Management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: Current treatment options, challenges and future directions

Deirdre R Pachman, Jason M Jones, Charles L Loprinzi, Deirdre R Pachman, Jason M Jones, Charles L Loprinzi

Abstract

Hot flashes are one of the most common and distressing symptoms associated with menopause, occurring in more than 75% of postmenopausal women. They are especially problematic in breast cancer patients since some breast cancer therapies can induce hot flashes. For mild hot flashes, it is proposed that behavioral modifications are the first step in management. Hormonal therapies, including estrogens and progestogens, are the most well known effective agents in relieving hot flashes; however, the safety of these agents is controversial. There is an increasing amount of literature on nonhormonal agents for the treatment of hot flashes. The most promising data regard newer antidepressant agents such as venlafaxine, which reduces hot flashes by about 60%. Gabapentin is another nonhormonal agent that is effective in reducing hot flashes. While many complimentary therapies, including phytoestrogens, black cohosh, and dehydroepiandrosterone, have been explored for the treatment of hot flashes; none can be recommended at this time. Furthermore, there is a lack of strong evidence to support exercise, yoga, or relaxation for the treatment of hot flashes. Paced respirations and hypnosis appear to be promising enough to warrant further investigation. Another promising nonpharmacological therapy, currently under investigation, involves a stellate ganglion block.

Keywords: hot flashes; menopause; therapy; vasomotor symptoms.

References

    1. Grady D. Clinical practice. Management of menopausal symptoms. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(22):2338–2347.
    1. Couzi R, Helzlsouer K, Fetting J. Prevelance of menopausal symptoms amoung women with a history of breast cancer and attitudes toward estrogen replacement therapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 1995;13(11):2737–2744.
    1. Kronenberg F. Hot flashes: epidemiology and physiology. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1990;592:52–86.
    1. McKinlay SM, Jefferys M. The menopausal syndrome. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1974;28(2):108–115.
    1. Daly E, Gray A, Barlow D, McPherson K, Roche M, Vessey M. Measuring the impact of menopausal symptoms on quality of life. BMJ. 1993;307(6908):836–840.
    1. Loprinzi C, Barton D, Rhodes D. Management of hot flashes in breast-cancer survivors. Lancet Oncol. 2001;2:199–204.
    1. Love RR, Cameron L, Connell BL, Leventhal H. Symptoms associated with tamoxifen treatment in postmenopausal women. Arch Intern Med. 1991;151(9):1842–1847.
    1. Carpenter JS, Andrykowski MA. Menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1999;26(8):1311–1317.
    1. Shanafelt TD, Barton DL, Adjei AA, Loprinzi CL. Pathophysiology and treatment of hot flashes. Mayo Clin Proc. 2002;77(11):1207–1218.
    1. Casper RF, Yen SS. Neuroendocrinology of menopausal flushes: an hypothesis of flush mechanism. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1985;22(3):293–312.
    1. Sturdee DW. The menopausal hot flush – anything new? Maturitas. 2008;60(1):42–49.
    1. Freedman RR. Physiology of hot flashes. Am J Hum Biol. 2001;13(4):453–464.
    1. Freedman RR, Krell W. Reduced thermoregulatory null zone in postmenopausal women with hot flashes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;181(1):66–70.
    1. Berendsen HH. The role of serotonin in hot flushes. Maturitas. 2000;36(3):155–164.
    1. Maclennan AH, Broadbent JL, Lester S, Moore V. Oral oestrogen and combined oestrogen/progestogen therapy versus placebo for hot flushes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(4):CD002978.
    1. Notelovitz M, Lenihan JP, McDermott M, Kerber IJ, Nanavati N, Arce J. Initial 17beta-estradiol dose for treating vasomotor symptoms. Obstet Gynecol. 2000;95(5):726–731.
    1. Utian WH, Archer DF, Bachmann GA, et al. Estrogen and progestogen use in postmenopausal women: 2008 position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2008;15(4 Pt 1):584–602.
