title: Non-hormonal management of vasomotor symptoms.
abstract: Vasomotor symptoms are the most common indication for the prescription of hormone replacement therapy since it is effective in over 80% of cases. In 1995, 37% of American women took hormone replacement therapy, principally for this purpose. However, following the publication of results from the Women's Health Initiative, as many as half of these women in the US and in the UK and New Zealand discontinued hormone therapy. Discontinuation of estrogen is often accompanied by a return of vasomotor symptoms; however, only a small number (18%) of women report restarting hormone therapy. Alternatives are available, but limited knowledge on etiology and mechanisms of hot flushing represents a major obstacle for the development of new, targeted, non-hormonal treatments, and no current alternatives are as effective as estrogen.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sassarini
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lumsden
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016387:Women's Health; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003000:Clonidine; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D000077206:Gabapentin; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid