Contents
Hot flashes during menopause are a consequence of a deficiency of estrogen hormones, which occurs in a woman’s body due to a decrease in ovarian function1. Therefore, many effective drugs for hot flashes work as substitutes and make up for the lack of female sex hormones.1. These are estrogen products that are used as part of menopausal hormone therapy.1. As an alternative, non-hormonal agents can be used: phytoestrogens, herbal and synthetic drugs with a calming and antidepressant effect.2.
Rating of the top 10 inexpensive and effective drugs for hot flashes with menopause according to the KP
Together with an expert, we have selected 10 effective drugs for hot flashes with menopause. The rating includes tablets, gels, patches and sprays. However, we do not advertise drugs and do not recommend self-medication. Any remedy from our rating can be taken only as directed by a doctor.
1. Prohynova
Dragee with a dosage of 2 mg contains an analogue of estrogen estradiol. The active ingredient compensates for the lack of estrogen in the female body. Due to the action of the drug:
- hot flashes, tachycardia and sweating decrease or disappear;
- irritability and depression disappear;
- the elasticity of the skin and mucous membranes is maintained;
- bones stop losing calcium.
Contraindications: breast cancer, existing or suspected estrogen-dependent oncological diseases, venous thrombosis and thromboembolism and a tendency to these conditions, acute and severe liver diseases, endometrial hyperplasia.
2. Divigel
Contains synthetic estradiol – an analogue of the female sex hormone. With regular use, the drug helps to eliminate the symptoms of estrogen deficiency: hot flashes, sweating, mood swings, heart palpitations. Divigel also prevents the leaching of calcium from bone tissue and the development of osteoporosis, which often affects women during menopause.
Contraindications for Divigel are the same as for other estrogen-containing drugs: breast cancer, estrogen-dependent tumors (diagnosed or suspected), endometrial hyperplasia, vaginal bleeding of unknown origin, thrombosis and thrombophlebitis.
3. Klimara plaster
The drug looks like a transparent patch, inside of which there is a film with the active substance – estradiol, a synthetic analogue of the female sex hormone. The plasters are packaged in 4 bags and packed in a cardboard box. The patch is removed from the package and immediately pasted onto clean, dry skin. Applications are changed every 7 days. During this time, the active substance continuously penetrates the skin, which allows you to maintain a stable level of estradiol.
Contraindications are standard for estrogen-containing drugs: breast tumors and other tumors dependent on sex hormones, as well as thrombosis, thrombophlebitis and vaginal bleeding of unknown origin.
4. Climactoplan
Non-hormonal homeopathic preparation contains components of natural origin and a small amount of excipients. Helps to reduce or completely stop symptoms such as hot flashes, nervous irritability, headaches.
Contraindications: hypersensitivity to components.
5. Depression
Non-hormonal herbal preparation contains St. John’s wort extract. Available in the form of tablets (Deprim) and capsules (Deprim Forte). It has a mild antidepressant and calming effect, and also helps to normalize the digestive tract and increase the overall tone of the body.4. The drug helps to cope with increased irritability, anxiety, sleep disorders and hot flashes.4.
Contraindications: individual intolerance to the components, simultaneous use of MAO inhibitors.
6. Menoril plus
The dietary supplement contains resveratrol and genistein, plant-derived substances with an estrogen-like effect. They help to reduce or completely eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of menopause: hot flashes, sweating, headaches, dizziness, irritability. Vitamins K1 and D3 promote the absorption of calcium and reduce the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.
Contraindications: individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
7. Feminaspray
Dietary supplement in the form of a spray to be sprayed into the mouth. Contains vitamins E and D and resveratrol, a powerful natural antioxidant3. Resveratrol at low concentrations helps relieve menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and excessive sweating.3. Feminaspray is intended for course use, but can also be used as an emergency remedy, for example, in situations where a woman feels the approach of a tide and wants to avoid it.
Contraindications: individual intolerance to the components.
