Menopause is an end to menstrual periods. This marks the permanent end of fertility. After this, women cannot become pregnant. Menopause can happen anytime between the ages of 45 and 60. Women likely approaching menopause get a clue through symptoms like fatigue, agitation, hot flashes, irritability, and mood swings. This happens due to the decrease in the production of progesterone and estrogen hormones.
Menopause can cause severe night sweating, perspiration, sleep disturbance, loss of concentration, hot flashes which cause a flush of warmth across the body lasting from 30 seconds to 5 minutes which causes profuse sweating and is followed by chills.
Other effects of menopause are frequent urinary tract infections, skin changes, brittle bones, and variation in lipid levels. Many of these changes interfere in the activities of daily life to various extents.
There are menopause drugs that can control the effects of menopause and cause relief. The top five drugs that are proven to work are estrogen hormone replacement drugs, combination hormone replacement drugs that combine progesterone and estrogen, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and lipid lowering drugs.
Estrogen hormone replacement drugs, also called hormone therapy in menopause drug treatment, come in several doses and brands. It is very effective in treating hot flashes, prevents urinary tract tissue and vaginal tissue from thinning or dying, slows calcium loss and osteoporosis, and basically helps with reducing the ill effects caused by the decreased production of estrogen in the body.
Drug treatment for Menopause where combination hormone replacement therapy is used has progesterone hormone in addition to estrogen. Since production of both these hormones is decreased, a combination of these is used. While hormone therapy is proven to work, it has several side effects.
With estrogen hormone replacement there is an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer, blood clots in the legs and lungs, blood clots in the eye, stroke, gall stones, and urinary incontinence. Combination drugs for menopause increase the risk of developing breast cancer, coronary artery disease, stroke, ovarian cancer, dementia, and blood clots.
Selective estrogen receptor modulators work selectively as estrogen in some parts of the body. Other drugs like antidepressants help relieve depression, anxiety, insomnia, and irritability. The lipid lowering drugs reduce the bad cholesterol and prevent heart diseases.
The effects of menopause can be unbearable. However, excessive drug treatment for menopause can be dangerous and lead to other unanticipated problems. It is always important to consult your physician before taking any menopause medications. Changes in diet and lifestyle can help you cope with menopause. This must be tried out before resorting to menopause drugs.
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