Hormone therapy is prescribed for troublesome symptoms during menopause.  While very effective in treating symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes, its use has declined due to safety concerns.  These safety concerns became very well publicized after the 2002 report from the Women’s Health Initiative study. Click here for more information.

Currently, the use of hormone therapy is still considered the gold standard for treating moderate to severe menopause symptoms.  Due to safety concerns, use is generally limited to the lowest effective dose for the shortest time frame.  However, women still have concerns about the potential risks associated with hormone therapy use.  Fortunately, there is new research showing a potential benefit to alternative ways that hormone therapy is administered. 

Hormone therapy is commonly administered in an oral tablet form.  However, hormones can also be delivered effectively via the skin in a transdermal patch form.  Due to the manner in which the hormone is metabolized once absorbed, practitioners have wondered if the patch is a safer way to deliver hormones.  Click here for more information. 

Good News for Women

Fortunately, two recent studies have found the transdermal patch to be a potentially safer way to administer menopause hormones.  Most recently, Dr. Suissa and colleagues from McGill University in Montreal reported that the use of a low dose estrogen patch does not seem to increase the risk of stroke(1).  In March, the same group reported that the patch was not associated with an increased risk of blood clots in postmenopausal women.  Read more…

Last week, Prolia™ (denosumab) was approved for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy.  In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, Prolia reduces the incidence of vertebral, non-vertebral and hip fractures.  

 Prolia is the first and only RANK ligand inhibitor approved by the FDA.  Prolia has a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that consists of a Medication Guide and a Dear Healthcare Professional Letter.  The manufacturer, Amgen, is also launching a voluntary program to monitor the long-term safety of Prolia and enhance the quality of data collected in the postmarketing setting.  This program is called the Prolia Post Marketing Active Safety Surveillance Program and is intended to collect information about pre-specified adverse events of special interest that may be reported by patients.  More information about this program may be found at www.proliasafety.com or by calling Amgen Medical Information at 1-800-772-6436.

 Prolia Important Safety Information 

Read more…

Getting Help with Night Sweats…

Night sweats are one of the most common complaints of menopause which typically begins in a woman’s late 30s to early 50s. In fact, in a survey conducted by MenopauseRx, approximately 60% of women experience night sweats. Night sweats are part of a variety of symptoms referred to as vasomotor symptoms. Vasomotor symptoms result from the body’s thermoregulatory center responding to lower circulating hormones.

How to Cope…

A new study reports that 20 – 40% of adults have experienced night sweats in the past month, of which 50% of these adults complained of severe nights sweats (they required a change in bed clothes) and yet they have not reported these symptoms to their physicians.⁽¹⁾  

Oftentimes, night sweats can be so intense that they interrupt a woman’s sleep, which is associated with reduced quality of life.  

The symptoms of night sweats can drastically disturb sleep patterns, making it difficult to wake up feeling rested. Because of this, women who suffer from night sweats often experience:  

• Trouble concentrating
• Exhaustion during the day
• Irritability
• Heightened levels of stress

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to keep night sweats at bay. Here are a few strategies to consider:  

1. Look for patterns: Keep track of potential triggers (tobacco, diet, caffeine, and alcohol)
2. Stay comfortable with moisture wicking clothing: Wick away moisture from the body and speed up the evaporation process, thus helping to regulate the body’s temperature as you sleep.
3. Hormone therapy (HT): Many studies have shown that HT improves quality of sleep. Click here to learn more…..
4. Breathe deeply: Relaxation breathing may help
5. Complementary and Alternative therapy: including herbal remedies. Click here to learn more.….
6. Exercise

“A recent study done at Penn State indicates that increasing cardio-respiratory fitness, including walking and yoga, could be a way to reduce menopausal symptoms. Other research from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that during menopause, overweight women have significantly more hot flashes and night sweats. Getting active and losing weight, of course, may not only reduce night sweats but can also positively affect your overall health and well-being.”⁽²⁾  

Reference:  

1. James W. Mold, MD, MPH, Suanne Goodrich, PhD and William Orr, PhD, Associations Between Subjective Night Sweats and Sleep Study Findings, The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 21 (2): 96-100 (2008)
2. Jessie Sholl, Menopausal Night Sweats: Why They Happen and How to Cope, Everyday Health, 10/13/2008.

MenopauseRx is pleased to announce an agreement with the manufacturer of SalonPAS.  Beginning immediately, MenopauseRx will provide a free sample of SALONPAS®PAIN RELIEF PATCHwith each order from the MenopauseRx.com online store.  Each SALONPAS®PAIN RELIEF PATCHsample contains three (3) ultra thin, comfort stretch patches that are helpful in alleviating muscle pain.  Effectiveness related to stiff neck, sore shoulder, backache and joint pain has been confirmed in clinical trials.

The SALONPAS®PAIN RELIEF PATCH is the first and only FDA approved over-the-counter topical pain relief patch.  Two powerful ingredients, ‘Methyl Salicylate and Menthol’, go right to the site of pain. SALONPAS®PAIN RELIEF PATCH reduces inflammation and relieves mild to moderate pain for up to 12 hours.

Visit the MenopauseRx.com online store at:  http://www.MenopauseRx.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/index.php