Hot flushes: are there effective alternatives to estrogen?

Menopause Int. 2010 Jun;16(2):81-8. doi: 10.1258/mi.2010.010007.

Abstract

Hot flushes are the most common indication for the prescription of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) since it is effective in over 80% of cases. In 1995, 37% of American women took HRT, principally for this purpose. However, over the last five years, publications such as those from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) have caused concern among women since they perceive that the risks outweigh the benefits. Following this publication, half of the women taking HRT in the UK, USA and New Zealand discontinued HRT. With the discontinuation of estrogen many women re-developed hot flushes; however only a small number (18%) of women report restarting hormone therapy. The majority of these (76%) for the recurrence of severe hot flushes or night sweats. Alternatives are available, but limited knowledge on aetiology and mechanisms of hot flushing represents a major obstacle for the development of new, targeted, non-hormonal treatments, and no current alternatives are as effective as estrogen.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy
  • Amines / administration & dosage
  • Amines / pharmacology
  • Cimicifuga
  • Clonidine / administration & dosage
  • Clonidine / pharmacology
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / pharmacology
  • Estrogen Replacement Therapy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Gabapentin
  • Hot Flashes / drug therapy*
  • Hot Flashes / epidemiology*
  • Hot Flashes / etiology
  • Humans
  • Menopause / drug effects
  • New Zealand / epidemiology
  • Norpregnenes / administration & dosage
  • Norpregnenes / pharmacology
  • Phytoestrogens / administration & dosage
  • Phytoestrogens / pharmacology
  • Progesterone / administration & dosage
  • Progesterone / pharmacology
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / physiopathology
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vitamin E / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin E / pharmacology
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / administration & dosage
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Amines
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
  • Norpregnenes
  • Phytoestrogens
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Vitamin E
  • Progesterone
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Gabapentin
  • tibolone
  • Clonidine