Nonhormonal Pharmacotherapies for the Treatment of Postmenopausal Vasomotor Symptoms

Authors

Taylor Witten, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Julia Staszkiewicz, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Logan Gold, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Mallory A. Granier, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Rachel J. Klapper, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Gabriel Lavespere, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Bradley Dorius, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Varsha Allampalli, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Sahar Shekoohi, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Alan D. Kaye, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Giustino Varrassi, Paolo Procacci Foundation, Rome, ITA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-17-2024

Publication Title

Cureus

Abstract

An average of 60-80% of all menopausal women experience bothersome vasomotor symptoms (VMSs), such as flushing and sweating, within the first seven years of onset. However, despite increasing prevalence, these hot flashes remain hard to treat and have a negative effect on the quality of life. Though hormone replacement therapy is commonly utilized as a standard treatment for VMSs, this therapy is not recommended for all women. Specifically, the oral form of hormone replacement therapy is associated with several contraindications, including a history of thromboembolic disease, migraine headache with aura, liver failure, heart disease, and hormone-dependent cancers. For women with these medical conditions, current literature indicates that nonhormonal therapies such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are suitable alternatives to reduce the frequency and intensity of VMSs. Currently, the only SSRI that is FDA-approved for the treatment of VMSs is paroxetine, but studies show that fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline are also proven to provide similar benefits. Similarly, the SNRI venlafaxine has also been well tolerated and has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes. The present investigation reviews the physiology of VMSs and examines the evidence for the use of nonhormonal pharmacologic therapies as treatment for women experiencing hot flashes. These interventions should be considered whenever hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated, with therapy individualized based on the severity of symptoms.

First Page

e52467

PubMed ID

38371081

Volume

16

Issue

1

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Witten, Taylor; Staszkiewicz, Julia; Gold, Logan; Granier, Mallory A.; Klapper, Rachel J.; Lavespere, Gabriel; Dorius, Bradley; Allampalli, Varsha; Ahmadzadeh, Shahab; Shekoohi, Sahar; Kaye, Alan D.; and Varrassi, Giustino, "Nonhormonal Pharmacotherapies for the Treatment of Postmenopausal Vasomotor Symptoms" (2024). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 2338.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/2338
10.7759/cureus.52467