Medications

Medicines can help you cope with bothersome menopause symptoms. Some medicines contain hormones, and some don't.

Hormone replacement therapy is sometimes used to treat menopause symptoms. But women who use it may have a higher risk of other health problems.

Menopause: Should I Use Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)?

If your symptoms are the result of early menopause brought on by having your ovaries removed along with your uterus, you may consider estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). But ERT may increase the risk of health problems in a small number of women.

Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy: Should I Use Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT)?

Medication choices

Hormone medicines

• Birth control pills regulate menstrual bleeding and can relieve symptoms until menopause. They aren't used after menopause.
• Progestin pills and the levonorgestrel IUD release a form of progesterone into the uterus. This reduces heavy, irregular menstrual periods. Some women have side effects.
• Low-dose vaginal estrogen (cream, tablet, or ring) reduces vaginal and urethral dryness and weakening.
• Hormone replacement therapy HRT in pill, patch, vaginal ring, gel, or cream form, can be used to treat menopause symptoms. Experts recommend that HRT only be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible period of time.³
• Bioidentical hormones are made in a lab to be similar to human-produced hormones. But they aren't well researched and may carry the same health risks that traditional HRT does.³ Any form of hormone therapy is best taken for as short a time as possible.
• Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is used to prevent weakening bones and the severe symptoms that come with sudden, early menopause.
• Testosterone with estrogen is sometimes used for menopausal symptoms that don't improve with estrogen therapy. But it isn't FDA-approved, because its risks aren't yet fully known. Testosterone with estrogen carries the same risks as estrogen treatment (blood clots, stroke, breast cancer) as well as testosterone risks and side effects.

Short-term, low-dose HRT or ERT can be taken for up to 4 to 5 years, with regular checkups. This may work well for many women, who will find that their menopause symptoms have subsided within this period of time.

Non-hormone medicines

• Antidepressants can lower the number and severity of hot flashes. They may also help with irritability, depression, and moodiness.
• Clonidine, a high blood pressure medicine, can reduce the number and severity of hot flashes.⁴ Some women have side effects related to low blood pressure.
• Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an antiseizure medicine. It can reduce the number and severity of hot flashes.⁵ Possible side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, and swelling.