Updated 4/25/24. Clinically tested Amberen touted as the “#1 menopause supplement,” is said to provide relief from 12 menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, low sex drive, mood swings, sleeplessness, and weight gain, among others. It's said to work for any stage of menopause, and it's even been endorsed by US Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton. It sounds great, but does Amberen really work? This review covers the research on Amberen, the results of those clinical trials, the ingredients, problems, and possible side effects, and how to get a refund if you feel Ambern is not working for you.
What Is The Amberen Menopause Supplement?
Amberen is a dietary supplement touted to relieve symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and mood swings. The product website (Amberen.com) says the supplement “naturally restores hormonal balance by relieving hot flashes, boosting energy, and providing comfort for many effects of menopause, safely and effectively.”
Amberen works differently than hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Instead of replacing hormones, this supplement is touted to support the body as it makes its own hormones again. This, in turn, is said to ease symptoms of menopause. The Amberen website is very specific that Amberen is not hormone replacement therapy. It does not contain estrogen, progesterone, or other steroid hormones.
Unlike other menopause supplements that may contain bioidentical hormones or soy, Amberen does not have these ingredients.
Let's now examine the ingredients in Amberen and the menopause research on those ingredients, followed by the research on Amberen itself.
Amberen Benefits
From the Amberen company website, we learn this supplement is touted to help menopausal and premenopausal women in the following areas:
hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, low energy and fatigue, sleeplessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, menopausal headaches and stress, lack of sexual interest, muscle and joint aches, and menopausal weight gain.
Amberen Ingredients
According to Amberen.com 2 capsules contain 400 mg of the following ingredients:
- Ammonium succinate (key ingredient)
- Calcium disuccinate
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
- Glycine
- Magnesium disuccinate
- Zinc disuccinate hydrate
- Tocopherol acetate
In this list, the ingredients at the top make up most of the product, while those at the end make up the least. For example, since ammonium succinate is the first ingredient, it makes up most of the 400 mg dose of Amberen. Keep that ingredient in mind as it comes up in the Amberen clinical research studies, summarized below.
Other Ingredients
The package of the product also lists these other ingredients:
- Gelatin
- Rice flower
- Magnesium stearate
- Silicon dioxide
- Titanium dioxide
- Riboflavin
- Carmine (a food coloring)
- Water
These ingredients play no role in the effects or benefits of this supplement.
Let's take a brief look at each ingredient separately.
Ammonium Succinate
This is the main key ingredient in Amberen. It's also called succinate acid, and another name for it is “amber acid.” This is obviously where the supplement gets its name from. Succinic acid was first obtained from amber.
The Amberen.com website calls ammonium succinate a “Mitochondrial antioxidant” that blocks free radicals from doing damage. Mitochondria are a hot topic in anti-aging research. Oxidative damage to the mitochondria seems to play a role in aging. Fixing mitochondria dysfunction, some say can help slow aging. For more on this, see the reviews on:
The website also says, “ammonium succinate promotes the elimination of toxic by-products.” While they don't say what those toxic byproducts are, my guess is they may be talking about free radicals.
Calcium Disuccinate
This is another name for the mineral calcium. The addition of calcium to this supplement makes sense, given that low calcium levels seem to increase PMS symptoms. The calcium might also help offset bone loss that often accompanies menopause. There isn't a lot of calcium in Amberen, and that's probably good, as calcium supplements have been controversial because of side effects.
Monosodium Glutamate
Of all the ingredients in Amberen, this one seemed to garner the most attention by women commenting below. Some complained the monosodium glutamate (MSG) caused them to have side effects if they were sensitive to it.
On Amberen.com, they call this ingredient “Monosodium L-glutamate,” maybe as a way to diffuse the controversy. They also link to the FDA website, which says it's safe.
The company website says that only a small amount of MSG is used in Amberen in part to help “mitochondrial-benzodiazepine receptors.” Benzodiazepines are a class of medications (ex: Valium) that reduce anxiety. So it sounds like they are saying the MSG helps to calm women down by binding to the benzodiazepine receptors on the mitochondria.
Glycine
Glycine is an amino acid (non-essential amino acid, meaning we make this in our body). The product website says glycine is used to help the mitochondria in the brain work better, which in turn, helps improve “psycho-emotional balance.”
