i tried melatonin and it works perfectly for me. i used to drink myself to sleep every night until my breast cancer diagnosis. then i drank sporadically. thru' chemotherapy i was told i would not feel like i wanted a drink and sure enough i didn't need a drink nor did i drink. the chemicals are so harsh and the liver must go thru' so much why add alcohol to it! now i drink socially (again) in stead of daily but i do take one melatonin tablet one hour before i want to sleep and believe me it's the best thing that happened to me!
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2013 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Eight Breast Cancer Symptoms: When To Worry 
Ten Breast Cancer Myths Debunked 
Eat to Live: 10 Things to Know About Breast Cancer and Nutrition 
When Breast Cancer Returns: 10 Things to Know About Metastatic Breast Cancer 
Hi,
I had my last chemo in July. I was told it would take a month or two before I could sleep again. That never happened. I'm on effexor because the chemo put me into menopause. With that and the tamoxifen I have severe hot flashes 10-15 times a day. At least 5-6 during the night. My oncologist put me on 371/2 dose but has since increased it to 75. He also has me on ativan and alpromasal?(spelling). It does allow me to fall asleep faster but after a month I'm still up 3-4 times and usually give in and just get up at 3:00am. I see in the sharepost you may have written more on this subject. Where can I find it? I want off the narcotic drugs but since I work 10+ hours a day I really need sleep.
Thanks,
Dianec
Hi Diane - So sorry for your challenges! It's tough, I know. So many of us go through this. Seven years later - still hot flashes, still waking 2-4 times a night. But time heals, for sure; flashes are less, sleeplessness is less. I wrote a series of posts on sleep issues - start here, and just go in order, I believe they're one after the other, date-wise. Good luck to you - hope you get some relief. Does your hospital have a sleep center? Worth checking - ours does. PJH
Hi PJ,
Thanks so much!
Diane