OTC Soy products???

Has anyone tried the OTC Soy Products for menopausal symptoms?? I have seen several different types i.e. Estraven, etc.

I would love some responses from anyone with information on how they did and which products they tried etc.

My DR is reluctant to put me on HRT and right now I have just switched from Prozac to Zoloft in an attempt to help with mood swings and depression. Of course, I will have to check with the pharmacist to see if there is any conflict between the meds and OTC meds.

Thanks for your help,
DLK

The no-hormone oasis girls are going to be more familiar with this issue than I will. Of course, many of our regular posters might have some knowledge on this as well. Maybe a cross-post?

Read a blurb last night that says 60 mg of soy is a good supplement for women on HRT and not on HRT both. Helps the hormones get to the tissues and has a phyto-estrogenic effect both. End of my knowledge base on the issue.

I did switch to soy milk and cut dairy last week and my GI troubles are practically nothing, but this is pretty unrelated to your question.

When I had my hyst (TAH/BSO 1/5/01) it was discovered that I had a lot of endo and my doc prescribed 0.3 mg Premarin at my 6 week post op check but she wouldn't increase it for 6 months.

I tried everything and anything during that 6 months to try to find some relief from the moodiness and insomnia.........including Remifemin, Estroven, Black Kohosh, etc.

I never felt that Remifemin did any good for me, but Estroven did seem to help. When my Premarin dosage was increased to .625 when I was 6 months post op I felt much better and gradually quit taking the Estroven. I have a friend who can't take hrt and she takes an Estroven every a.m. and every p.m. (which is twice as much as recommended on the box). She swears by it. I'm not saying this is definitely the answer.........just telling you what helped me during my first 6 months post op, and what has helped this friend of mine.

As for checking out interactions between your Zoloft and other medications...........if you go to www.advancerx.com, they have a drug/drug interaction checker where you can put in anything you take (over-the-counter or prescription, it doesn't matter, I have done it with all the vitamin supplements I take plus my prescription drugs) and it will tell you if there will be any problems with interactions between them. Of course it is still a good idea to let your doc know any supplements you are taking too.

Good luck!
Ann

DLK,
I don't have any experience with OTC products except I do supplement my hrt with a black cohosh supplement. Did your doctor give you a reason why he's hesitant to start you on hrt?

The ladies in the No Hormone Desert Oasis should be able to help you with some of the OTC products they are finding success with. Here's a link to the forum http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/for...?s=&forumid=34

There is a product called Revival Soy which is highly recommended by Dr. Northrup in her book The WIsdom of Menopause. I found that it really stopped hot flashes and made my nails grow. However, it did nothing for the vaginal atrophy. You can look it up on the Internet at Revivalsoy.com. It is pricey though. Joeanne

Thanks for all your help ladies..

I am going to do some more research on some of your suggestions. I was hoping to find something cost effective but what good is to get it at a good price if it doesn't work?

((Kim)) Neither my GYN or GP want to start HRTs because of my age (39) which I know isn't too young if you need them. They are both convinced that the left ovary will do its job. I am mainly dealing with mood swings and depression. I have also been dealing with foggy thinking, lack of concentration and some vaginal dryness(they gave me cream for that). It is my understanding from them that anti-depressants is the drug of choice for this and with good success. I haven't had much success on the first two though-Celexa(didn't help mood at all), Prozac(worked on mood swings but caused lots of side effects especially sleep problems to begin with). They will go to a different vain of anti-depressants if the Zoloft doesn't help. I am really torn on this one, I don't want to start HRTs if they aren't comfortable with them but I also would like to know whether my ovary is functioning at all-especially now that is cystic. If my hormone levels (which they don't think it is necessary to test them) are really off then it is my concern that I am just putting a band aid on a big cut. I don't like being a witch out of no where, then again other days I feel like me again. It's a ficious cycle right now, that's why I want to consider some soy products or something natural that might help.


Thanks again for your help,

DLK

I'll keep you posted on the results

I have a friend who took Revival Soy during her peri-menopause stage and it did help her for a while. Eventually it wasn't enough and her doctor put her on an hrt patch which she is still on..........she's in her early 50's. She doesn't take the Revival since going on the patch, but she says it did help with hot flashes in the beginning stages of her menopause.........but she went thru natural menopause. However, considering that your ovary might be working ok, it might be enough to help you.