Some evidence suggests that glycine may help memory in both young and middle-aged adults. Since some women report memory problems with menopause, this may be another reason why glycine was added to the product. Some evidence suggests anti-aging effects too.
Glylcine & Memory
Watch my youtube channel if you prefer
Glycine also assists with the production of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. Glycine is part of of the GlyNac supplement combination which has been studied for its possible anti-aging effects. Here is a review of GlyNac research
Watch on my YouTube channel
Magnesium Disuccinate
This magnesium is bound to succinic acid. A few studies have shown that magnesium might help PMS symptoms like fluid weight gain and mood changes.
Zinc Disuccinate Hydrate
This is the mineral zinc bound to succinic acid. As the product website states correctly, zinc does a lot of different things in the body. Zinc deficiency is rare for most people living in the US. The RDA for zinc is 8 mg/day in women.
Tocopherol Acetate
This is vitamin E. At least one study noted that vitamin E did not help hot flashes, while other studies show it does help hot flashes. Because it's an antioxidant, vitamin E is sometimes added to supplements to help reduce spoilage.
Amberen Clinical Research & Proof
Amberen is said to have 45 years of clinical research. This is true if you go back to 1971 and count the lab animal research. Much of the early research was not on Amberen, though (it wasn't around in 1971), but rather succinic acid. Succinic acid is the key ingredient in Amberen. Many of the studies are listed on Amberen.com but I located others that were not.
Here is a breakdown of the Amberen research:
2019 Study
This paper is a review article that combines the results of two previous clinical trials. After pooling the results of both studies, the authors concluded that there was evidence for Ambern helping reduce menopause symptoms.
2016 Study
This investigation was conducted in Russia, lasted three months, and involved 125 women aged 42-60 years of age. It was a placebo-controlled double-blind study (the best kind) sponsored by The Amberen company.
The women either took a placebo or Amberen. Women completed questionnaires before and after treatment. Those showed Amberen eased 13 out of 21 menopause symptoms. In other words, 62% of menopause symptoms tested showed improvements. Menopause symptoms that Amberen improved included night sweats, feelings of depression, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, loss of libido, and lack of energy.
In addition, blood tests also noted Amberen significantly raised estrogen levels. Estrogen in women taking Ambern almost doubled, rising from 34 pg/ml to 66 mg/ml after 90 days. The women taking Amberen also saw improvements in body weight and waist circumference too. More specifically
- Body weight declined by 4%
- Body mass index declined by 4%
- Waist circumference was reduced by 3.6%
These benefits were not seen in women taking placebo pills.
In another paper published that year, the benefits of succinic acid are discussed. All the authors of that paper were scientific advisors for Lunada Biomedical – the company which makes Amberen.
2008 Study
In this study, Russian researchers noted the key ingredient in Amberen reversed menopause symptoms in rats. Amberen was given to older mice for 4 weeks. Amberen treatment was noted to improve several menopausal symptoms in the mice. The study was supported by Lunada Biomedical, the company which makes the supplement.
This study also exists under another name: A Succinate-Based Composition ”Rejuvenates” Aging Mice and Alleviates Menopausal Symptoms in Women Without Sex Hormone Replacement Therapy. It is also a Russian investigation and is published in another medical journal. Regardless, it's still a mouse study.
Amberen Clinical Studies Review Video
Watch on my Youtube channel if you prefer.
2005 Study
This investigation involved 70 women who were given Amberen or a placebo for three weeks. It was reported that after just three weeks, the women taking Amberen showed significant improvements in insomnia, feelings of depression and anxiety, and irritability. These benefits were not seen in women taking placebo pills.
2004 Study
The Amberen.com site lists a 3-year observational study involving 245 women. While they say Amberen was safe and effective. Unfortunately, they don't say where the study was published so I cannot comment on it.
The 4-Week Animal Study
At one time, the Lunada Biomedical website listed a 4-week study of older mice. No details were given about this study, but it sounds similar to the 2008 Amberen mice studies mentioned above. Might it be the same?
The 6-Week Animal Study
Again, the Amberen website gives no details about this study other than that Amberen was given to older female mice for 6 weeks and it helped them.
Even though the company that makes the product is based in the US, Many of the studies were conducted in Russia.
My Thoughts On The Amberen Research
Here are a few thoughts on the Amberen Research:
- Most of the studies appear to be conducted in Russia. This makes sense as I believe a Russian scientist first patented the method of making succinic acid.
