Increased Oral Dryness After Starting Black Cohash and Centrum Silver

[BonusMom]

Help!

I'm under 50, but in November my gyno ordered labs drawn which confirmed tgat I'm peri-menopausal, just under the magic "16" that my lab says is menopause.

I will not take HRTs as there is a strong family hx of breast CA (maternal), so my gyno suggested Black Cohash for my sudden onset wakefulness at 2:00 a.m. And my less than pleasant mood.

I ordered the Black Cohash from Swanson's. Then, when I was at Costco, I saw Centrum Silver and thought "It can't hurt" (vs the "normal Centrum) and added those to my pill box at the same time as the Black Cohash.

Problem is, I'm waking up with my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, in spite of drinking lots of water. I haven't had alcohol or caffeine the last few days (and don't normally drink caffeine or soda), but there's not been any improvement. In fact, it's getting worse. I have sores in my mouth now and my lips are chapped.

I can only assume the increased dryness is due to either the Black Cohash or Centrum, which I started approx. five days prior to the Sahara Factor.

Anyone else experience this from these supplements?

All I can a

[gurs]

Not sure if you live in the cold weather states, but that may be it...however, you have to read exactly what is in these supplements, including vitamins..alot of them have added herbs that maybe causing it. The Centrum silver I think has some added stuff?

I would never recommend starting 2 new supplements, medications, at the same time. You dont know what is bothering you now?

I  guess stop taking one of them for a bit and see how it goes. It could also be your hormone flucuations..Im in menopause now and from
day to day its very different. Usually increased dryness for me is an allergy to something. I notice this when I eat cheese now...

Good luck..hope you can figure this out!!!

Gursie

[BonusMom]

Thanks Gursie!

I posted in another thread about taking Unisom, as recommended by my doc. Fellow Sjoggies informed me that it has an antihistamine in it!  That explains the sudden onset of extreme dryness that I had occasionally as I only took the Unisom occasionally since Dec. It was way worse than when I used Nyquil for sleep. Yeah, Vick and I go way back......

I will add back the Black Cohash for a week and then a multi (after double checking ingredients).

This experience has definitely opened my eyes into the importance of reading the ingredient list and doing my homework PRIOR to putting anything into my body!

[gurs]

I found that almost everything is drying...including motrin..but, I have to say, I dont know how anyone with SS can even use
antihistimines? even when I was younger, and a bit healthier, made me want to pass out, and the dryness? oh my gosh?

I have severe allergies and just have to tolerate them. I am on steriods, which do help, but also add some dryness.

When i was into taking alot of supplements, and became drier, I found it was mostly the herbs causing it, like ginko biloba..all of that stuff.
I also found that if I got super dry, due to an allergy to something. Now, everytime I eat dairy, I get super dry, sinus pressue, headache, etc.
Its very hard to figure out. Also, alot of our medications cause the unwanted dryness, and alot of us seem to think its the SS.

The lack of estrogen is the biggest thing though..if the black cohosh is not working, I know there are several other natural products out
there...im still searching myself!

Gursie

[slccom]

I have a nurse friend whose (former) GYN put her on black cohosh. Not only did it not help the menopausal symptoms, but after couple of years my friend got a bone density test. Surprise! Now she was osteoporetic.

Be sure to have a baseline bone density test now.

Sharon

[gurs]

I dont think black cohosh was supposed to improve bone density or alot of other things..some women swear by it?

Gursie

[Tivia]

Maybe the dryness is just the sjs progressing

[BonusMom]

It's been a few days since I last took Unisom and I'm getting back the moisture that was being sucked out of me.

I did research on Unisom and dryness was listed as a side effect. When I previously took 1/3 dose of Nyquil to help with sleep, I didn't have this issue (probably because I can control the dose of Nyquil and can't with the Unisom).

I have continued taking the Black Cohash. It was also recommended that I take calcium w/soy (probably because of the issue another poster gave).  I'm having difficulty finding one with soy, however.

My mom, aunts and MIL all swear by the Black Cohash and Calcium with Soy for dealing with the changes brought on by menopause. They are all breast cancer survivors and couldn't take HRT for menopause.  In fact, my mom was dx'ed after being on HRTs for nearly ten years. I'm not willing to take the chance.

[jazzlover]

Definitely begin one thing at a time as you found out!! Hope you figure it all out.

Almost all soy is genetically modified. I stay away from it.

What is the Sahara Factor?

[slccom]

The cohosh isn't supposed to do anything with bone density. The former GYN just failed to talk to her about the osteoporosis. That is why she is former.

Sharon

[gurs]

I found that soy does really help..I was bad last year, eating Mcdonalds filet-o-fish's all the time..loaded with soy ingredients....well, as soon as I got tired of them, and stopped, I began to lose my hair and I had more menopause issues?

I also heard that DHEA will increase estrogen and testosterone levels naturally. Only would use a small dose. I have 5mg tabs to start with.
My doctor checked my levels and seems I have no hormones..no estrogen, testosterone, or DHEA? no wonder I feel so sick..add this to the
SS and lupus....nightmare!!

Gursie

[THE BRIT]

  I would look into not taking the black coshosh, my gyn recommended, but I looked at all the side effects and decided not to.  Only 1 box with it in had a big warning on it,  I do evening primrose oil 3 x a day and soy tablets, it does seem to help.  Walmart has a soy for menopause packet so it is a reasonable cost and CVS or Walgreens do EPO on sale or buy 1 get 1 free or 1/2 price quite frequently and I stock up then.  I think it has cut down on the hot flushes and the 2, 3 day headaches I was getting.  Either way I just want it to stop. :-)