At MenopauseRx we do a lot of groundwork to review thousands of research studies. We bring you the newest and most pertinent information for your menopausal health. We know you will find this information enlightening, so much so that it may change the way you think about Vitamin D supplementation.

Numerous studies have linked low vitamin D levels with: Cancer, Depression, Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes, Rhuematoid Arthritis, Seasonal Affective Disease

With all this research… why are the government recommendations outrageously low at 200 – 400 IU. Studies suggest that blood levels associated with disease prevention may be 5X to 10X the current recommendations.

To learn more read…

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/11180df8-beaa-11de-b4ab-00144feab49a.html

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…

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

Breaking News… on New Mammogram Recommendations

The medical staff at MenopauseRx, Inc. is more than a little surprised by the new recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). For the first time in 20 years, a government panel is telling women in there 40s to stop getting routine mammograms. The MenopauseRx staff is not alone in questioning these new guidelines.Many medical centers, breast cancer survivors, and thousands of health care providers, including doctors, are upset with these new recommendations.

“The new recommendations reduce women’s lives to numbers. The task force panel expressed concern that 1900 women age 40-49 will need to be screened with mammograms to save one life. That one life could be yours!”

See more at http://www.ez-llc.com/studio/eznewsletter/archive/9_248.htm

What are the Risk Factors for an underactive Thyroid (i.e. hypothyroidism)?
In the U.S., between 7 and 10% of the population over the age of 55 are affected by a thyroid disorder, with Caucasians more commonly affected than African-Americans. Females are 5-8 times more likely to have a thyroid disorder compared to men.

Hypothyroidism can be due to a variety of causes, including history of thyroid radiation, treatment for an overactive thyroid (Graves disease), removal of thyroid gland, and certain medications, such as lithium, amiodarone and iodine. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is a medical condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?
The symptoms of hypothyroidism can initially be very insidious. Some studies have found only 25-70% of elderly showing typical symptoms. A clinical exam does not establish the diagnosis in many cases. In fact, only 10% of patients with confirmed hypothyroidism were identified on a physical exam. The most important aspect of hypothyroidism is to be very cognizant regarding the subtle signs and symptoms that may develop. Alerting your physician to these signs and symptoms would allow laboratory testing to confirm the diagnosis.

Common symptoms include:

• dry skin
• hair loss
• cold intolerance
• confusion
• difficulty in concentrating
• constipation
• fatigue
• sluggishness
• hoarseness
• depression
• muscle cramps
• weight gain
• menstrual irregularities

Notice that many of these symptoms can easily be confused with menopause and perimenopause symptoms….Read on to help figure out how to diagnose a thyroid disorder.

Read more…

This month is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month.  MenopauseRx would like to remind women that osteoporosis is especially prominent after the menopause transition.  Bone loss occurs during the perimenopause and after the menopause transition.  Unfortunately, the can lead to an increased risk of a serious fracture.  In fact, one out of every two women over the age of 50 will suffer from osteoporosis.  The goal of enhanced awareness is to reduce the widespread prevalence of osteoporosis and associated fractures and to find a cure for the disease through programs of awareness, education, advocacy and research.

Learn more at: http://www.menopauserx.com/health_center/health_Osteoporosis.htm

New eNewsletter Archive

MenopauseRx has created an easy to use archive of our latest newsletters for quick and easy review.

Here you’ll find past issues of our member’s only newsletters that contain news and study information related to your menopausal transition.

– To access the archive, click here.

Breaking News… on New Mammogram Recommendations

The medical staff at MenopauseRx, Inc. is more than a little surprised by the new recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). For the first time in 20 years, a government panel is telling women in there 40s to stop getting routine mammograms. The MenopauseRx staff is not alone in questioning these new guidelines. Many medical centers, breast cancer survivors, and thousands of health care providers, including doctors, are upset with these new recommendations.

Why did the USPSTF recommendations change?

Read more…

PITTSBURGH – – Although an increasing number of people are taking powerful new prescription drugs to treat osteoporosis, chances are the majority of patients are not getting the greatest effect from these medicines because they do not have an adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, according to a paper published in the March 2005 issue of The Journal of Women’s Health. John A. Sunyecz, M.D., president of MenopauseRx, Inc., who co-authored the paper, “Calcium’s Role in Osteoporosis Drug Therapy,” notes that many people being treated for osteoporosis mistakenly think their calcium and vitamin D intake is no longer important once prescription therapy begins. “People taking osteoporosis medications should remember that they do not contain calcium and have been proven most effective when taken with adequate calcium and vitamin D, usually achieved with the addition of supplements to the daily diet,” he explains.

“This paper builds on previous research published last year that shows physicians are not taking the clinical information we know about these drugs and putting it into practice when treating patients. From 1994 to 2003 there was a five-fold increase in prescriptions for bisphosphonates, however during that same time period, the percentage of osteoporosis patients who were treated with calcium supplements decreased by nearly 50 percent.”

Read more…