- Some research findings are interesting, such as Amberen, which may raise estrogen levels, help mood, and maybe even help weight loss. The research needs to be replicated to confirm these findings.
- Lunada Biomedical supports research on succinic acid and Amberen. There's no problem with this as long as they don't play roles in the outcomes of the investigations. From what I can see, all appears to be ok in this regard.
- Several early studies have been conducted on lab animals.
Most research is on lab animals. I located only two human investigations. They were conducted in 2005 and 2016.
Where To Buy Amberen
Amberen Research Review Video
Here's a short video I created to help you better understand the evidence and claims of Amberen and how its supposed to work:
Who Makes Amberen?
The active ingredient in Amberen is patented. The patent number is US8546611B2. Originally, the company that made this supplement was called Lunada Biomedica. They were subsequently purchased by another company called BioGix, which was eventually gobbled up by yet another company called Alliance Pharma Inc. (alliancepharmaceuticals.com). That company is located in the United Kingdom at:
Avonbridge House
Bath Road
Chippenham
Wiltshire, UK
SN15 2BB
The Alliance Pharmaceuticals company represents many other familiar brands such as:
- Anbesol
- Forceval
- Hyddromol
- MucuShield
While the parent company is located in the UK, Amberen is manufactured and encapsulated in the US, using ingredients from around the world. To contact a Nurse Aid with questions about Amberen, call the company call at 800-222-3304. Another contact number is 800-993-6339.
Amberen And The FTC
- stop marketing the supplement for weight loss
- stop misrepresenting the results of studies
- stop non-disclosure of financial relationships with some endorsers
Contact Amberen
- Order Amberen: 800-993-6339
- Customer Care: 800-222-3304
- NurseAid: 800-211- 8021
Amberen Questions
1 Is It Vegan?
It's not vegan, but it is vegetarian. Because the capsules contain gelatin, it's technically not “vegan.”
2 How Much Should You Take?
It's recommended to take 2 capsules (1 white and 1 orange capsule) per day after breakfast. It may take 90 days before you notice differences taking effect.
3 Is it All-Natural?
In the US, “natural” and “all-natural” really don't have official definitions, so anybody can use them to say just about anything. Amberen.com states that while the ingredients are synthesized, they are bioidentical to how the compounds look in nature.
4 Can You Take It On An Empty Stomach?
I'm unaware of any evidence that says you can't do this but the product website says to take it with food. My guess is this is to reduce the chances of GI discomfort (no proof of this, though. It's a guess).
5 Over 45 Years of Clinical Research. Really?
Sort of, yes. Sort of no. The claim that Amberen has been used for over 45 years is based on taking into consideration the research on the key ingredient – succinic acid. That said, the supplement – Amberen – has not been around that long. Much of the research on succinic acid was done in the 1970s and much of that was not conducted in humans.
6 Where is Amberen Made?
The website doesn't specifically give the location except to say it's at a facility in Southern California and that they use globally sourced ingredients (from all over the world). Much of the research on this supplement comes from Russia.
7 Does It Have Soy?
No. there is no soy, black cohosh, maca, or other herbs
8 Does Amberen Contain Estrogen?
No. The supplement contains no estrogen or other hormones.
Amberen Guarantee
To get a full refund, the company website states the returned item must be “postmarked by the 60th day from your purchase date. To get a return label call the company at (800) 222-3304 and they will email you a return label. All returns are to be shipped to PO Box 10452 Van Nuys, CA-91410. There is only 1 refund issued per household.
How To Speak To A Nurse
To speak to a nurse, call 800-211-8012. The nurses featured on the supplement website are Holly D who is an RN and Marcy L who is a VN (vocational nurse). On the website, they call the nurses “NurseAid” and “Nurse Aid Agents.” They can help answer questions about the supplement but cannot give medical advice.
Amberen Side Effects
Is Amberen safe? For the vast majority of women, I feel it's safe. None of the original clinical studies reported bad side effects.
As you read the comments below, you'll notice some women have said they developed headaches after taking Amberen. Could that be due to the MSG or something else? The good news is this side effect seems to be very rare. Here are some general things to consider when taking this dietary supplement. This list is not complete:
While the product is likely very safe, here are some things to consider.
- Start with less than recommended for the first week to see how you respond.
