. I think it was lowering my b.p. & heart rate too low(it already runs low). Once I skipped a few pills, I made the connection. Later, I tried to restart it, but the same dizziness occurred.
It could just be me as estrogen will sometimes do the same thing to me.

I think the main reason that they don't recommend Remifemin for more than six months is because that is the longest clinical trials they've run, but from everything I've read, it seems that Remifemin (and black cohosh in general) is probably quite safe.

I did read that black cohosh was 'linked' to liver failure, but when I read the actual case histories, they were really grasping at straws to make the connection. It was almost like saying gummy bears are 'linked' to car accidents because two or three people had been eating gummy bears before they crashed!

I use a product called Wisdom Menopause Formula (no black cohosh) that works wonderfully for me. I started taking it when I had to quit HRT because of the physical side effects, and now I wish that I'd found it first.

Go with what works for you!

I used Remifemin for about 6 months and found it did help. They claim it cuts hot flashes by 40% and I'd say that's about right for me. But it wasn't enough to help me sleep as I was having flashes/sweats about every 45 min. all night long. I opted for HRT. Tried PremPro. It was a nightmare. Then new dr. prescribed Angelique. It cut flashes about 90%.
I had no side effects from the Remifemin.

I am reading Dr. Northrups book on menopause and she gives a case history where one of her patients used black cohash and it resolved her depression. Has anyone had this experience with this product or any other black cohash product?

this product has been around for awhile , it does help but like alot of these things your body gets used to it and after awhile it stops working, but hey any releive is better than none !!!!!!