Matching articles for "hot flashes"
Drugs for Menopausal Symptoms
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 4, 2024; (Issue 1697)
The primary symptoms of menopause are genitourinary
and vasomotor. The genitourinary syndrome
of menopause (GSM) includes symptoms such as
burning, irritation, dryness, dyspareunia, dysuria,
and recurrent...
The primary symptoms of menopause are genitourinary
and vasomotor. The genitourinary syndrome
of menopause (GSM) includes symptoms such as
burning, irritation, dryness, dyspareunia, dysuria,
and recurrent urinary tract infection. Vasomotor
symptoms (VMS; hot flashes, night sweats) often
disrupt sleep.
Fezolinetant (Veozah) for Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 26, 2023; (Issue 1679)
Fezolinetant (Veozah – Astellas), a first-in-class
neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist, has been
approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to
severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause.
It is...
Fezolinetant (Veozah – Astellas), a first-in-class
neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist, has been
approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to
severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause.
It is the second nonhormonal treatment to be approved
in the US for this indication; a low-dose formulation of
the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
paroxetine mesylate (Brisdelle) was approved in 2013.
Drugs for Menopausal Symptoms
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 10, 2020; (Issue 1604)
The primary symptoms of menopause are genitourinary
(genitourinary syndrome of menopause; GSM) and
vasomotor (VMS). Vulvovaginal atrophy can cause
vaginal burning, irritation and dryness, dyspareunia,...
The primary symptoms of menopause are genitourinary
(genitourinary syndrome of menopause; GSM) and
vasomotor (VMS). Vulvovaginal atrophy can cause
vaginal burning, irritation and dryness, dyspareunia, and
dysuria, and increase the risk of urinary tract infections.
Vasomotor symptoms ("hot flashes") cause daytime
discomfort and night sweats that may disrupt sleep.
Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for both
genitourinary and vasomotor symptoms.
Addendum: Estradiol/Progesterone (Bijuva) for Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 29, 2019; (Issue 1577)
In our article on Bijuva, the oral fixed-dose combination of estradiol and progesterone (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2019; 61:99), Table 1 should have included single-ingredient oral formulations of estradiol and...
In our article on Bijuva, the oral fixed-dose combination of estradiol and progesterone (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2019; 61:99), Table 1 should have included single-ingredient oral formulations of estradiol and progesterone (see below). They will be added to the table as it appears online, along with medroxyprogesterone (Provera, and generics), another single-ingredient progestin available for use in women with an intact uterus who take systemic estrogen for menopausal symptoms. Taking generic estradiol and progesterone separately may be less convenient than taking Bijuva, but they cost less and allow for more dosing flexibility.
Estradiol/Progesterone (Bijuva) for Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 1, 2019; (Issue 1575)
The FDA has approved Bijuva (TherapeuticsMD), a
fixed-dose combination of estradiol and progesterone,
for oral treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor
symptoms (hot flashes) due to menopause in women
with...
The FDA has approved Bijuva (TherapeuticsMD), a
fixed-dose combination of estradiol and progesterone,
for oral treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor
symptoms (hot flashes) due to menopause in women
with an intact uterus. The manufacturer is marketing
Bijuva as "the first and only FDA-approved combination
of bio-identical estradiol and bio-identical progesterone
in a single daily oral capsule".
Oxybutynin for Hot Flashes in Women with Breast Cancer
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 25, 2019; (Issue 1566)
Interim results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial suggest that off-label use of the anticholinergic
drug oxybutynin may reduce the frequency and
severity of hot flashes in women with breast...
Interim results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial suggest that off-label use of the anticholinergic
drug oxybutynin may reduce the frequency and
severity of hot flashes in women with breast cancer.
Extended-release oral oxybutynin (Ditropan XL, and
generics) has been shown to reduce the frequency and
severity of hot flashes in healthy menopausal women.
In Brief: Tamoxifen and SSRI Interactions
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 15, 2009; (Issue 1314)
Use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is common in women taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex, and others) for breast cancer, both to treat depression and to decrease hot flashes. However, tamoxifen must...
Use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is common in women taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex, and others) for breast cancer, both to treat depression and to decrease hot flashes. However, tamoxifen must be metabolized by CYP2D6 to become pharmacologically fully active (MJ Higgins et al. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2009; 7:203), and the SSRIs fluoxetine (Prozac, and others) and paroxetine (Paxil, and others) are strong inhibitors of CYP2D6. Sertraline (Zoloft, and others) inhibits CYP2D6 to a lesser extent. Citalopram (Celexa, and others) and escitalopram (Lexapro), the 2 other SSRIs approved for treatment of depression, are only weak inhibitors of CYP2D6.
Two observational studies presented at a recent meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (45th annual meeting, May 29-June 2, 2009, Orlando, FL abstracts CRA508, CRA509) examined the effect of strong inhibitors of CYP2D6 on the success rate of tamoxifen in preventing recurrence of breast cancer. One found that women who took fluoxetine, paroxetine or sertraline (or bupropion, duloxetine, terbinafine, quinidine or long-term diphenhydramine) with tamoxifen had a higher 2-year recurrence rate (13.9% vs. 7.5%). The other study found no association between cancer recurrence and use of a CYP2D6 inhibitor.
There is no good evidence that any one SSRI is more effective than any other for treatment of depression. For women who are taking tamoxifen and need to begin treatment with an SSRI to treat depression, citalopram or escitalopram might be the safest choice (Treat Guidel Med Lett 2006; 4:35). Use of an SSRI to treat hot flashes in women taking tamoxifen should probably be reconsidered.
Download: U.S. English
Two observational studies presented at a recent meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (45th annual meeting, May 29-June 2, 2009, Orlando, FL abstracts CRA508, CRA509) examined the effect of strong inhibitors of CYP2D6 on the success rate of tamoxifen in preventing recurrence of breast cancer. One found that women who took fluoxetine, paroxetine or sertraline (or bupropion, duloxetine, terbinafine, quinidine or long-term diphenhydramine) with tamoxifen had a higher 2-year recurrence rate (13.9% vs. 7.5%). The other study found no association between cancer recurrence and use of a CYP2D6 inhibitor.
There is no good evidence that any one SSRI is more effective than any other for treatment of depression. For women who are taking tamoxifen and need to begin treatment with an SSRI to treat depression, citalopram or escitalopram might be the safest choice (Treat Guidel Med Lett 2006; 4:35). Use of an SSRI to treat hot flashes in women taking tamoxifen should probably be reconsidered.
Download: U.S. English
Treatment of Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 6, 2004; (Issue 1197)
Estrogen is the most effective treatment for menopausal vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes), but the Women's Health Initiative study found that women who took estrogen plus a progestin for more than 5 years were...
Estrogen is the most effective treatment for menopausal vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes), but the Women's Health Initiative study found that women who took estrogen plus a progestin for more than 5 years were at increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary emboli, deep vein thrombosis, breast cancer, and possibly dementia. Are there effective alternatives?