- Discontinue use and consult your doctor if you have any adverse reactions.
- Stop taking the product at least two weeks before having surgery.
- Speak to your doctor first if you had a hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy. This caution is on the supplement website.
- The supplement is not intended for women who are not going through menopause or pre-menopause.
- The supplement should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Speak to your doctor/pharmacist first if you take any prescription medications.
- Women who have headache issues should talk to their doctor.
One disturbing report seems to link the Amberen to a heart problem called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) a very serious medical condition. The report describes what happened to one woman, so it's difficult to know if the supplement caused this condition or not.
The supplement website site also says “Do not take if you have severe hypertension.” The company does not give a reason for this caution. Could this be related to the MSG which appears to raise blood pressure? When in doubt, call the company for more insights.
Amberen & Carol Nicholson
At one time, Carol Nicholson (Carol Nicholson-Kriegel), a registered nurse, was often heard in the radio commercials for this supplement. Carol was identified on the company website as “our menopause expert”. In addition to being a registered nurse, she also owns an advertising agency called International Marketing Company. Today, however, Carol is not found on the Lunada Biomedical website. Olympic athlete Mary Lou Retton also once appeared on the website, giving her testimonial after using the supplement for 90 days.
Amberen vs. Estroven
| Amberen 2 capsules | Estroven 1 caplet |
|---|---|
| Ammonium succinate | Total carbs <1g |
| Calcium disuccinate | Calcium (dicalcium phosphate) 90 mg (10%DV) |
| Monosodium Glutamate | Black cohosh root extract 80mg |
| Glycine | Soy isoflavones 60 mg |
| Magnesium disuccinate | Green tea leaf extract 100 mg |
| Zinc disuccinate hydrate | Yerba mate leaf extract 30 mg |
| Tocopherol acetate | Magnolia bark extract 15 mg |
What Is RU-21?
If you read through the testimonials below, you will see women saying that an anti-hangover supplement called RU-21 helped their hot flashes. Two capsules of RU21 contain 200 mg of succinic acid.
I have no idea if it helps hangovers (or hot flashes) but RU-21 is less expensive than Amberen. While I can't guarantee that it will work for everybody:
for those who are interested.
Does Amberen Work?
Several animal studies and some human clinical studies suggest Ameren may help ease symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, sweating, low energy, and night sweats. Some of the testimonials below also reinforce this. If Amberen really works, it might be due to succinic acid, which is likely the active ingredient. While I'd like to see more human research, the fact remains that clinical studies on Amberen do exist, and this sets the supplement apart from many of its counterparts.
Amberen does not work. I’m returning it immediately – gained 3 pounds since I started taking it a week ago.
I’ve been on Amberen for about two weeks…after 7 days, I called them because I was feeling “jumpy” and irritable. The male nurse said to Take 1 dose every other day and see if that helps. Coincidentally, I started having sore gums. Yesterday was an “off” day and my gums felt better…took it today and my gums are really killing me.
Off Amberen starting tomorrow (and will get my $$ back) and then off to the Dentist!!
It did help me sleep through the night, but I’m not sleeping well with my gums on fire. Amberen is the only change in my diet and I’ve never had gum problems before.
I’ve been on Amberen for a week. My sleeping is WAY better, but it gives me a HORRENDOUS stomach ache when I take it, even after eating.
Thank you so much for all your hard work. It has helped me so much-I started looking everything up about Amberen, and I knew most of them except for ammonium succinate and then I saw your web page. Thank you for taking the time to do all this research!
Sherry, glad I was able to help you with your research 🙂
For what its worth, I work as a phone rep for a company that represents Amberen. What I have been told regarding the MSG: Amberen uses a form referred to as MSLG. This is supposed to be a higher quality, pharmaceutical grade of MSG, different from what is in Chinese food, and in an extremely low amount. It is there to help with absorption of the product into the bloodstream. Would love to hear from anyone in the medical/pharma world about this?
I’ve taken estrace for years and allways wanted to get off of it. I did March 9-2013 and love Amberen, It works great..
I have been on Amberen for 8 days today. The first day, I slept through the night without waking up once. I thought these were going to be great. On day 7, I starting getting itchy, and had a rash on my neck, and on my side where my bra is touching my body. I thought it was something I ate, so today, I took my dose of Amberen.
