Menopause Treatment Options: Medications & Relief

Menopause is a natural process that brings an end to a woman's fertility and menstruation. Women may experience hot flashes, bone loss and vaginal dryness with menopause. Menopausal symptoms can be treated with several medications.

Hormone Therapy

• According to the Mayo Clinic, estrogen therapy with estrogen hormone replacement is the most effective way to reduce hot flashes and prevent bone loss when appropriately prescribed by a doctor.

Antidepressants

• Low doses of Effexor or other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs, or SSRIs, may reduce hot flashes.

Neurontin and Clonidine

• Neurontin is a seizure medication that has been used to treat hot flashes. Clonidine is a hypertension drug that may reduce the frequency of a woman's hot flashes.

Bisphosphonates

• Bisphosphonates are drugs such as Fosamax that may reduce bone loss from osteoporosis that can occur in menopause.

SERMs

• Selective estrogen receptor modulator drugs, or SERMs, such as Evista may mimic the improvement in bone density that estrogen therapy can provide.

Vaginal Estrogen

• Small amounts of estrogen may be applied to the vagina in a cream, ring or tablet to reduce vaginal dryness.