In this Article

• Introduction to menopause and hot flashes
• What are hot flashes?
• How are hot flashed usually treated?
• Which alternative prescription medications are effective in treating hot flash symptoms of menopause?
• Why are some doctors reluctant to recommend nonprescription therapies for menopause symptoms?
• What alternative treatments for menopause have been scientifically studied?
• Alternatives for Treating Hot Flashes At A Glance
• Menopause and Perimenopause - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: Alternative Treatments For Hot Flashes Of Menopause - Describe Your Experience
• Alternative Treatments for Hot Flashes Glossary
• Alternative Treatments for Hot Flashes Index

Alternatives for Treating Hot Flashes At A Glance

• Each woman experiences menopause differently. Treatment, if necessary, is directed toward the particular symptoms that are present.

• Hot flashes are experienced by many but not all women undergoing menopause. A hot flash is a feeling of warmth, sometimes associated with flushing, that spreads over the body and may be accompanied by perspiration.

• Often it is not simple to determine if a given symptom is due to menopause. A physician should be consulted regarding symptoms that are new or of unknown cause.

• While "natural" menopause remedies may be effective, there is a lack of research on the safety and effectiveness of many of these remedies. Side effects of prescription remedies are generally better understood than those of over-the-counter medications and "natural" remedies.

• The most effective treatment for hot flashes is estrogen. However, the risks and benefits of this therapy must be carefully considered by a woman and her physician.

• Other prescription medications, including SSRIs, may also be effective in relieving hot flashes.

• Non-prescription products that have been used to treat hot flashes include phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), black cohosh, and vitamin E. However, studies that attest to their effectiveness and long-term safety are lacking.

Previous contributing medical author: Carolyn J. Crandall, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.P.

Alternative Treatments For Hot Flashes Of Menopause - Describe Your Experience

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