Definition
The term "hot flashes" refers to hot flashes, a disorder that anguishes and torments the vast majority of women during the pre and post-menopausal period. In addition to the physical discomfort itself - which manifests itself with a "sudden and unexpected perception of heat, followed by widespread sweating - hot flashes are also a psychological worry, since it is a disturbance interposed between the fertile period and that of the sterility.
Causes
Hot flashes seem to be the "immediate consequence of" an altered synthesis of gonadotropins - whose plasma concentration is much higher during menopause - to the detriment of estrogens which, on the other hand, decrease significantly. However, scholars have not yet given a precise and unequivocal explanation for the phenomenon.
Menopause: ↓↓ estrogens, ↑↑ gonadotropins
- Risk factors: drug intake (e.g. calcitonin, nifedipine), thyrotoxicosis, pancreatic cancer, brain injury / tumors
Symptoms
Every woman who is approaching menopause perceives hot flashes in a completely personal and subjective way, depending (also and above all) on her own state of mind. In general, hot flashes occur with a sudden surge in temperature basal (increase of 5-7 ° C), followed first by profuse sweating, then by an "equally unpleasant perception of chills and cold.
- Secondary symptoms: in addition to hot flashes, there are associated disorders such as anxiety, depression, stress and anguish.
The information on Hot Flushes - Medicines for the Treatment of Hot Flashes is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Flushing - Medicines to Treat Hot Flushes.
Medicines
The best approach to fully overcome the discomfort deriving from hot flashes, as well as the best natural drug, is certainly tranquility: the stress that accompanies menopausal women, in fact, weighs heavily on the frequency and intensity of symptoms, which can be accentuated or weaken precisely according to the woman's state of mind. In this case, the partner also plays a fundamental role: the man should understand the delicate period that the woman is facing, and help her to overcome it with serenity.
In any case, when hot flashes become a real physical - as well as psychological - discomfort so as to significantly affect a woman's normal daily activities, drugs can alleviate the disorder, thus improving the quality of life.
It should be remembered, however, that the hormonal alteration of estrogens, during the postmenopausal period, is permanent; according to this, we understand how the role of drugs, in such circumstances, is aimed exclusively at alleviating the symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy seems to be a valid remedy for relieving menopausal disorders in general, including hot flashes: this therapy involves administering low-dose estrogen in combination with a progestin.
Antidepressants can be considered as complementary therapy to that previously described, only when hot flashes and awareness of the decline of fertility heavily affect the patient's mood.
The following are the classes of drugs most used in therapy against hot flashes, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:
Hormone replacement therapy
To alleviate the disorder of hot flashes, hormone replacement therapy is a valid treatment; the treatment consists in the administration of pharmacological preparations consisting of estrogens (low dose) and progestogens, administered orally, transdermally or transvaginally. The following are the most used drugs in therapy:
- Estradiol (Eg. Ephelia, Climara, Estrofem)
- Medroxyprogesterone acetate (eg Farlutal, Provera, Premia)
- Tibolone (Ex. Livial)
- Progesterone (Eg Prontogest, Prometrium)
For the dosage: read the article on drugs for the treatment of menopause symptoms. Read also: hormone replacement therapy and cancer risk.
Antidepressant therapy: as we have seen, hot flashes are associated with a marked alteration of the woman's mood, often leading to real depression. In such circumstances, the doctor can prescribe a specific antidepressant treatment to the woman. For example:
- Paroxetine (eg. Sereupin, Serestill, Eutimil, Daparox): for the treatment of postmenopausal disorders including hot flashes, it is recommended to start treatment with a drug dose of 12.5 mg, to be taken orally , once a day, with or without food. The maintenance dose involves administering 20-25 mg of the drug once a day. Extend therapy for three months.
- Fluoxetine (eg. Prozac, Azur, Flotina, Fluoxeren): for the treatment of depression in the context of hot flashes, it is recommended to take a drug dose of 20 mg.
- Citalopram (eg Seropram): another selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drug, to be taken at a dosage of 20 mg per day, to reduce the effects on mood caused by hot flashes and the signs of menopause in general.
- Venlafaxine (eg Efexor): the drug is a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. To treat the mood alteration associated with severe hot flashes, it is recommended to take the drug at a dose of 37.5 mg per day.
Antihypertensive Drugs: Some women report significant relief from hot flashes after taking high blood pressure medications. However, many studies show no efficacy of these drugs for relieving hot flashes.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E also appears to be helpful in relieving hot flashes in some postmenopausal women. However, even the administration of drugs formulated with vitamin E (Sursum, Rigentex, Evion, Ephynal) is still questionable and under investigation.
However, some women benefit symptomatically by taking 800 IU per day of flushing medication.
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