Full Version: Hot flashes relief with clonidine?
I went to my gyn today and he has ordered a bunch of blood tests (FSH, testosterone level, DHEAs, and a couple others). An adrenal mass (benign) was found on my adrenal gland a few months back. I've been in peri for almost 12 years and the last 18 months have been heck to say the least. Sleep deprivation, severe hot flashes, anxiety. I take Xanax three times a day for the anxiety. I am not a candidate for HRT as there is a close family history of breast cancer. I have tried all the herbal remedies for relief of the hot flashes with no success. I'm at my wits end. My doctor today gave me a prescription for clonidine (a blood pressure med) and said it is supposed to work for hot flashes. Anyone here with any experience or knowledge of this? I do not want to start taking another med if I can avoid it. I'm looking for information before I start this new med. My cycles have been have a period, wait 265 days and then have cycles regular for a few months, wait 162 days, have a period and now counting again (on day 86 of this round of counting). When I was in the 265 day stretch of no periods, at about day 240 I did not a great reduction in the number and intensity of the "power surges". Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm now going to go read everything on this board as it looks like there is tons of stuff. Wish I would have found this board sooner.
QUOTE (ocean1 @ Mar 21 2009, 05:52 PM) 
I went to my gyn today and he has ordered a bunch of blood tests (FSH, testosterone level, DHEAs, and a couple others). An adrenal mass (benign) was found on my adrenal gland a few months back. I've been in peri for almost 12 years and the last 18 months have been heck to say the least. Sleep deprivation, severe hot flashes, anxiety. I take Xanax three times a day for the anxiety. I am not a candidate for HRT as there is a close family history of breast cancer. I have tried all the herbal remedies for relief of the hot flashes with no success. I'm at my wits end. My doctor today gave me a prescription for clonidine (a blood pressure med) and said it is supposed to work for hot flashes. Anyone here with any experience or knowledge of this? I do not want to start taking another med if I can avoid it. I'm looking for information before I start this new med. My cycles have been have a period, wait 265 days and then have cycles regular for a few months, wait 162 days, have a period and now counting again (on day 86 of this round of counting). When I was in the 265 day stretch of no periods, at about day 240 I did not a great reduction in the number and intensity of the "power surges". Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm now going to go read everything on this board as it looks like there is tons of stuff. Wish I would have found this board sooner.
Dearest Ocean...
I want to first of all welcome you to PS and tell you that there are many beautiful women here who will be more than happy to help you in any way that they can.
Since you have an adrenal mass, I think that may be the crux of some of your problems at the moment. Adrenals can cause the anxiety and sleeplessness that you are experiencing. I currently have adrenal issues and am taking a supplement called Phosphatidyl Serine with no complex which helps me to sleep and helps with the anxiety caused by cortisol surges! I am currently taking it twice and day and found it at my local health food store. I don't know if you are comfortable with tofu, but you could try using that in a shake a couple of times a day to eliminate the hot flashes. Usually my friend uses fruit, almond or coconut milk, and tofu and her hot flashes have dissapated.
Best Wishes,
TJ
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