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.

Related Content
What Happens to Your Hormones After a Hysterectomy
Bioidentical vs. Synthetic Hormones for Women
Discover 6 Reasons You Can’t Lose Weight

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Contact Us

"*" indicates required fields

Agreement*
By filling out the above, you agree to receive educational, informative emails on alternative medicine and hormone balancing. You will have the option to unsubscribe at any time.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Categories

AboutHotze Health & Wellness Center

Since 1989, Hotze Health & Wellness Center has helped over 33,000 patients get their lives back using bioidentical hormones that restore hormones to optimal levels, strengthen immune systems, and increase energy levels. Our treatment regimen addresses the root cause of hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies, and candida.

Led by best-selling author, radio host and leading natural health expert, Steven F. Hotze, M.D., our medical team has over 100 years’ combined medical experience backed by a staff of nearly 100 caring professionals who provide an environment of hope and extraordinary hospitality for each of our patients, who we call our guests. It is our deepest desire to help you obtain and maintain health and wellness naturally so that you may enjoy a better quality of life, pure and simple.

 

What I BelieveBY DR. STEVEN HOTZE

Do you want to live a healthy, happy, purpose-driven life? Do you want to restore your health so that your loss of energy, weight gain, joint pain, depression and lack of drive or motivation won’t hold you back from achieving your personal and professional goals?

Dr. Steven Hotze wants that for you, too. In fact, in his powerful and passionate video entitled, “What I Believe”, Dr. Hotze shares how his Christian worldview and pivotal experiences have ignited a deep desire to offer the message of hope and optimal health to all who need to hear it.


Follow Us
#hotzehealth

As seen on:

  • ABC
  • Fow News Channel
  • NBC
  • CNN
  • The Biography Channel
  • Bloomberg Businessweek
  • The Early Show
  • Good Morning Texas
  • Great Day Houston

Our Doctors

At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, our doctors are changing the way women and men are treated through the use of bioidentical hormones. Our natural treatments have helped over 33,000 individuals with hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies, candida, detoxification and nutritional deficiencies.

Meet our doctors

Guest Testimonials

Tony S.

"I went from from having fatigue to regaining my energy, motivation, and drive after age 50!”

Read More guest testimonials