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.
So you can still feel the side effects after you get off of it??
MISINFORMATION ALERT! First, thank you for all your research and dedication to sharing. IMPORTANT INGREDIENT NOTE is that you shared tgat Amberen contains the food additive MSG. WRONG. Similarly spelled but vastly different is the ingredient Monosodium L-Glutamate, an AMINO ACID– not MSG, a food flavor enhancer . There would be no reason whatsoever to add MSG to any supplement.
Monosodium L-glutamate is a salt of an amino acid that functions as a neurotransmitter and regulates the chemical reactions of transamination.
READ AMBEREN INGREDIENTS:M:http://amberen.com/ingredients/
Hi Jen, I appreciate you taking the time to write. TShe letter “L” in monosodium L glutamate stands for “levorototory” and is a chemistry term to denote the the amino acid (glutamate in this case) is “left handed.” They are the same thing from what I know. In fact, here is study (not of amberen) where MSG and “L MSG” are used in the same sentence. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8282275 As an aside, the study does give some vindication of MSG as it’s often vilified by people.
My sister started using this product and thought I would like it so she bought me a 4 month supply. I have severe hypothyroidism and had just got my meds increased. I started taking this and after two months I have gained weight, but I should’ve started to see a decrease in weight now that I was getting more thyroid medicine.
Also, I started getting rashes on my face with clear, fluid-filled blisters. I thought it had to do with food allergies or a staph infection. I had no idea this product used MSG. I’m highly sensitive to it and have avoided it for years. Also with a thyroid disorder, I didn’t realize this product counteracts it. T
hanks for your post. Everything I read is either by the company patting themselves on the back or another company in competition trying to sell their own products, but pretending to be an independent reviewer. So glad I found this article. I’m stopping this supplement today.
Deborah, I’m glad to be able to help.
WOW!!! I got little blisters all over my face and my face itches so bad it burns
🙁 I had a feeling it was from the Amberen which is why I started to search the web for reviews!!! Thank you for posting this info… I just threw this crap in the trash
Lisa, Im very sorry that happened to you. Hopefully your condition will clear up quickly.
Lisa,
If you have been diagnosed with thyroid problems before taking amberen, you might want to be retested. I took Amberen about 6 years ago. After taking it for a month I started feeling really fatigued. Their nurse recommended doubling up on dosage. I tried that and it got worse. I quit taking Amberen and the fatigue never stopped. I finally went to my doctor and asked for my thyroid to be checked.
It was found that I had low thyroid. I’ve been on synthroid for 5 years. Last year I was diagnosed with Bradycardia (the second heartbeat is very quiet so some machines can’t read it). I was prescribed statin to lower cholesterol. I immediately broke out in hives so I quit taking it. I had already scheduled to see an endocrinologist for my thyroid. They said the hives were thyroid hives.
They have now found that I have thyroid antibodies. I’m not sure if the hives and antibodies are related. Every time I take more than one NSAID at a time, I break out in these hives. The statin has anti-inflammatory properties (NSAID). I can’t take Aleve, aspirin or any other pain reliever that are anti-inflammatory.
I found your article upon searching for info on succinic acid. After wearing a Baltic Amber bracelet for 3 weeks, my menopause/perimenopause systems were reversed. I’ve yet to find any supporting info.
TMA606, I’ve never heard of Baltic Amber Braclets helping menopause symptoms. What made you think they would help your symptoms? I’d imagine that whatever is helping you must somehow penetrate the skin. I’m not aware of any evidence that happens. I did a quick online search and didn’t see anything readily show up. I’ll just be glad that your symptoms have improved. Anyone else know anything about this?
“Baltic amber contains 3-8% succinic acid which is some of the highest concentrations found in nature, and this is what makes it so special. Succinic acid is a natural component of plant and animal tissues, and its presence in the human body is beneficial in many ways.”
Here’s a link with info: http://hyenacart.com/inspiredbyfinn/mt/713/39690/What-is-Baltic-Amber-How-Can-it-Help-Us
Tma606, have you seen anything on it penetrating the skin? Either way, glad it’s helping you.
