New Drugs, Therapies Expand Options for Managing Menopause Without Hormones
WASHINGTON (AP) – Women navigating menopause now haveโ a growing arsenal of nonhormonal treatments to manage symptoms like hot โflashes and night sweats, with two recently approved drugs leading โthe โway. The U.S.โข Food and Drug Management has cleared โVeozah (fezolinetant) and Lynkuet (elinzanetant), offeringโ new hope for those seeking relief without conventional hormone therapy.
For decades, hormone therapyโค was the primary medical intervention for menopause symptoms. Though, concerns about potential risks led many women to seek alternative solutions. These new medications target the brain’s temperature control โคcenter,โฃ offering a different โฃapproach. Veozah โคblocks one molecule involved in triggering hot flashes, while Lynkuet blocks two.
“there’s no medication out there that’s entirelyโ free of risk,” โcautioned โDr. โJoAnn Mansonโฃ of Harvard Medicalโ School. Both drugs carry potential side โคeffects: Veozah includes aโฃ warning about a rare risk of liver injury, and Lynkuet mayโ cause drowsiness โandโค fatigue. Other options, like certainโค antidepressants, can โsometimes lead to weight gain,โฃ and oxybutynin can cause dry mouth and โขbladder issues.
Beyond prescription medications, a range of nonhormonal options are available. Over-the-counter lubricants can alleviate vaginalโค dryness, while cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps womenโข reframe โคtheir experience of hot flashes, making them “less significant and less โburdensome,” according to Dr. Stephanie Faubion. Research also suggests clinical hypnosis may reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes, โฃthough Dr. Manson notes “more research is needed.”
Experts emphasize the importanceโข of open dialog with healthcare โproviders. โฃ”I would implore women to have that conversationโฆabout what treatment might be โฃbeneficial for them,” โขsaid Dr. Julianaโค Kling, a women’s health expert at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona.
Dr. Gajarawala, who now manages her symptoms thru lifestyle changes – avoiding red wine,โ walking 10,000 steps daily, practicing โขtai chi, โand taking an extended-release antidepressantโ – exemplifies this proactive approach.โฃ “It’s been a significant improvement,” she said.