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 Menopause Management Options: 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”.3

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published July 2022, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) 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 NAMS 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 Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Non Hormonal Options: Non-Hormonal Prescription Medication – 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:

“A low-dose form of paroxetine (Brisdelle) is the only nonhormone treatment for hot flashes approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Other antidepressants that have been used to treat hot flashes include:

  • Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
  • Citalopram (Celexa)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)”.12

The Mayo Clinic also note:

“These medications aren’t as effective as hormone therapy for severe hot flashes, but they can be helpful to women who can’t use hormones. Possible side effects include nausea, difficulty sleeping or drowsiness, weight gain, dry mouth or sexual dysfunction”.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). Gabapentin is an anti-seizure medication that’s moderately effective in reducing hot flashes. Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, water retention in the limbs (edema) and fatigue
  • Pregabalin (Lyrica). Pregabalin is another anti-seizure medication that can be effective in reducing hot flashes. Side effects can include dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating and weight gain
  • Oxybutynin (Ditropan XL, Oxytrol). Oxybutynin is a pill or patch most often used to treat urinary conditions like overactive bladder. It may also help relieve hot flashes in some women. Side effects can include dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, nausea and dizziness
  • Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay, others). Clonidine, a pill or patch typically used to treat high blood pressure, might provide some relief from hot flashes. Side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation
  • Fezolinetant (Veozah). Veozah is a medicine for treating menopause hot flashes. It doesn’t have any hormones. It works by blocking a pathway in the brain that helps to regulate body temperature. You take a pill once a day by mouth. Side effects include belly pain, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, back pain, hot flushes and elevated liver enzymes. People with liver disease should not take this medicine”.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:

Hot Flushes Treatment

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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. Ask Early Menopause [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  5. BMS TV: HRT and Bleeding
  6. BMS TV: HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits
  7. BMS TV: HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer
  8. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  9. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  10. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  11. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  12. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  14. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  15. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Menopause
  16. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  17. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  18. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  19. 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)
  20. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  21. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  22. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  23. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  24. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  25. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  26. Gabapentin for Hot Flashes: What To Know
  27. Guidance on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  28. HRT
  29. HRT Questions Answered
  30. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  31. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  34. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  35. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  36. Hot Flashes
  37. Hot Flashes
  38. Hot Flashes
  39. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?
  40. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  41. How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
  42. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Menopause
  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: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  81. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  82. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  83. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  84. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  85. Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
  86. Shedding Light on the Menopause Experience and Demystifying Treatment
  87. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  88. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
    Hormone Therapy
  89. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  90. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  91. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  92. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary [08 November 2024]
  93. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  94. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  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. Hot Flushes TreatmentWorld Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
  100. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – How Does MHT Work? Last Updated: 03 December 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 27 December 2024
  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: 27 December 2024
  3. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – How Does MHT Work? Last Updated: 03 December 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 27 December 2024
  4. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 27 December 2024
  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: 27 December 2024
  6. Hot Flashes: Treatments for Hot Flashes. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hot-flashes Accessed: 27 December 2024
  7. Hot Flashes: Treatments for Hot Flashes. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hot-flashes Accessed: 27 December 2024
  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: 27 December 2024
  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: 27 December 2024
  10. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. July 2023:2. North American Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/nonhormone-treatment-menonote_f5afc19f-211e-4c1f-8a04-b2d558c6fa66.pdf Accessed: 27 December 2024
  11. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Non Hormonal Options: Non-Hormonal Prescription Medication – Antidepressants. Last Updated: 03 December 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 27 December 2024
  12. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 27 December 2024
  13. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 27 December 2024
  14. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 27 December 2024
  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: 27 December 2024
  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: 27 December 2024
  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: 27 December 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 27 December 2024

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