Hey all. Just started 500mg Succinic Acid, one cap twice a day, yesterday, and after taking the one this morning I am SO sleepy. Have to say that my night sweats stopped on night ONE, I slept great for the first time in forever, but I’d like to wake up now!
It could be from something else (heaven knows I have a lot of reasons to be tired 🙂 but I wanted to know if anyone on Amberen or just the Succinic Acid had this effect. Wondering if the other ingredients in the Amberen could actually counteract the sleepiness that might occur without them. Thanks!
A teacher I don’t think i have not heard of sleepiness before. Has anyone else?
I started Amberen 3 years ago, at 40, because of peri-menopause symptoms. It was a life saver in terms of mood swings and energy level. It made me feel like a real person again. Originally, I did the three month trial, was off for about a week before symptoms came flooding back, so went immediately back on.
After six months on Amberen, I was able to be off for 3-4 months before symptoms came back. Since then I have cycled off and on when I notice symptoms returning – this last time I was able to be off for 9 months before starting back up again.
I had never had any side effects at all (with the exception of nausea if I forgot to take it without food). I did lose a little weight over that time – 13 pounds, but I worked VERY HARD for those 13 pounds. I think the Amberen may have given me the energy and put my body in a state where it could lose weight, if I did my part with diet an exercise.
Just recently, however, I discovered a goiter, at the same time that I had restarted my Amberen. The goiter has grown extremely quickly, which, needless to say, has me very concerned.
Just discovered that a contraindication to Amberen is Thyroid Goiter, as it can cause them to grow. I’ve had to stop the Amberen, and will be seeing an endocrinologist soon, but just wanted people to be aware of that side effect.
Monica, thanks for that information. I’ve seen other websites say it too but I don’t see a reason for it. I’ll see what I can dig up on this
I too took Amberin, stopped and after I started got a multinodular goiter that seem to come out of no where. I did not have thyroid issues before taking Amberin. Not cancerous but do have to have ultrasounds every year and painful biopsies when any get larger. I believe it was due to the Amberen.
Hi Claire, so sorry that happened to you. I’m am very glad it was not cancerous. Saying a prayer all future biopsies are clear too.
I’m thinking about trying this supplement for treatment of my hot flushes. Does anyone know how the succinic acid is made, is it from amber or synthetic?
Tracy, that’s a good question and I don’t know the answer. Does anyone else know?
After being on Amberen for 9 days and discontinuing, I noticed extreme itching and then welts forming from the scratching over my entire body. Has anyone else experienced this?
Yes I am starting to break out and very very itchy nothing helps relieve it. I stopped taking amberen but it did help relieve flashes. Not worth the itchy spots.
My biggest problem with perimenopause was the fogginess and lack of ability to focus or remember anything. I have to admit Amberen is the only thing that I have found that really helps with all of that. It’s also improved the mood swings a lot.
Kim, happy its working for you!
I took Amberen when I was about 49. It really helped with the whole gamut of perimenopausal symptoms I was having at the time. It especially helped with mood and weight gain issues. I took two or three (can’t remember) courses of it with a breather in between.
Since then the gamut of menopausal symptoms have slowly returned, especially the belly fat, sleep issues and night sweats. Mood is not so much an issue this time. I’ve decided to give it another go since I had a good response the first time. (I lost about 7-8 pounds while on it before and they stayed off for several years after stopping the Amberen.)
I will be extra careful to get a refund within the allotted time, if needed, as a result of reading this blog. I will be trying Succinic after this round, either way, whether the Amberen works or not.
I did a chat with an Amberen associate and she said “Monosodium L-Glutamate is a salt of an amino acid, which functions as a neurotransmitter and also regulates the chemical reactions of transamination. We use a safe, small amount (40mg per each dose of Amberen) of pharmaceutical-grade bioactive Monosodium L-Glutamate, which is very different from the quality and quantity of MSG used in processed foods.”
