Safety, efficacy and patient acceptability of drospirenone and estradiol in the treatment of menopausal vasomotor symptoms: a review.
During menopause vasomotor symptoms are one of the main complaints about which women seek medical advice. For symptom control, several therapies have been used, among which hormone therapy has produced good results. One of these is estrogen monotherapy, which unfortunately may induce endometrial hyperplasia in women with an intact uterus. A progestin must be added to avoid this risk. Progestins may induce several secondary effects such as breast tenderness, hirsutism, edema and unfavorable lipid profile modifications. Recently a new progestin called drospirenone has been synthesized and used in combination with estradiol for the treatment of postmenopausal women. This progestin is derived from spironolactone, and lacks estrogenic, androgenic and glucocorticoid activities. Several studies have evaluated safety, efficacy and patient tolerability, and have shown a good profile in all these parameters. All studies agree that the combination of estradiol 1 mg plus drospirenone 2 mg is a good choice for postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms.
Carranza-Lira
Sebastián
S
Reproductive Medicine, UMAE, Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia, Luis Castelazo Ayala Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México. scarranzal@mexis.com
D000368:Aged; D000736:Androstenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000187:drug effects; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000736:Androstenes; D004967:Estrogens; D008074:Lipoproteins; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D004958:Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone