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

Uterus

Hot Flushes TreatmentWhat HT may women who have a uterus be prescribed for hot flushes treatment?

In Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? the NAMS note:

“A. …Women who still have a uterus need to take a progestogen in addition to estrogen or the estrogen-SERM combination to protect against uterine cancer”.5

What is another FDA-approved HT women who have a uterus may be prescribed for hot flushes treatment?

In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Are There Treatments for Hot Flashes? the NAMS explain:

“A. …Another FDA-approved hormone product for women with a uterus combines estrogen with the selective estrogen receptor modulator bazedoxifene instead of a progestogen. Bazedoxifene is an estrogen agonist/antagonist, which means that it works like estrogen in some tissues while inhibiting estrogen activity in others. In this case, it helps to protect the uterus from cancer”.6

No Uterus

Hot Flushes TreatmentWhat HT may women who do not have a uterus be prescribed for hot flushes treatment?

In Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? the NAMS note:

“A. …Women who have had a hysterectomy (had their uterus removed) can use estrogen alone to control their hot flashes”.7

Hormone Therapy Alternatives

Are HT alternatives available for hot flushes treatment?

In Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Non Hormonal Options: Non-Hormonal Prescription Medication according to the JH:

“Some people can’t use menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), for example, if they’ve had hormone-positive (oestrogen-receptor-positive) breast cancer.

Some people don’t want to take MHT and prefer different treatment options, like non-hormonal prescription medications. These medications take around four weeks to be effective”.8

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)”.9

Hormone Therapy Alternatives Effectivesness

How effective are HT alternatives for hot flushes treatment?

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”.10

Herbs

How effective are herbs for hot flushes treatment?

The JH note:

“The use of herbs in menopause is based on longstanding traditional use, some of which is supported by scientific evidence (e.g. a recent study into the effectiveness of red clover). But more research is needed regarding the effectiveness and safety of some herbal therapies for the management of menopausal symptoms”.11

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”.12

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”.13

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 medications”.14

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)”.15

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”.16

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”.17

Bioidentical Hormones

Are bioidentical hormones or compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapies recommended for hot flushes treatment?

On page four 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:

  • “The use of compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapies is not recommended given the issues related to their purity, potency and safety. The potential benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy can be achieved using conventionally licensed products available through NHS prescribing without having to resort to compounded varieties from specialist pharmacies”.18

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”.19

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”.20

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

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 & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
  5. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  6. BMS TV: HRT and Bleeding
  7. BMS TV: HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits
  8. BMS TV: HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer
  9. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  10. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  11. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  12. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  13. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  15. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  16. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  17. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  18. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  19. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  20. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  21. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  22. Gabapentin for Hot Flashes: What To Know
  23. Guidance on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  24. HRT
  25. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  26. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  27. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  28. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  30. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  31. Hot Flashes
  32. Hot Flashes
  33. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?
  34. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  35. How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
  36. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  37. 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
  38. 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]
  39. 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]
  40. Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work?
  41. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  42. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  43. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Alcohol and Menopause Can Be A Dangerous Mix [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  44. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
  45. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  46. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  47. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  48. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  49. Menopause
  50. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  51. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Are There Treatments for Hot Flashes?
  52. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  53. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  54. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  55. Menopause Mindfulness: Embracing the Change of My Midlife
  56. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  57. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  58. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  59. Menopause-Related Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Can Last for Years
  60. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  61. Menopause Treatment Options After Cancer [Video]
  62. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  63. Menopause and HRT
  64. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction [Video]
  65. Menopause and Natural Therapies
  66. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  67. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  68. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Sage
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  74. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  75. Natural Therapies
  76. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  77. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  78. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  79. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  80. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  81. Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
  82. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  83. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  84. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  85. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  86. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  87. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  88. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  89. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  90. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit [13 January 2024]
  91. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  92. Webinars: Previous – Clinical Climacteric Conundrums
  93. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  94. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  95. What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Menopause? And Which Can Hormone Therapy Treat?
  96. What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Menopause
  97. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  98. What To Eat When You Have Hot Flashes?
  99. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit

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: 08 May 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 18 June 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: 18 June 2024
  3. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – How Does MHT Work? Last Updated: 08 May 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 18 June 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: 18 June 2024
  5. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 18 June 2024
  6. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Are There Treatments for Hot Flashes? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 18 June 2024
  7. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 18 June 2024
  8. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Non Hormonal Options: Non-Hormonal Prescription Medication. Last Updated: 08 May 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 18 June 2024
  9. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms. 2022. European Menopause and Andropause Society
    https://emas-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Non-estrogen-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms.pdf     Accessed: 18 June 2024
  10. 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: 18 June 2024
  11. Menopause Management Options: Natural Therapies (Complementary Medicine and Therapies). Last Updated: 08 May 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 18 June 2024
  12. Taylor, S. and Davis, S. Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work? 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: 18 June 2024
  13. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. July 2023:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nonhormone-treatment-menonote.pdf Accessed: 18 June 2024
  14. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Non Hormonal Options: Non-Hormonal Prescription Medication – Antidepressants. Last Updated: 08 May 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 18 June 2024
  15. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 18 June 2024
  16. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 18 June 2024
  17. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 18 June 2024
  18. 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 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 18 June 2024
  19. 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: 18 June 2024
  20. 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: 18 June 2024
Topic Last Updated: 18 June 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 18 June 2024

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