Medical Treatment of Menopause
When treating menopause, both the symptoms of menopause and the underlying hormone fluctuations of menopause need to be treated in order to achieve maximum relief. Unfortunately at this time, there are very limited treatment options available for the vast majority of menopause symptoms and it’s important to keep in mind that menopause itself is not a disease, it’s the most natural occurrence on earth just like puberty and pregnancy.
Prescription drugs- Bio-identical hormone therapy is one option available for menopausal woman. These drugs have similar chemical hormone balances as the female body. It is the most natural, prescription choice available on the market, due to the fact that the hormones are derived and extracted from plants. These hormones are available in cream and gel form for quick absorption, reducing side-effects significantly. The only disadvantage to the therapy is the lack of research on safety and effectiveness of the product range. Of all the therapy types, estrogen therapy also known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT, a combination of progesterone and estrogen, is probably the best known. Estrogen assists in reduction of hot flashes and cholesterol while also successfully treating uncomfortable urinary and vaginal problems related to menopause.
Estrogen disadvantages- Estrogen therapy unfortunately has some major disadvantages such as increased risk of cancer specifically breast and endometrial, heart attacks, strokes, thrombosis, clotting, discomfort during sex and gallstones. Estrogen is available in creams, gels, patches and capsules
SSRI’s – Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors also known as SSRI’s
are a class of medications used to treat depression. When depressed menopausal women were taking SSRI’s, they had fewer hot flashes. Many women, whether depressed or not, have found relief from hot flashes while using SSRI’s. Only a short dose is needed to tell whether the treatment will work or not, usually you will know in a week or two if SSRI’s will get results. Unfortunately, SSRI’s don’t work on all women for treating menopause.
Clonidine and Gabapentin – Limited testing of these drugs on menopausal women for the treatment of hot flashes has yielded positive results, but not enough clinical testing has been done. Clonidine is typically used to treat ADHD and gabapentin is used to treat epilepsy so they have been tested for the treatment of these diseases, just not for the treatment of hot flashes.
Other traditional treatments- Calcium intake can be increased to 1500 mg’s per day, this will help combat osteoporosis. Anti- depressants as well as anti-anxiety medication are also prescribed to reduce panic, depression and anxiety attacks often associated with menopause. Vitamin and mineral supplements are highly recommended as nutritional deficiencies are also common during menopause.
Of the treatments listed above, only estrogen has been tested extensively for the treatment of menopause. SSRI’s, clonidine, and gabapentin have been found to give results for hot flashes but more testing needs to be done. Sometimes a doctor may be willing to try these options if you aren’t getting relief from other medical treatments.