I would think that MSG is MSG no matter what your quality is.
I will definitely take a look at the succinic for my friends and family who are having issues with menopause.
I am 58 and started going to a Maximized Living clinic several years ago and thankfully I bypassed the menopause symptoms of the hot flashes and weight gain.
I am having a very hard time losing menopausal weight. I am taking Succinic all by itself, but it does not work like Amberen. I have taken amberen for many years and lost a lot of weight, but one day I just gained 20 lbs in a week and it is taking forever to lose again. I eat right and work out everyday, but nothing seems to work.
Do you have any suggestions for me? Nobody seems to be able to help, especially not practitioners. I do not like the MSG in the formula either.
Cheryl, in terms of supplements, Ive listed some that I felt might have merrit on this post along with other things that might help also. http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
I dont think this is a one thing works for everybody approach. I think weight gain/weight loss is a complex question but I also feel it still boils down to calories for most of us
I tried just succinic acid, and I have already lost 2 lbs from the 20 lb weight gain from menopause.
Thank you so much for blogging on Amberen. You have helped me more than 2 doctors I had seen, who diagnosed me with hashimotos, and syndrome X, along with a high sugar level. It turns out I do not have any of those diseases. They both told me I had a chronic health problem. Oh really? I think that I just have a hormonal imbalance, and this might just work for me.
It is a funny thing, if you do enough research, you can help yourself much more than any doctor can. I think they are trained to over-diagnosis, which can be very dangerous.
Cheryl, you are very welcome and I wish you continued success with succinic acid. keep me posted on your progress.
Amberen is the only thing that has helped with my hot flashes. I have had no adverse side effects, but I had to take it twice a day to get the hot flashes to stop.
I went back to amberen, just to start losing weight again, since it is the only thing that seems to work for me.
I am so grateful that I found this review, because it opened my eyes as to why it is working, and it is probably the succinic acid, because I am taking all the other ingredients in my daily vitamin, minus the MSG which is something I never wanted to take. In view of the fact that I take the other ingredients I never lost weight from any of them so it must be the succinic acid.
I never had hot flashes or night sweats like most menopausal women, I took it to lose the weight, and it works for me. However, it is only temporary, because I start gaining it back within three months regardless of a strict diet.
When women are desperate, they will try anything for relief. For temporary relief it works, but I think diet and exercise would work just as well, just at a slower rate.
I’ve been on Amberen for 6 months and have had great relief from my menopause symptoms. I was having at least five hot flashes a night and about that many or more a day, now I occasionally have one a night. I was feeling terrible, I think mostly from lack of sleep, and a friend recommended Amberen. I was ready to try anything, including hormones if necessary, but fortunately Amberen has worked for me. I didn’t realize people cycle on and off of it until now, but I don’t want symptoms coming back so I’m just staying on it.
I tried Amberen about a year ago and it did not seem to help any of my symptoms, so I sent it back. Then a few weeks ago I decided to give it another try as my hot flashes had gotten worse since the last time I tried it, so I thought maybe it would help me this time. Well, big mistake.
After taking it for 8 days, I started getting headaches, dizziness, palpitations and what I would describe as panic attacks. I also had pressure in my face, chills, and my teeth were sensitive. The panic attacks happened while I was driving and I thought I might have an accident. I have never felt like this before and do not take anything else.
I thought I was having stroke or something, but the dr ruled that out so I can only say it has to be the Amberen. It will be a week tomorrow that I discontinued it and I still feel like im in a cloud, its a little better but I still will not drive till its all cleared up. My dr said it should be out of my system within a week and not to take it anymore.
I researched it and it seems that MSG can cause all of the symptoms I am having. This is what I believe it to be. I will never take it again and I didn’t get my money back, They told me only one refund per household. See my husband purchased it for me the first time and I purchased it the second but they said no.
Would not recommend to anyone as MSG is so bad for you. I hope my symptoms go away soon. I have already had one trip to the Dr. and so much money lost already.