    1. Rossouw JE, Anderson GL, Prentice RL, et al. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. Jama. 2002;288(3):321–333.
    1. NIH State-of-the-Science Panel on Management of Menopause-Related Symtpoms National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference statement: management of menopause-related symptoms. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(12 Pt 1):1003–1013.
    1. Bachmann GA, Schaefers M, Uddin A, Utian WH. Lowest effective transdermal 17beta-estradiol dose for relief of hot flushes in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2007;110(4):771–779.
    1. Hedrick RE, Ackerman RT, Koltun WD, Halvorsen MB, Lambrecht LJ. Transdermal estradiol gel 0.1% for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2009;16(1):132–140.
    1. Simon JA, Snabes MC. Menopausal hormone therapy for vasomotor symptoms: balancing the risks and benefits with ultra-low doses of estrogen. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2007;16(12):2005–2020.
    1. Hoda D, Perez DG, Loprinzi CL. Hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. Breast J. 2003;9(5):431–438.
    1. The North American Menopause Society Role of progestogen in hormone therapy for postmenopausal women: position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2003;10(2):113–132.
    1. Loprinzi CL, Michalak JC, Quella SK, et al. Megestrol acetate for the prevention of hot flashes. N Engl J Med. 1994;331(6):347–352.
    1. Quella SK, Loprinzi CL, Sloan JA, et al. Long term use of megestrol acetate by cancer survivors for the treatment of hot flashes. Cancer. 1998;82(9):1784–1788.
    1. Goodwin JW, Green SJ, Moinpour CM, et al. Phase III randomized placebo-controlled trial of two doses of megestrol acetate as treatment for menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer: Southwest Oncology Group Study 9626. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(10):1650–1656.
    1. Bullock JL, Massey FM, Gambrell RD., Jr Use of medroxyprogesterone acetate to prevent menopausal symptoms. Obstet Gynecol. 1975;46(2):165–168.
    1. Lobo RA, McCormick W, Singer F, Roy S. Depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate compared with conjugated estrogens for the treatment of postmenopausal women. Obstet Gynecol. 1984;63(1):1–5.
    1. Morrison JC, Martin DC, Blair RA, et al. The use of medroxyprogesterone acetate for relief of climacteric symptoms. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1980;138(1):99–104.
    1. Bertelli G, Venturini M, Del Mastro L, et al. Intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone versus oral megestrol for the control of postmenopausal hot flashes in breast cancer patients: a randomized study. Ann Oncol. 2002;13(6):883–888.
    1. Barton D, Loprinzi C, Quella S, Sloan J, Pruthi S, Novotny P. Depomedroxyprogesterone acetate for hot flashes. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2002;24(6):603–607.
    1. Prior JC, Nielsen JD, Hitchcock CL, Williams LA, Vigna YM, Dean CB. Medroxyprogesterone and conjugated oestrogen are equivalent for hot flushes: a 1-year randomized double-blind trial following premenopausal ovariectomy. Clin Sci (Lond) 2007;112(10):517–525.
    1. Leonetti HB, Longo S, Anasti JN. Transdermal progesterone cream for vasomotor symptoms and postmenopausal bone loss. Obstet Gynecol. 1999;94(2):225–228.
    1. Benster B, Carey A, Wadsworth F, Vashisht A, Domoney C, Studd J. A double-blind placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of progestelle progesterone cream on postmenopausal women. Menopause Int. 2009;15(2):63–69.
    1. Hofseth LJ, Raafat AM, Osuch JR, Pathak DR, Slomski CA, Haslam SZ. Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen or estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate is associated with increased epithelial proliferation in the normal postmenopausal breast. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999;84(12):4559–4565.
    1. Schairer C, Lubin J, Troisi R, Sturgeon S, Brinton L, Hoover R. Menopausal estrogen and estrogen-progestin replacement therapy and breast cancer risk. JAMA. 2000;283(4):485–491.