8. Estrophem
Produced in the form of dragees with a dosage of 2 mg, contains estradiol. The drug eliminates the symptoms of estrogen deficiency, including hot flashes, sweating, headache, decreased bone density. It is intended for course intake of 1 tablet per day. The duration of therapy is determined by the doctor.
Contraindications: breast cancer, diagnosed or suspected estrogen-dependent oncological diseases, vaginal bleeding of unknown origin, thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, endometrial hyperplasia, acute liver disease.
9. Estrogel
Colorless transparent gel for external use. 1 g of estrogel contains 600 mg of estradiol. The active substance helps to eliminate the symptoms of menopause: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, increased irritability. Estradiol also lowers blood cholesterol levels and helps prevent osteoporosis. The gel is applied to the skin 1 time per day daily or according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor.
Contraindications: estrogen-dependent tumors, breast cancer, thrombosis, thromboembolism, untreated endometrial hyperplasia, vaginal bleeding of unknown origin.
10. Klimadinon
A non-hormonal herbal preparation is available in the form of tablets and drops for oral administration. The active substance is an extract of the rhizome of cymifuge racemose. Climadinon has an estrogen-like and sedative effect and helps reduce menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, irritability, and sleep disturbances.
Contraindications: hypersensitivity to ingredients, lactase deficiency, lactose intolerance.
How to choose drugs for hot flashes with menopause
Hot flashes should be prescribed by a doctor. First of all, this concerns estrogen-containing hormone replacement therapy drugs (Proginova, Estrazhel, Divigel and the like).
The standard drug selection scheme looks like this:
- a woman comes to the doctor’s office and complains of hot flashes;
- the doctor prescribes examinations: blood tests, ultrasound of the small pelvis and mammary glands, screening for cervical cancer;
- with pronounced symptoms of menopause and the absence of contraindications, hormonal preparations are prescribed;
- if estrogen replacement therapy is contraindicated, or a woman is against taking hormonal drugs, as well as with minor symptoms of menopause, phytoestrogens or drugs from other pharmacological groups are prescribed.
If a woman has started taking hormonal drugs, the next visit to the doctor should take place after 3 months. The doctor will again prescribe examinations to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy and identify possible side effects. After 6 months, another visit is needed to check, check the results, adjust the dose or change the drug, if necessary. After that, you need to visit a doctor at least once a year for a preventive examination.
Doctor’s comments
Most doctors agree that hot flashes and other menopause symptoms can and should be managed to improve a woman’s quality of life. Only the approach to therapy differs. Some doctors consider hormonal drugs to be the best drugs for hot flashes during menopause. Others prefer phytoestrogens, herbal antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as venflaxine, fluoxetine, sertraline2. As a rule, treatment begins with non-hormonal drugs and only if indicated, they switch to menopausal hormone therapy.
Popular questions and answers
Hot flashes are a very common problem that raises many questions. Most women would like to reduce discomfort with medications, traditional medicine, and other methods. Our expert answers popular questions Elvira Semenova, obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category.
What can be done to reduce hot flashes?
How to get rid of hot flashes with folk remedies?
When do hot flashes end in women?
Sources of:
- Menopause: normal or pathological. “Russian Medical Journal” dated September 16.09.2002, XNUMX Serov V. N. https://www.rmj.ru/articles/ginekologiya/Klimaktericheskiy_period_normalynoe_sostoyanie_ili_patologiya/
- Hot flashes in menopause: a compelling alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Journal “Attending Doctor” dated 06.10.2020 https://www.lvrach.ru/partners/velaxin/15437704
- The therapeutic potential of resveratrol in the treatment of endometriosis. Journal “Attending Doctor” dated 23.08. 2021 Pukhov A. A. https://www.lvrach.ru/2036/partners/15438044
- Climacteric syndrome: features of therapy for psychoemotional disorders. “Russian Medical Journal” dated 03.09.2009/XNUMX/XNUMX. Gavisova A.A. , Tverdikova M.A. , Balushkina A.A. https://www.rmj.ru/articles/psikhiatriya/Klimaktericheskiy_sindrom__osobennosti_terapii_psihoemocionalynyh__narusheniy/