Hot Flushes Treatment

“There are many ways to treat hot flushes and vaginal
dryness, but no other treatment has been shown to be
as effective as oestrogen replacement therapy…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hot Flushes Treatment Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Complementary and Integrative Health
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Hormone Therapy
  • Hot Flashes/Flushes Treatment/s
  • NonHormonal Prescriptions
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Hormone Therapy

Is hormone therapy (HT) or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) the most effective treatments for hot flushes?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Menopausal Hormone Therapy, published online 30 October 2023, the authors note:

“The most robust menopause Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) support MHT as the most effective treatment to alleviate VMS”.2

What is VMS?

VMS can be an abbreviation for Vasomotor Symptoms which include hot flushes and night sweats.

In Treatments for Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – How Does MHT Work? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

Hot Flushes Treatment
“There are many ways to treat hot flushes and vaginal dryness, but no other treatment has been shown to be as effective as oestrogen replacement therapy (a type of MHT)”.3

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published February 2025, the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) elaborate on:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life. Treatment of bothersome hot flashes and night sweats is the principal reason women use HT”.4

Hormone Therapy Alternatives

Are HT alternatives available for hot flushes treatment?

In Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms the European Menopause and Andropause Society explain:

“Non-estrogen-based treatments are for women who do not wish to take estrogen based menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) either through choice or because of concerns about comorbidities such as venous thromboembolism, or a personal or family history of hormone-dependent cancer (e.g. breast cancer)”.5

In Hot Flashes: Treatments for Hot Flashes the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) explain:

“Certain low-risk lifestyle measures and nonprescription strategies can help to manage hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes remain significantly disruptive despite using these approaches, then prescription hormone therapy or nonhormone prescription drugs can be considered:

  • Weight loss
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Clinical hypnosis”.6

Hormone Therapy Alternatives Effectiveness

How effective are HT alternatives for hot flushes treatment?

In Hot Flashes: Treatments for Hot Flashes the Menopause Society explain:

“Other measures are sometimes encouraged or tried for hot flashes but have limited solid data available to evaluate their effectiveness—or they have failed to show significant benefits in clinical trials:

  • Acupuncture
  • Chiropractic interventions
  • Cooling techniques, such as adjusting clothing or environmental temperature
  • Dietary modifications
  • Dietary supplements such as ammonium succinate, black cohosh, cannabinoids such as marijuana, chasteberry, dong quai, evening primrose, ginseng, Lactobacillus acidophilus, maca, milk thistle, omega-3 fatty acid, pollen extract, rhubarb, vitamin E, and wild yam (dioscorea)
  • Exercise and yoga
  • Mindfulness-based interventions
  • Paced breathing
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Soy foods, soy extracts, and soy metabolite equol (S-equol)
  • Trigger avoidance, such as alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, or hot foods

That’s not to say that none of these measures have value. In particular, lifestyle measures such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management through relaxation techniques may play a vital role in chronic disease prevention and a woman’s overall health”.7

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Non-Hormonal Options With Evidence To Support Efficacy the authors elaborate on:

“While women are commonly told to avoid VMS triggers and dress in layers, there is no evidence that such advice is of value with respect to the severity or frequency of VMS. Activities such as yoga, mindfulness, relaxation and exercise have health benefits but have not been shown to be meaningful treatments for VMS. Similarly, nutritional supplements and botanicals have not been found to be more effective than placebo for moderately to severely bothersome VMS in robust clinical trials”.8

Black Cohosh

How effective is black cohosh for hot flushes treatment?

In Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work?, published 20 September 2023, the authors note:

“Many women like to try herbal therapies for hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms. While black cohosh is generally considered safe and some women may find it helps them, at the moment there is not enough scientific evidence to show its effects are any better than placebo”.9

Dietary Supplements

How effective are dietary supplements for hot flushes treatment?