Approximately 5 hours later, I have the worst rash of my life…it is all over my neck, my sides, under my breasts, on my back, on my legs and stomach, and it’s just starting to irritate my jaw line now. It’s awful!
I was so hopeful that these pills were going to be the answer for me. I’m usually up half the night kicking the covers off, and pulling them back on. I was hoping that if I stayed on these, that I would also show some sign of weight loss.
After this rash, and it’s far worse today than it was yesterday, I will have to go off of them. I’m very sad.
Has anyone else had an allergic reaction to these pills like I have?
Just saw a commercial for this product onTV and googled it out of curiosity. Your site came up as one of the top hits and i was impressed by the thorouhness of your review. In response to all of the ladies who are looking for help with the estrogen, a product that I have used for some pretty severe perimenopause symptoms with great success: http://www.amazon.com/Enzymatic-Therapy-Estrobalance-dim-Tablets/dp/B0013OUGOC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Hope that might help!
Thanks Julie, glad I was easy to find 🙂
I would love to hear if anyone is finding any supplements for saggy skin…itchy skin…etc…The change in my skin nearly happened overnight! And I just started amberen. Stopped my 100g of progesterone first. I am 49…mild hot flashes…mild throwing off and on of the covers at night….mid-section slight weight gain. I’m trying to get a grip on this early!
Hello,
I have been trying to find a list of ingredients for Amberen and found this site with the most succinct information I have seen yet. I believe, after reading the article and comments, I could not take it. However I came across one comment that I would like to speak to. Someone, I can’t find the comment again, wrote of having restless legs…I have restless legs, one among many conditions…and I would like to share what I use to calm the legs and help with sleep.
I take calcium/magnesium citrate (more absorb-able in citrate form). I use Meijer’s Naturals brand and they include some vitamin k and vitamin d along with some other minerals. I take only half the recommended dose as it works very well in that amount and lasts twice as long. You can Google for the brand..although I imagine there are others that make similar products. The ingredients are listed. It takes care of the restless legs. I have had the condition for years and finally found this last year.
I take 1000 to 5000 IU liquid D3 (Sundown Naturals) with it in the evening before bedtime, although I have found the cal/mag combination will calm the legs…D helps the absorption and I am low in D. I have been so long in searching for something to quiet my restless legs that I felt compelled to share with anyone who has this sleep robbing affliction.
Joe – except for my VERY regular periods, I have some obvious symptoms of menopause (sleeplessness, low libido, hot flashes – especially in the face and neck and weight gain). I have not been diagnosed by my GYN as being in meno or premeno. My mother’s sisters all 3 were early menopausal (40, 41). I am 41. Just had my second and last child in 2010. I was going to try this supplement to minimize the symptoms (truth be told, mostly the weight gain). but now I’m concerned…if I am not in menopause, should I even bother?
Kristine B, good question and Im not sure of the answer. For what its worth, I don’t think it will hurt you to try it for a month to see if it helps. If it doesnt, then its been a small investment. if it does, then great.
Thanks for taking the time do clarify so many things about this product!
You’re very welcome!
This product is horrendous!!! Why would anyone, especially menopausal women want to take this? This is rhetorical. Go NATURAL ladies. There are plenty of natural supplements available to us.
Hello Guys!
I ordered this product based on the ad promoting weight loss (abdominal area in particular). I’m 10lbs over my ideal weight, so I thought why not?
Even though I have not one of the other symptoms, I decided to give it a
try. Guess what? I barely took it for almost 2 weeks and would you believe
that besides gaining 2 xtra lbs, I ended up having to deal with hot flashes,
nausea, overall weakness, depression, etc.
I stopped taking it, and I’m starting to feel normal again. What in the world
make me suffer all those symptons? The Ammonium Succinate?
There’s no way I will attempt to take this product again, and felt so lousy
from the first day I started!!!
By the way I’m post menopausal. I’m one of the “lucky” ones who didn’t
have all those symptoms most women complaint about.
I don’t do pharmaceuticals of any kind, rather live a very “holistic” live
style. Thank you for this blog.
I took it for 3 mos. Felt better, slept better, no more night sweats, nicer to my people too! I lost 6 pounds. I ran out and have been out for 6 weeks. Hot flashes are back!
Kay, thanks for writing. Hopefully your hot flashes are gone now!
