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.
Tags: bone loss, estrogen therapy, reduce flashes, that reduce, vaginal dryness