On page two in Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats the Menopause Society explain:

“There are many dietary supplements available over the counter and advertised as remedies for relief of hot flashes and night sweats. There are limited studies showing that these supplements are effective at relieving VMS, and there is a lack of government regulation ensuring their safety and purity, so none of these are recommended treatments for hot flashes and night sweats.

Despite the lack of evidence supporting their use for VMS, if you plan to use dietary supplements, let your health care professional know so they can ensure they are safe for you, that they don’t interact with any of your medications, and so that they can be appropriately monitored”.10

Antidepressants

What antidepressants can be used for hot flushes treatment?

In Treatments for Menopause: Hormone Treatments for Menopause – Non-Hormone Medicine: Antidepressants according to the JH:

“Some antidepressants have been shown to relieve hot flushes. For example, venlafaxine, paroxetine, escitalopram and fluoxetine. Side effects may include nausea, dry mouth, hot flushes, sweats and insomnia.

Note: Paroxetine and fluoxetine can reduce the effectiveness of some cancer treatment medicines”.11

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatments: Antidepressants the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves only one treatment that doesn’t use hormones for hot flashes. The treatment is a low-dose form of paroxetine (Brisdelle).

Other antidepressants that have been used to treat hot flashes include:

  • Venlafaxine (Effexor Xr)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil)
  • Citalopram (Celexa)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)”.12

The Mayo Clinic also note:

“Antidepressants don’t work as well as hormone therapy for strong hot flashes. But they can help people who can’t use hormones. Possible side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping or feeling sleepy, weight gain, dry mouth or trouble having sex”.13

Other Medications

What other medications may be used for hot flushes treatment?

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatments: Other Prescription Medication the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Other medications that might offer relief for some women include:

  • Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, others). This antiseizure medicine helps ease hot flashes. Side effects can include being drowsy, dizzy or tired and swelling in the arms and legs, called edema. Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, others). This antiseizure medicine helps ease hot flashes. Side effects can include being drowsy, dizzy or tired and swelling in the arms and legs, called edema
  • Pregabalin (Lyrica). This is another anti-seizure medicine that can help ease hot flashes. Side effects can include being drowsy and dizzy, having trouble focusing, and gaining weight
  • Oxybutynin (Oxytrol). This is a pill or patch most often used to treat urinary conditions like overactive bladder. It also may help ease hot flashes in some people. Side effects can include dry mouth, dry eyes, having nausea, and being constipated and dizzy
  • Clonidine (Catapres-TTS 1, Nexiclon Xr, others). This pill or patch mostly used to treat high blood pressure, might give some relief from hot flashes. Side effects include being dizzy, drowsy and constipated and having a dry mouth
  • Fezolinetant (Veozah). This daily pill treats menopause hot flashes without hormones. It works by blocking a pathway in the brain that helps to manage body temperature”.14

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

What is it important to note about bioidentical hormone therapy or custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy for hot flushes treatment?

On page four of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 2. What Is MHT? the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS include:

“It’s important to note that custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy is NOT recommended because it lacks regulation, rigorous safety and efficacy testing, batch standardization, and purity measures”.15

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my hot flushes treatment?

If you would like help with your hot flushes treatment, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

On page one of the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause one of the recommendations is:

  • “Women should be advised that implementing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve menopause symptoms. A healthy diet (one low in saturated fat and salt and rich in calcium and vitamin D), stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and including regular exercise can be beneficial. Reducing caffeine intake may also improve symptoms”.16

In Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Treating Menopause Symptoms – What’s Right for Me? the (United States) National Institute on Aging elaborate on:

“Deciding whether and how to treat the symptoms of the menopausal transition can be complicated and personal. Discuss your symptoms, family and medical history, and preferences with your doctor”.17