    1. Albertazzi P, Di Micco R, Zanardi E. Tibolone: a review. Maturitas. 1998;30(3):295–305.
    1. Kloosterboer HJ. Tissue-selectivity: the mechanism of action of tibolone. Maturitas. 2004;48(Suppl 1):S30–S40.
    1. Palacios S. Tibolone: what does tissue specific activity mean? Maturitas. 2001;37(3):159–165.
    1. Hammar M, Christau S, Nathorst-Boos J, Rud T, Garre K. A double-blind, randomised trial comparing the effects of tibolone and continuous combined hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with menopausal symptoms. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1998;105(8):904–911.
    1. Beral V. Breast cancer and hormone-replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. Lancet. 2003;362(9382):419–427.
    1. Kenemans P, Bundred NJ, Foidart JM, et al. Safety and efficacy of tibolone in breast-cancer patients with vasomotor symptoms: a double-blind, randomised, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Oncol. 2009;10(2):135–146.
    1. Cummings SR, Ettinger B, Delmas PD, et al. The effects of tibolone in older postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(7):697–708.
    1. Goodwin PJ. Tibolone: the risk is too high. Lancet Oncol. 2009;10(2):103–104.
    1. Bergmans MG, Merkus JM, Corbey RS, Schellekens LA, Ubachs JM. Effect of Bellergal Retard on climacteric complaints: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Maturitas. 1987;9(3):227–234.
    1. Lebherz TB, French L. Nonhormonal treatment of the menopausal syndrome. A double-blind evaluation of an autonomic system stabilizer. Obstet Gynecol. 1969;33(6):795–799.
    1. Schindler AE, Muller D, Keller E, Goser R, Runkel F. Studies with clonidine (dixarit) in menopausal women. Arch Gynecol. 1979;227(4):341–347.
    1. Clayden JR, Bell JW, Pollard P. Menopausal flushing: double-blind trial of a non-hormonal medication. Br Med J. 1974;1(5905):409–412.
    1. Laufer LR, Erlik Y, Meldrum DR, Judd HL. Effect of clonidine on hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Obstet Gynecol. 1982;60(5):583–586.
    1. Freedman RR, Dinsay R. Clonidine raises the sweating threshold in symptomatic but not in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Fertil Steril. 2000;74(1):20–23.
    1. Goldberg RM, Loprinzi CL, O’Fallon JR, et al. Transdermal clonidine for ameliorating tamoxifen-induced hot flashes. J Clin Oncol. 1994;12(1):155–158.
    1. Pandya KJ, Raubertas RF, Flynn PJ, et al. Oral clonidine in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer experiencing tamoxifen-induced hot flashes: a University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program study. Ann Intern Med. 2000;132(10):788–793.
    1. Nelson HD, Vesco KK, Haney E, et al. Nonhormonal therapies for menopausal hot flashes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Jama. 2006;295(17):2057–2071.
    1. Hammond MG HL, Talbert LM. A double-blind study to evaluate the effect of methydopa on menopausal vasomotor flushes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984;58:1158–1160.
    1. Wesel S, Bourguignon RP, Bosuma WB. Veralipride versus conjugated oestrogens: a double-blind study in the management of menopausal hot flushes. Curr Med Res Opin. 1984;8(10):696–700.
    1. Melis GB, Gambacciani M, Cagnacci A, Paoletti AM, Mais V, Fioretti P. Effects of the dopamine antagonist veralipride on hot flushes and luteinizing hormone secretion in postmenopausal women. Obstet Gynecol. 1988;72(5):688–692.
    1. David A, Don R, Tajchner G, Weissglas L. Veralipride: alternative antidopaminergic treatment for menopausal symptoms. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1988;158(5):1107–1115.
    1. Vercellini P, Vendola N, Colombo A, Passadore C, Trespidi L, Crosignani PG. Veralipride for hot flushes during gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 1992;34(2):102–104.