I also saw an ad for a new product, called New Phase, that is supposed to be a menopause supplement. I saw the commercial on TV while I was on the treadmill at the gym, but I looked it up just now and can't find any info on the internet so I don't know anything about it. If you find it on the shelf next to the Revival Soy and the Remifemin and the Estroven you can always compare ingredients........and prices!!

I understand totally where you're coming from about antidepressants. I had some terrible years suffering from TMJ -- went thru a couple of surgeries,more medications than I can remember.........nothing helped. I ended up on anti-depressants because doctors felt there was nothing else they could do for me. A year after my hyst I realized the pain had been gone for a long time. I weaned myself off the anti-depressants (I was taking Pamelor.........nortriptilene) with my doctor's ok..........the pain has not returned. No one can tell my why my hyst should have affected the TMJ (I was also told I have trigeminal neuralgia) but it did. But the antidepressants have side effects..........some more so than others. (I gained a lot of weight on the first one I was on.......Elavil..........then they changed it to Pamelor and the side effects were less but it took forever for that weight to come off). Lots of women find that the anti-depressants help them get thru for a short length of time after their hysts until they adjust to the changes in their bodies and their emotions. Some women need to take them for a longer period of time.........like everything else, it's an individual thing. In my case they definitely helped me live with the TMJ thing until it miraculously disappeared after my hyst. I was so afraid the pain would return I waited for a year after my hyst to start weaning myself off of them!!!

I think I would keep bugging the doc if I were you to test hormone levels.............all the symptoms you are describing are menopausal symptoms. Hopefully the Zoloft will help you without side effects giving you a problem............
good luck!!

Ann
TAH/BSO 1/5/01

I finally talked my GP into at least running thyroid tests, I have a family history of thyroid disease and have read some comparison that hyst can sometimes cause problems. Plus the thyroid symptoms are very closely related to hyst, menopause and depression symptoms. I wanted that ruled out for sure.

I went to Walmart and found a lot of the products but there was such a slew of things, that's when I decided to come post a thread to see if anyone else has had success or not.

Only time will tell but I plan on posting my results of all my test and GYN apptmt. It has been a great help to see what successes and answers others have come up with.

I'll keep you posted,
DLK

I have taken Healthy Woman Soy Menopause supplements since my Hyst in June, 2001. I was on Premarin .625 along with the soy and it totally took the hot flashes away.

Now, the dr. has taken me off the premarin and has me on the Healthy Woman Soy and Remifemin (black cohosh). Unfortunately, the hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia are back WITH A VENGANCE! I am up at least 4 times a night with the sweats, and I walk around with a cool collar on constantly to try to beat the hot flashes.

I can say that while on the premarin, the soy was great. My dr. wants me to wait at least 8 weeks on the soy and black cohosh to give my body time to adjust, before we decide what to do.

I don't have the experience of taking it with antidepressants, but I do take synthyroid every day, and my thyroid levels have seemed to stablize.

Good luck with what you decide to do.

Pam:

Hi DLK and sisters.....

I just want to share my experience with supplements that I take and do very well with......

I can not take HRT for med issues....So my dr started me on natural to help with bad night sweats and hot flashes.....

I was told to take soy...black cohosh.....dong qui........primrose oil....flaxseed oil w/omaga3..........and a good womens vit/min supplement.........coq10....1 baby asprin.......... I also take bone support to get the calicum dr wants me to get daily[1600]...And for achy joints I take joint support.........

I take vitamins/min and all my supplements By Andrew Lessman......This is who my DR. told me his family takes as well....All natural....

It does take time for the body to consume what it needs before you feel a difference..........

I am now at the point of slowing black cohosh down becouse my sweats are just now at 18 months am feeling the night sweats and day flashes really in control...And if I feel I need to I will start back up again........

I also am taking prozac and it really helps my mood balance........

I drink lots of ice water and green tea with mint..........

But I will always take my soy and other supplements......I can't be without them...

Vitamin world has a good womens wellness soy supplement also......

s to all

sis