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hot Flushes Treatment?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hot Flushes Treatment?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 8 Myths and Truths About Menopausal Hot Flashes
  2. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  3. Hot Flushes TreatmentAsk Early Menopause [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  5. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  6. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  7. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  8. Can Hot Flashes Be Managed Through Diet?
  9. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  10. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  11. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  14. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Menopause
  15. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  16. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  17. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  18. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Impact of Estrogen Deficiency on Quality of Life In Asia and the Role of Continuous Combined MHT In Treatment (EN)
  19. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  20. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  21. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  22. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  23. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  24. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  25. Gabapentin for Hot Flashes: What To Know
  26. Guidance on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  27. HRT
  28. HRT Questions Answered
  29. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  30. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  34. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  35. Hot Flashes
  36. Hot Flashes
  37. Hot Flashes
  38. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?
  39. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  40. How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
  41. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Menopause
  42. Is It Too Late To Start HRT?
  43. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  44. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?] [Other Languages and Formats]
  45. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP] [Other Languages and Formats]
  46. Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work?
  47. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  48. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  49. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  50. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Alcohol and Menopause Can Be A Dangerous Mix [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  51. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
  52. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  53. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  54. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  55. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  56. Menopause
  57. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  58. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  59. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  60. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  61. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  62. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  63. Menopause Treatment Options After Cancer [Video]
  64. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  65. Menopause and HRT
  66. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction [Video]
  67. Menopause and Natural Therapies
  68. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  69. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Hormone Therapy
  70. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] [07 November 2024]
  71. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  72. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  73. Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy [2024]
  74. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  75. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  76. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  77. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Sage
  78. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  79. Natural Therapies
  80. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  81. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  82. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  83. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  84. Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
  85. Shedding Light on the Menopause Experience and Demystifying Treatment
  86. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  87. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  88. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
    Hormone Therapy
  89. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  90. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  91. Treatments for Menopause
  92. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary [08 November 2024]
  93. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  94. Webinars: Previous – IMS & ISE Symposium: What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  95. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  96. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  97. What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Menopause? And Which Can Hormone Therapy Treat?
  98. What To Eat When You Have Hot Flashes?
  99. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
    Hot Flushes Treatment
  100. Hot Flushes TreatmentWorld Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Treatments for Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – How Does MHT Work? Last Updated: 13 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 22 April 2025. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 11 July 2025
  2. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Considerations for All Women At Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 11 July 2025
  3. Treatments for Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – How Does MHT Work? Last Updated: 13 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 22 April 2025. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 11 July 2025
  4. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2025:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/MenoNote-Deciding-About-HT-2025.pdf Accessed: 11 July 2025
  5. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms. 2022:1. European Menopause and Andropause Society https://emas-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Non-estrogen-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms.pdf Accessed: 11 July 2025
  6. Hot Flashes: Treatments for Hot Flashes. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hot-flashes Accessed: 11 July 2025
  7. Hot Flashes: Treatments for Hot Flashes. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hot-flashes Accessed: 11 July 2025
  8. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Non-Hormonal Options With Evidence To Support Efficacy. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 11 July 2025
  9. Taylor, S and Davis, S. Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work? Published 20 September 2023 https://theconversation.com/lots-of-women-try-herbs-like-black-cohosh-for-menopausal-symptoms-like-hot-flushes-but-does-it-work-211272 Accessed: 11 July 2025
  10. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. July 2023:2.Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/nonhormone-treatment-menonote_f5afc19f-211e-4c1f-8a04-b2d558c6fa66.pdf Accessed: 11 July 2025
  11. Treatments for Menopause: Hormone Treatments for Menopause – Non-Hormone Medicine: Antidepressants. Last Updated: 13 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 22 April 2025. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 11 July 2025
  12. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 11 July 2025
  13. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 11 July 2025
  14. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 04 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 11 July 2025
  15. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 2. What Is MHT? 2024:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 11 July 2025
  16. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 11 July 2025
  17. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Treating Menopause Symptoms: What’s Right for Me? Content Reviewed: 30 September 2021. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-flashes-what-can-i-do Accessed: 27 December 2024
Topic Last Updated: 11 July 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 11 July 2025

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