    1. De Leo V, Morgante G, Musacchio MC, Faldini E, Delia A, Petraglia F. The safety of veralipride. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2006;5(5):695–701.
    1. Loprinzi CL, Pisansky TM, Fonseca R, et al. Pilot evaluation of venlafaxine hydrochloride for the therapy of hot flashes in cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol. 1998;16(7):2377–2381.
    1. Loprinzi CL, Kugler JW, Sloan JA, et al. Venlafaxine in management of hot flashes in survivors of breast cancer: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2000;356(9247):2059–2063.
    1. Evans ML, Pritts E, Vittinghoff E, McClish K, Morgan KS, Jaffe RB. Management of postmenopausal hot flushes with venlafaxine hydrochloride: a randomized, controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2005;105(1):161–166.
    1. Loprinzi CL, Levitt R, Barton D, et al. Phase III comparison of depomedroxyprogesterone acetate to venlafaxine for managing hot flashes: North Central Cancer Treatment Group Trial N99C7. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24(9):1409–1414.
    1. Deecher DC, Alfinito PD, Leventhal L, et al. Alleviation of thermoregulatory dysfunction with the new serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor desvenlafaxine succinate in ovariectomized rodent models. Endocrinology. 2007;148(3):1376–1383.
    1. Speroff L, Gass M, Constantine G, Olivier S. Efficacy and tolerability of desvenlafaxine succinate treatment for menopausal vasomotor symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;111(1):77–87.
    1. Archer DF, Dupont CM, Constantine GD, Pickar JH, Olivier S. Desvenlafaxine for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of efficacy and safety. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;200(3):238 e231–238 e210.
    1. Stearns V, Isaacs C, Rowland J, et al. A pilot trial assessing the efficacy of paroxetine hydrochloride (Paxil) in controlling hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. Ann Oncol. 2000;11(1):17–22.
    1. Stearns V, Beebe KL, Iyengar M, Dube E. Paroxetine controlled release in the treatment of menopausal hot flashes: a randomized controlled trial. Jama. 2003;289(21):2827–2834.
    1. Stearns V, Slack R, Greep N, et al. Paroxetine is an effective treatment for hot flashes: results from a prospective randomized clinical trial. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(28):6919–6930.
    1. Loprinzi CL, Sloan JA, Perez EA, et al. Phase III evaluation of fluoxetine for treatment of hot flashes. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20(6):1578–1583.
    1. Suvanto-Luukkonen E, Koivunen R, Sundstrom H, et al. Citalopram and fluoxetine in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms: a prospective, randomized, 9-month, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Menopause. 2005;12(1):18–26.
    1. Loprinzi CL, Sloan J, Stearns V, et al. Newer antidepressants and gabapentin for hot flashes: an individual patient pooled analysis. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27(17):2831–2837.
    1. Barton DL, Loprinzi CL, Novotny P, et al. Pilot evaluation of citalopram for the relief of hot flashes. J Support Oncol. 2003;1(1):47–51.
    1. Loprinzi CL, Flynn PJ, Carpenter LA, et al. Pilot evaluation of citalopram for the treatment of hot flashes in women with inadequate benefit from venlafaxine. J Palliat Med. 2005;8(5):924–930.
    1. Kalay AE, Demir B, Haberal A, Kalay M, Kandemir O. Efficacy of citalopram on climacteric symptoms. Menopause. 2007;14(2):223–229.
    1. Barton DL, LaVasseur B, Sloan JA, et al. A phase III trial evaluating three doses of citalopram for hot flashes: NCCTG trial N05C9. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(20):9538.
    1. Jin Y, Desta Z, Stearns V, et al. CYP2D6 genotype, antidepressant use, and tamoxifen metabolism during adjuvant breast cancer treatment. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005;97(1):30–39.
