4 Popular Medications for Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are one of the most common and most dreaded symptoms that is associated with menopause. While hot flashes can make things difficult for many women, there are also a number of ways to manage the problem. A large number of women decide to take medication for hot flashes in order to reduce the severity, or sometimes even eliminate hot flashes entirely. Learn about four of the most popular medicines for hot flashes.

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High Blood Pressure Medications

Additionally, there are medications for high blood pressure that can also reduce the likelihood and severity of hot flashes for menopausal women. These medications often come in pill form, but may also be available as a patch, which may be more convenient for some women. Each brand-named drug that is also a medication for hot flashes contains clonidine, and they may cause minor side effects such as dizziness or dry mouth.

Antidepressants

Several types of antidepressants have been shown to provide some relief against the symptoms of hot flashes, although they are not as effective as hormone replacement therapy. The most common antidepressants that have been useful in this context are venlafaxine, paroxetine, and fluoxetine, although not all of these drugs are currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating hot flashes. Antidepressants also come with some side effects such as nausea or dizziness, but these are generally less significant than the side effects of taking synthetic estrogen.

Anti-seizure Medications

Surprisingly, certain medicines that can be used to treat seizures can also be used as medication for hot flashes. These medications are typically only moderately effective at providing relief. All of the brand names medications that are useful medicines for hot flashes contain the drug gabapentin. Headaches and drowsiness may be side effects of this medicine.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

HRT is a medical intervention that involves taking the hormone estrogen in order to reduce the problems caused in the body by a lack of estrogen. While this therapy is fairly popular among menopausal women and may have the best effectiveness against hot flashes, there are a number of side effects as well as a few more serious risks like stroke associated with this treatment, so you should use caution and talk to a doctor to explore your options.

With these medications, you can keep the hot flashes at bay. Be sure to consult with your doctor about any medications you choose. To learn more about beating hot flashes, read about the top 4 herbs to reduce hot flash episodes.