Amberen a new supplement for hot flashes. Does it work?
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March 22, 2010St. John’s wort may cool the hot flashes of menopause
March 24, 2010According to a new report by the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD), Amberen is a popular new dietary supplement used mainly for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. The manufacturer says the product is “Backed by published clinical, toxicology and safety studies, and over 30 years of research, Amberen is your best choice for a natural alternative to HRT.”
The NMCD say, of Amberen, “It contains unusual ingredients including ammonium succinate, calcium disuccinate, magnesium disuccinate hydrate, and others.” But, does it work? The Database relates, “Although patient testimonials suggest that the product might help, there is NO reliable clinical research.”
To doctors NMCD says, “Don’t recommend this product until there is reliable evidence of safety and effectiveness.” For menopausal women, this is one product I’d recommend you skip until there’s more reliable data.
You can read more on this topic at my blog entry, Natural Medications (Herbs, Vitamins, and Supplements) for Menopausal Symptoms, here.
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thanks — I sure hope it works – what a miracle for all those great benefits. However I do want to be sure it is safe. I hope it will be proven soon!
You can recommend on basic common sense all you want. It is likely prudent to forgo using a product that isn’t tested as thoroughly as say commercial prescription medication which ends up costing ridiculously high amounts. (BTW, did you ever read the side effects of some of this stuff?) But I gave it a shot for my wife who suffers minimally 20 to as much as 28 brutal, “hot flashes” EVERY day. She was advised to discontinue estrogen by all her physicians and antidepressants were useless even after an 8 week trial.
Clinically she dropped to 3, max 5 flashes per day and they were diminished in severity to tolerable. No longer did she have to ru outside during winter with no coat to cool off or drive in winter with car windows fully open.
After the 90 day supply ran out, she remained in a diminished and reduced hot flash state for about 1 more month. Now they have returned and it is summer. I just reordered. 100 dollars is nothing compared to the relief this stuff gives her. I just hope it works a second application.
After 3 weeks of the single dose protocol I was receiving minimal relief from hot flashes and night sweats (my only remaining symptoms after 5 years or traditional HRT) The RN at the Amberen suggested I increase to 2 does per day. Within a few days, I noticed fewer and less intense flashes and am no longer waking in the night with sweats. However around the time I increased the dosage (which I take in the mornings, I started suffering from severe vertigo symptoms late afternoon and throughout the evening – extreme dizziness upon standing or any quick movement, the room spinning when I go to bed, etc. Do you think this could be related to the Amberen or could it be totally coincidental i.e. seasonal vertigo or allergy induced inner ear trouble? I have had intermittent slight earache, itchy eyes, sneezing due to pollen. What else can I do for hot flashes and night sweats? Black cohash did not work for me – Femring w/ Prometrium is only thing that gave me good relief, Amberen comes in a distant 2nd, but better than nothing. I am 55. What is your opinion of going back on the HRT after being off for 6 months?
Me again if anyone is reading. I continued 2 more weeks on the Amberen double dose in spite of the vertigo, which may be unrelated, but during that time started having severe headaches daily. Hot flashes were continuing as well as nightsweats so I stopped the stuff, it wasnt working anyway. Headache went away and I have doctors appt next week to get the vertigo checked out.