    1. Otton SV, Ball SE, Cheung SW, Inaba T, Rudolph RL, Sellers EM. Venlafaxine oxidation in vitro is catalysed by CYP2D6. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1996;41(2):149–156.
    1. Guttuso TJ., Jr Gabapentin’s effects on hot flashes and hypothermia. Neurology. 2000;54(11):2161–2163.
    1. Loprinzi L, Barton DL, Sloan JA, et al. Pilot evaluation of gabapentin for treating hot flashes. Mayo Clin Proc. 2002;77(11):1159–1163.
    1. Guttuso T, Jr, Kurlan R, McDermott MP, Kieburtz K. Gabapentin’s effects on hot flashes in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101(2):337–345.
    1. Pandya KJ, Morrow GR, Roscoe JA, et al. Gabapentin for hot flashes in 420 women with breast cancer: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2005;366(9488):818–824.
    1. Reddy SY, Warner H, Guttuso T, Jr, et al. Gabapentin, estrogen, and placebo for treating hot flushes: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;108(1):41–48.
    1. Presant CA KC. Palliation of vasomotor instability (hot flashes) using pregabalin. Community Oncol. 2007;4:83–84.
    1. Loprinzi CL, Qin R, Baclueva EP, et al. Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of pregabalin for alleviating hot flashes, N07C1. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(4):641–647.
    1. Freeman EW, Sherif K. Prevalence of hot flushes and night sweats around the world: a systematic review. Climacteric. 2007;10(3):197–214.
    1. Oddens BJ. The climacteric cross-culturally: the International Health Foundation South-east Asia study. Maturitas. 1994;19(3):155–156.
    1. Tham DM, Gardner CD, Haskell WL. Clinical review 97: Potential health benefits of dietary phytoestrogens: a review of the clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic evidence. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998;83(7):2223–2235.
    1. St Germain A, Peterson CT, Robinson JG, Alekel DL. Isoflavone-rich or isoflavone-poor soy protein does not reduce menopausal symptoms during 24 weeks of treatment. Menopause. 2001;8(1):17–26.
    1. Quella SK, Loprinzi CL, Barton DL, et al. Evaluation of soy phytoestrogens for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors: A North Central Cancer Treatment Group Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2000;18(5):1068–1074.
    1. Kronenberg F, Fugh-Berman A. Complementary and alternative medicine for menopausal symptoms: a review of randomized, controlled trials. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137(10):805–813.
    1. Tice JA, Ettinger B, Ensrud K, Wallace R, Blackwell T, Cummings SR. Phytoestrogen supplements for the treatment of hot flashes: the Isoflavone Clover Extract (ICE) Study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2003;290(2):207–214.
    1. Chen J, Hui E, Ip T, Thompson LU. Dietary flaxseed enhances the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on the growth of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer (mcf-7) in nude mice. Clin Cancer Res. 2004;10(22):7703–7711.
    1. Pruthi S, Thompson SL, Novotny PJ, et al. Pilot evaluation of flaxseed for the management of hot flashes. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2007;5(3):106–112.
    1. Lewis JE, Nickell LA, Thompson LU, Szalai JP, Kiss A, Hilditch JR. A randomized controlled trial of the effect of dietary soy and flaxseed muffins on quality of life and hot flashes during menopause. Menopause. 2006;13(4):631–642.
    1. Lethaby AE, Brown J, Marjoribanks J, Kronenberg F, Roberts H, Eden J. Phytoestrogens for vasomotor menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(4):CD001395.
    1. Howes LG, Howes JB, Knight DC. Isoflavone therapy for menopausal flushes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas. 2006;55(3):203–211.
    1. Wade C, Kronenberg F, Kelly A, Murphy PA. Hormone-modulating herbs: implications for women’s health. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 1999;54(4):181–183.
    1. Pockaj BA, Gallagher JG, Loprinzi CL, et al. Phase III double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of black cohosh in the management of hot flashes: NCCTG Trial N01CC1. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24(18):2836–2841.