I am about to start this program of Amberen. Your experience was one of the only ones I read with good results. I did not look up the reviews before I ordered it and I would hope I will get results like yours! My main reason for getting it was for the belly fat. I have def put on more weight there in the last year and I have been post menapausel for quite a few years! No hot flashes or night sweats, but the weight gain has become a problem since it mostly is being stored as belly fat.
The guy I ordered from says the product has a 92% rate of success. I have never heard of it until I saw the infomercial on TV. Now I’m not sure if this product will do what it says. Too many people on this site were not happy with the results. I don’t want to put anything bad into my body and he claimed it was all natural with many studies over 35 years being done to prove it works!
When I get it I will check it out with my compounding pharmacist and see if they think anything in it will be bad for me. If it is I’m sending it back and if it isn’t ill try it and see if I get any good results in the removal of belly fat. Wish me luck.
Tango, for what its worth I really do hope it helps you. That said I see no good proof that Amberen reduces body fat. Still, I hope I’m wrong.
Janet & Joe;
The World health Organization has used saliva tests for hormone levels, and a tiny gizmo that reads mucus to help women tell when they are at the fertile point of their cycles [for birth control in 3rd world countries] for decades.
Cheap processes like these do not make much profit margin though.
I would consider this a fairly reliable test for hormones just about everywhere in the world, Except America, where doubt reigns supreme. [google: “World Health Organization, saliva test for hormones”]
Googling “BHRT reliability & safety”, there is an overload of data both for and against it—that against it appears to be American [so refer to above comment].
American science has been some of the best for so long; but the field’s general xenophobia about even considering research / data from elsewhere, has become increasingly ridiculous.
Decades ago, that caution was warranted, in large part.
Not so much, now.
As I remember the explanation given me years ago:
“Bioidentical hormones [BHRT] are identical enough to plug cleanly into receptor sites, reducing adverse effects in both number and severity.
Man made analogs of hormones, even those derived from mare’s urine which start out “natural”, have irregularities in how they plug into receptor sites, which causes more and worse adverse effects. Those irregularities are part of the pharmaceutical companies’ forming a patentable product.”
Using things like Wild yams to make hormones, is relatively easy, can be done in home kitchens, and cheap, not patentable [same as so many herbals used for healing].
Caveates regarding BHRT creams and other topicals [and herbals] might include:
==patients not controlling dose adequately over time can cause variability in results [hard to use exactly right amount of creme].
==the company that compounds the product, makes a difference in quality/reliability of product consistency, which can affect results.
==standardization between companies is not always certain, nor is standardization of any herbally derived medicine.
==prescribing only one or two hormones, and basing that only on symptoms assessment, is probably not adequate, and could produce adverse effects.
But using BHRT is pretty good, when it’s done right.
Over ten years, none of our patients complained [except: “the cream is so wonderful, I want to use it all over my skin, not just on the little spot for medicine!”]. [We used the hormone cremes from Women’s International Health compounding pharmacy or one in Berkeley, CA, then].
Nutritional helps for menopausal and other issues,
can include therapeutic amounts of Omega3 fats [DHA ], which is between 1000 to 3000 mg. DHA Omega3 per day;
And Vitamin D3, based on your “25[OH]D” blood test, might be from 1000 to 10,000 ius per day.
YES, krill oil has good oils LIKE fish oil has, BUT it takes far more of it than the current company offering it advertizes. Krill pills do not equal fish oil pills, pill-for-pill.
(I have wondered, if we consumed enough krill oil to equal fish oil, would we turn pink like salmon do, from eating that?;-)
Removing stressors is key.
Getting aerobic exercise is key–even if all one can do is move slowly and breath deeply–getting that deep breathing is so important!
Hi Joe
I forgot to tell you that she said
The white capsule contain the ammonium succinate. The orange capsules contain all of the other ingredients.
What I can not figure out if she is telling me to take a break from the white one because that is causing my hotflashes and not sleeping will that problem not come back when I start the white tab up again.
Janet That’s so interesting because its the succinate that is the active ingredient in Amberen.
Anybody else having trouble sleeping with Amberen?
dear Janet, sounds like a bunch of double talk. has anyone experienced gallbladder problems? I now have to go get checked out and the only thing I did differently is take “almost” the whole 3 months of amberen. I also felt “unwell” and off kilter” too. phoney baloney is what I think!
