Myth: Antidepressants are the Best Treatment for Hot Flashes

July 17, 2018

Myth: Antidepressants are the Best Treatment for Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. Antidepressants are given out by conventional doctors for a myriad of symptoms, and hot flashes are one of them. If your doctor prescribed antidepressants for you and you are wondering if they are the right solution, please take a moment to read this post, as it can save you from making a choice that you may regret.

Why Antidepressants Aren’t the Answer

Conventional doctors will typically offer antidepressants such as Effexor and Brisdelle for the treatment of hot flashes in menopausal women. These are chemicals that are foreign to the human body and have many negative and dangerous side effects. You are not having hot flashes because you are deficient in antidepressants. Please consider all the negative side effects of taking this type of medication. Let’s take the antidepressant Brisdelle, for instance. The FDA approved this antidepressant medication (also known as Paxil) for treating hot flashes in 2013.

Take a look at the serious side effects of the antidepressant Brisdelle:

• Brisdelle, and related antidepressant medicines, may increase suicidal thoughts or actions within the first few months of treatment.
Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions.
Serotonin Syndrome. This condition can be life-threatening and may include: Nervousness, hallucinations, coma, or other changes in mental status; coordination problems or small movements of the muscles that you cannot control; racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure; sweating or fever; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; muscle rigidity; dizziness; flushing; tremors; seizures.
Visual Symptoms.
Abnormal bleeding: Brisdelle may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin.
Bone Fractures: Women who take Brisdelle may have a higher risk of bone fractures.
Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood: Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include: headache; weakness or feeling unsteady; confusion, problems concentrating or thinking or memory problems.
Seizures or convulsions.
Restlessness: Women who take Brisdelle may feel an inner restlessness, nervousness, or be unable to sit still or stand still especially when they start taking it.
Decreased Libido.

Do those side effects seem worth the risk to you?

Caution: Do not stop taking an antidepressant cold turkey.

If you are currently taking antidepressants, you should never stop them abruptly since they are addicting and can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Work with your doctor to wean off of them slowly and safely. We recommend reading, “The Antidepressant Solution: A Step-by-Step Guide to Safely Overcoming Antidepressant Withdrawal, Dependence, and ‘Addiction,’” by Joseph Glenmullen, M.D. This is a great resource to give to your doctor.

What You Can do to Curb Those Hot Flashes

Why not resolve the underlying cause of your hot flashes with bioidentical estrogen and resolve it naturally without those dangerous side effects? It doesn’t make sense to use a drug to treat a symptom that is caused by a hormone deficiency. Replace the missing hormone instead. Since the decline in estrogen causes hot flashes, it only makes sense to replace what is missing with bioidentical estrogen – estrogen that is identical to the estrogen produced by your body. Your body recognizes it and knows what to do with it. If a woman is not able to take estrogen for any reason, then there are several natural tips and supplements for hot flashes that can help.

We Can Help

Are hot flashes and other menopause symptoms controlling your life? We can help. Let us guide you safely through menopause and help you to feel your best. Contact a wellness consultant today at 281-698-8698.

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