Lisa, really sorry that happened to you! Thanks for letting everybody know about the 1 refund per household policy. I didn’t know that.
Yes, Still does not seem legitimate to me, if two different people order a product they should both have to same right to return it. I probably should look into this further. I have lost $89.00 and my sense of well being along with it. I am still struggling to get it out of my system.
Today is day 7 since I stopped taking it and I’m better but I can still feel it. They say that there are no known side effects, however, with so many people complaining of side effects, how come they do not take that into consideration.
This is the strangest, scariest feeling I have ever had. I would rather have the hot flashes.
Lisa I do hope you feel better soon. I think you are the first person to have these odd side effects, which I’m sure is little consolation.
I am having some of the same symptoms since stopping Amberen 3 days ago. I just commented a few posts up, regarding possible rebound effect. It wasn’t till today that I made the connection — thought I was depressed & panicky because of situational issues — which really aren’t worth panicking about. The heart palpitations started today (after 2 days of depression, fatigue, achy legs) — which led me to this site by googling “amberen withdrawal.”
Anyhow, if Lisa is the first to have these side effects, then I’m the second. It’s just that I’m having them after going off the product!
I did have some bouts with very sore gums while on Amberen, and I’ve developed a weird numbness in one side of my face that comes & goes — hadn’t associated that with Amberen before.
Bethany, I forgot about Lisa. I have no idea what the cause of those symptoms might be.
Like all supplements and drugs, the research is always done by who ever has the most to gain. Directly or indirectly. You dig deep and far enough you will always find the research is funded by those who will profit the most.
Hot flashes, like periods, come then go. it is part of being a woman. You can however manage the severity of the symptoms with a good, fresh, organic when you can, diet, exercise and what I found was Omegas 3’s, fish oils, etc.
My own experiment, and using friends and family, (very scientific!) all found that symptoms were greatly reduced by just upping your oil intake. Because society has everyone on a low fat diet, our brains are no longer working at capacity because it is starved of good healthy oils. Getting oils into your bodies, either from capsules or foods; fish, avocados, olive and vegetable oils etc. will greatly reduce moods swings, hot flashes, ached and pains, and you will sleep better.
I started taking amberen in June 2013 I noticed results after taking double doses after about three weeks. I decided to go to single dose two times a day and then down to just once a day. Doing the once a day was not enough the hot flashes came back just as bad as before I started taking it.
Ordered more and have been taking double for almost three weeks and have found nighttime hot flashes not as severe but daytime there is little improvement we will see if after another week they lessen otherwise I am at my wits end this was pretty much my last resort I’ve tried every herbal and natural remedy I could find and none of them made a difference
Estroven did work for about a month then I broke out in hives so I am afraid to try that again so far no real adverse side affects from amberen except constipation. Which is sort of miserable. Just thought I’d throw my hat into the ring on the subject
I used Amberen for the 90 day course then went off as directed. I had some relief from symptoms of sleeplessness, etc. Shortly after I stopped taking it, I developed symptoms of heart palpitations, fatigue, emotional extremes. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Graves disease, a condition that includes hyperthyroid conditions, I now will have my thyroid oblated, and my health has been terrible. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?
Brenda, Ive never heard of hyperthyroid or Graves disease being associated with Amberen. None of the studies I saw when I reviewed it mentioned it either. I’m at a loss as to whether it was a strange coincidence or if there was a connection? Hoping others will weigh in on this if it happened to them.
Really sorry to hear this happened to you..
I have ordered two 3-month supplies of Amberen, taking off a month between each three-month course. I’m 63 and can honestly say that I love taking this product. Not only did I lose 12 lbs (and have kept it off), but my mood and libido improved dramatically!
My only concern is if there would be any negative side effects with continuing to take it after laying off of it for a month. I called the “nurse” and of course she advised it would be okay to take it again. Have to agree with above comments about a nurse making these calls without really knowing the person, etc.
So I guess one has to be smart and read all the pros and cons and decide what is best for them. As I indicated, I really like the way this product makes me feel (and so do the people around me)! It works for me!