Therapies for Vasomotor Symptoms and Their Effects on Bone Mineral Density
An expert discusses how estrogen remains the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms while also benefiting bone density, though alternative treatments like paroxetine and fezolinetant lack bone health benefits.
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Estrogen therapy remains the gold standard for treating postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, offering dual benefits for symptom relief and bone health. Research from the Women's Health Initiative demonstrates that estrogen can stabilize or increase bone density while reducing fracture risk, even in women not initially at high fracture risk.
For women who cannot or prefer not to use estrogen therapy due to contraindications or personal preferences, several alternative treatments are available. These include low-dose paroxetine (approved specifically for vasomotor symptoms), fezolinetant (a neurokinin-3 receptor antagonist), and off-label options like gabapentin, clonidine, and other antidepressants.
However, these nonestrogen alternatives, while effective for symptom management, do not provide the bone health benefits associated with estrogen therapy. This limitation highlights the importance of considering both symptom relief and bone health when selecting treatments for postmenopausal women, particularly those at increased risk for osteoporosis.
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