Vasomotor symptoms in menopause: physiologic condition and central nervous system approaches to treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The decline in concentrations of gonadal hormones during menopause gives rise to a range of physiologic and psychologic changes that may impact a woman's health and quality of life significantly. Most notable among these are vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) and mood and sleep disturbances.


METHODS
This article reviews the physiologic condition underlying menopausal vasomotor symptoms and centrally active, nonhormonal therapies that have demonstrated efficacy for their treatment.


RESULTS
Despite the emergence of a range of nonhormonal treatments for vasomotor symptoms, a need still exists for safe and effective therapeutic options that directly target the underlying thermoregulatory mechanisms for women who want treatment but prefer to avoid hormone therapy or for whom hormone therapy is contraindicated.


CONCLUSIONS
The availability of centrally active therapies for menopausal vasomotor symptoms with risks and benefits clearly defined by results from well-designed clinical trials has the potential to allay safety concerns that are associated with the treatment of these common symptoms.
Rapkin
Andrea J
AJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1740, USA. arapkin@mednet.ucla.edu
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects*
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents