Anyone tried Remifemin (black cohosh)?

[OakLeaf]

I tried a different brand of black cohosh a few years ago. It aggravated my breast tenderness and had no noticeable effect on other symptoms. IIRC, without looking it up, isn't that a phytoestrogen - so if your problem is estrogen dominance and insufficient progesterone, as mine seemed to be, it might not be what you want?

[Grits]

I started a plain, black cohosh only supplement that I get at Target a couple of months ago, and I have noticed an improvement in reduction of hot flashes. The improvement started very soon after I began taking them - probably within a week.

[emily_in_nc]

I tried a different brand of black cohosh a few years ago. It aggravated my breast tenderness and had no noticeable effect on other symptoms. IIRC, without looking it up, isn't that a phytoestrogen - so if your problem is estrogen dominance and insufficient progesterone, as mine seemed to be, it might not be what you want?

It's not a phytoestrogen, according to their site, anyway: http://www.remifemin.com.au/q_a.asp (see second question). I read an article stating that it was believed to work on serotonin levels. A bit surprising, but if it's a "happy pill", then I'll not complain!

I did try Progest projesterone cream a few years ago when I was having the bad night sweats, but I felt that it made my breast tenderness and swelling before periods much worse. I still have a tube of it but haven't wanted to try it as I am loving not having any breast tenderness now.

I read a few online articles about Remifemin last night, and it appears that a lot of gynecologists recommend it for their patients who do not want to go the HRT route. Apparently it's one of the few sources of black cohosh that is manufactured in a controlled manner so you know exactly the dosage you are getting, and so forth. There have been good results with it in clinical studies. I hope I'm one of the lucky ones!

Thanks to those who replied.

[Crankin]

I took black cohosh for at least 2 years and it did nothing. It wasn't Remifemin, but a brand of homeopathic remedy recommended by my pharmacy, that is also a compounding pharmacy (this was before that little problem we had with our state lab!). I think it might work for some people, though, but basically, I treated hot flashes with drinking lots of water and exercise.

[emily_in_nc]

I took black cohosh for at least 2 years and it did nothing. It wasn't Remifemin, but a brand of homeopathic remedy recommended by my pharmacy, that is also a compounding pharmacy (this was before that little problem we had with our state lab!). I think it might work for some people, though, but basically, I treated hot flashes with drinking lots of water and exercise.

I'm already doing lots of water and exercise, but since 95% of my flashes occur at night, that doesn't seem to have any impact. I read in my research that if black cohosh hasn't helped in 2 months, it's probably not going to. I'm going to do a trial no longer than that, and if it doesn't work, I'll stop. I'll try to remember to check back and post my experience in case it might help someone else.

[Artista]

Emily, I don't have experience with black cohash but I was able to eliminate my hot flashes and improve my sleep with B complex vitamins. I use Superior Source sub-lingual Balance B's. I chose sub lingual to improve the B12 absorption by bypassing the digestive tract. I avoid the women's specific formula because the additional folic acid makes my body too acidic. Taking the B complex after about 2pm has a deleterious affect on my sleep while taking it in the morning helps me sleep better at night.

I've never heard of anyone else using B complex for hot flashes but it could be an inexpensive, simple, and relatively safe experiment for you.

[Crankin]

Yeah, I had some flashes during the day, but not horrible. I had one every morning when waking up, for almost 10 years. Once in awhile one would wake me up, but mostly it was the morning one. It still happens, if I am sick or I am really stressed. Essentially, I decided to just deal with it.

[emily_in_nc]

I've never heard of anyone else using B complex for hot flashes but it could be an inexpensive, simple, and relatively safe experiment for you.

Thanks Artista! I'm going to try only one remedy at a time so I can isolate what works and doesn't work for me. So far the past two nights have been relatively flash-free, but two nights is just two nights. If the Remifemin does not do the trick, I will try B-Complex next. Thanks!

[missjean]

I don't know if it's normal for hot flashes to come and go, or, if consuming soy products helped, but that's what my hf experience has been. I had hot flashes for about 5 weeks starting in April. I started putting soy milk in my coffee every morning and eating edamame, and within a week the flashes stopped. After a few months, I sort of drifted away from consuming soy and the flashes started up again. So back to the soy and the hf stopped again (thank god! they are annoying as hell!) If they do start up again in spite of the soy, I'll try the black cohosh.


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