I’ve been on Aberen for 11 days. My sleep has gotten worse. I can not fall asleep and I wake up every hour and have a hard time falling back to sleep. I called the company and they told me to double the dose. They also said it shows it is working.
Has anybody else had this problem and will it work if I double the dose. Just thinking I should send it back before my 30 days are done.
Janet, this is so interesting. So you have a strange side effect and Amberen says to double the dose! Whats up with that? Do you know the qualifications of the person you spoke with on the phone? Was it a nurse? Did he/she ask you any questions about your health first before they blurted out to increase the dosage of Amberen? What number did you call?
So they said your insomnia is proof that Ambern is working. is that really what they said?
Anybody else have trouble sleeping or got that “double the dose” reply from Amberen?
Hi Joe
Thanks for the reply.
She was a nurse, she asked me if I was on any medication that would alter my hormone levels and if I had had my thyroid tested. I am not on any medication and I had my thyroid tested last year from a MD doctor who said I was normal.
I called the 1-800-222-3304 but they never answered, so I went on line and chatted with the person.
This is one thing she said “It is not uncommon for your symptoms to increase within the first few weeks of starting an Amberen course. This is a sign that Amberen is working, your body is responding to the product, causing a fluctuation of hormones. This should subside once your system gets acclimated to Amberen. We recommend taking 4 capsules per day up to 14 days; after that scale back to a single dose for the remainder of the course. It should not cause your symptoms to become worse. It should help to balance out your hormone levels. If you notice your symptoms are getting worse you can contact us and we can try reducing your regimen.”
So what do you think about what she is saying?
Janet, since Amberen -itself – has zero published peer reviewed clinical evidence – what the nurse is saying is not based on research. If anything, she may be basing what she says on how people are responding to Amberen – but this is not good enough proof for me. I’m actually kind of surprised that a nurse would say something like this.
And where is she getting this “we recommend 4 capsules up to 14 days” stuff from? What evidence shows this is the right about for people to use? Thanks for the phone number Janet. Ill let you know if I turn up anything 🙂
Hi Joe
My sleeping was not any better last night on and off all night. My hotflashes were a lot worse. When I was on the 4 pills.
I called back the nurse hotline and this is what she told me
In some cases, due to high lability (instability of body’s functions) this kind of resistance of the body to adjust has been recorded. In some instances, the withdrawal of ammonium succinate (the ingredient in the white capsules) has been shown to solve the issue partially if not completely. The results may vary, however we recommend eliminating the white capsule from your daily intake of Amberen for about one week, while continuing to consume the orange capsule daily. If you find this to be effective, please resume back to the single dose of Amberen (1 orange / 1 white capsule) as directed for the balance of the course.
Not sure what to do.
Janet, when the nurse says that reports “have been recorded” Id ask where. It just sounding like fancy talk to me. I could be wrong but it sounds to me like they just want to keep you taking the stuff.
I say get off of Amberen and see if your sleep improves. At least decrease the amount and see if that helps. Keep me posted.
I’ve decided to get off the product before it is too late to get my money back.
Do you have any other suggestions for waking up 6 times during the night, hot flashes and joint pain.
I have tried a lot of products and nothing seems to work.
Do you know anything about Bio-Identicals, but that seems to be so expensive and they will not promise that will work either.
Hi Janet, as I see it “bio-identical” hormones are really “bio-similar”. The name bioidentical is a marketing word. Hormones taken from plants are not identical to human hormones. As such Im not sure how well they would work in people. They might or might not. I just don’t know. I’d talk to a pharmacist or endocrinologist about this as they are very smart about chemistry and this stuff.
I agree with a previous post that someone made that we are all wired differently. I think that trial and error is needed within caution.
I took Amberen for about 9 weeks and then decided to take a break. I have now been off the Amberen for about 2 months. I had a few hot flashes after stopping but nothing like I used to have. I can now wear sweaters and sweatshirts without feeling like I’m going to die of heat exhaustion. I am planning on taking Amberen again for a few months if my hot flashes return which I’m sure they will since I am premenopausal.
Thank you, thank you for all of the wonderful information and opinions that everyone has given.
I am actually interested in trying diatomaceous earth. I was wondering if Tracy could comment on how long she has taken it and it she knows how long it should be taken for?
I just wanted to update on my experience with RU-21. I dropped down to one tablet per day about a month ago and I’m still not having hot flashes or night sweats. 😀