Alternative Treatments for Hot Flashes (cont.)
Why are some doctors reluctant to recommend nonprescription therapies for menopause symptoms?
Nonprescription products are not controlled by the FDA
because they are
considered food supplements by law. Because they are not regulated like
prescription medications, their ingredients and potency vary from manufacturer
to manufacturer, and even from bottle to bottle from the same manufacturer. Also,
careful testing and proof of safety is not required as it is with prescription
medications. (The only way the FDA can recall a nonprescription product is by
proving that it is dangerous.) Furthermore, there are so many nonprescription
products available that a doctor cannot possibly know exactly what is in each
preparation. Moreover, not one of these products has been scientifically proven
to be safe.
So, how well have the nonprescription alternatives to hormone therapy been
tested? Not one study has adhered to all of the stringent requirements that are
necessary for approval of prescription medicines.
- Specifically, sugar pills (placebos) have not been included in many
studies of nonprescription alternative medications. Therefore, it is not
possible to know if the product worked at all, since any effects seen with the
product might have been seen with a
placebo.
- Many studies evaluated women who were taking products without supervision.
Obviously, these women were aware that they were taking something to improve
their symptoms. Thus, the element of objectivity was eliminated, and bias was
introduced.
- Most available studies have been carried out for only a few months.
Physicians do not want to recommend a product that hasn't been proven safe over
the long-term.
- Lastly, each study seems to have a different way of judging whether the
medication helps. Some analyze hot flashes alone, while others evaluate a group
of symptoms without specifically segregating out hot flashes. Other studies
examine multiple but individual symptoms. Even the studies that evaluate hot
flashes may record different factors; the number of hot flashes per day, the
severity of the hot flashes, or the duration of the hot flashes, etc.
It is confusing, even for doctors who are experts in the field, to evaluate
these studies and properly counsel women. For more, please read
"Evaluating Treatment Products,
A Doctors' Perspective."
Next: What alternative treatments for menopause have been scientifically studied? »
- estropipate, Ogen - Information on Estropipate (Ogen, ORTHO-EST) a drug prescribed for the treamtent of the symptoms of menopause such as vaginal dryness and hot flashes as well as the prevention of bone fractures due to osteoporosis.
- Hormone Therapy - Hormone Therapy (HT), can ease the symptoms of menopause and protect against osteoporosis.
- Night Sweats - Night sweats have many different causes. A doctors must take a complete medical history and order tests to find the cause of the underlying medical condition that is responsible for night sweats.
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