Effexor users experiencing menopause could benefit from Omega-3s

During menopause, many women use Effexor and other SNRIs and SSRIs to treat major depressive disorder associated with menopause. Low doses of antidepressants have been shown to reduce hot flashes as well. 

Recent research as found that Omega-3 supplements might also be able to reduce depression and hot flash symptoms in menopausal and perimenopausal women. A recent small-scale study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that, after eight weeks of treatment with an Omega-3 supplement, women had significantly decreased depression and less hot flashes per day. 

The study, published in the March 2011 edition of the journal Menopause, involved only 20 women. Still, the results are encouraging for females seeking complementary treatment for depression and hot flashes. According to the researchers, 20 percent of women experience major depressive disorder and about 80 percent experience hot flashes at some point in their lives.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3s are an important part of the diet because they cannot be made by human bodies. Aside from their benefits in treating women with menopausal symptoms, other studies have shown that these polyunsaturated fatty acids may be able to lower blood triglyceride levels, reduce joint tenderness and stiffness in those with rheumatoid arthritis in combination with anti-inflammatory medications, and reduce mortality in people who are at risk for coronary heart disease.

Foods with Omega-3s
Fatty fish like lake trout, herring, whitefish, salmon, anchovies and halibut are excellent sources of this important nutrient. Alpha-Linolenic acid, the plant version, can be found in soybeans, tofu, flaxseed, walnuts and canola oil. Otherwise, many people choose to take a fish oil supplement.

Effexor and other antidepressants can be purchased online from a Canadian online pharmacy.