    1. Geller SE, Shulman LP, van Breemen RB, et al. Safety and efficacy of black cohosh and red clover for the management of vasomotor symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Menopause. 2009;16(6):1156–1166.
    1. Christy C. Vitamin E in menopause. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1945;50:84–87.
    1. Finkler RS. The effect of vitamin E in menopause. J Clin Endo Metab. 1949;9:89–94.
    1. Barton DL, Loprinzi CL, Quella SK, et al. Prospective evaluation of vitamin E for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol. 1998;16(2):495–500.
    1. Bardia A, Tleyjeh IM, Cerhan JR, et al. Efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in reducing primary cancer incidence and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83(1):23–34.
    1. Barton DL, Loprinzi C, Atherton PJ, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone for the treatment of hot flashes: a pilot study. Support Cancer Ther. 2006;3(2):91–97.
    1. Lasley BL, Santoro N, Randolf JF, et al. The relationship of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, and estradiol to stages of the menopausal transition and ethnicity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87(8):3760–3767.
    1. Stomati M, Monteleone P, Casarosa E, et al. Six-month oral dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation in early and late postmenopause. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2000;14(5):342–363.
    1. LowDog T. Menopause: a review of botanical dietary supplements. The American Journal of Medicine. 2005;118(12B):98S–108S.
    1. Chenoy R, Hussain S, Tayob Y, O’Brien PM, Moss MY, Morse PF. Effect of oral gamolenic acid from evening primrose oil on menopausal flushing. BMJ. 1994;308(6927):501–503.
    1. Hirata JD, Swiersz LM, Zell B, Small R, Ettinger B. Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 1997;68(6):981–986.
    1. Amato P, Christophe S, Mellon PL. Estrogenic activity of herbs commonly used as remedies for menopausal symptoms. Menopause. 2002;9(2):145–150.
    1. Lau CB, Ho TC, Chan TW, Kim SC. Use of dong quai (Angelica sinensis) to treat peri- or postmenopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer: is it appropriate? Menopause. 2005;12(6):734–740.
    1. Wiklund IK, Mattsson LA, Lindgren R, Limoni C. Effects of a standardized ginseng extract on quality of life and physiological parameters in symptomatic postmenopausal women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Swedish Alternative Medicine Group. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1999;19(3):89–99.
    1. Lee J. Natural Progesterone: The Multiple Roles of a Remarkable Hormone. Sebastopol, CA: BLL Publishing; 1993.
    1. Komesaroff PA, Black CV, Cable V, Sudhir K. Effects of wild yam extract on menopausal symptoms, lipids and sex hormones in healthy menopausal women. Climacteric. 2001;4(2):144–150.
    1. The North American Menopause Society Treatment of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2004;11(1):11–33.
    1. Barton D, Loprinzi C, Wahner-Roedler D. Hot flashes: aetiology and management. Drugs Aging. 2001;18(8):597–606.
    1. Daley A, MacArthur C, Mutrie N, Stokes-Lampard H. Exercise for vasomotor menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(4):CD006108.
    1. Daley AJ, Stokes-Lampard HJ, Macarthur C. Exercise to reduce vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms: a review. Maturitas. 2009;63(3):176–180.
    1. Chattha R, Raghuram N, Venkatram P, Hongasandra NR. Treating the climacteric symptoms in Indian women with an integrated approach to yoga therapy: a randomized control study. Menopause. 2008;15(5):862–870.
    1. Carson JW, Carson KM, Porter LS, Keefe FJ, Seewaldt VL. Yoga of Awareness program for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: results from a randomized trial. Support Care Cancer. 2009;17(10):1301–1309.
    1. Lee MS, Kim JI, Ha JY, Boddy K, Ernst E. Yoga for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review. Menopause. 2009;16(3):602–608.
    1. Freedman RR, Woodward S. Behavioral treatment of menopausal hot flushes: evaluation by ambulatory monitoring. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992;167(2):436–439.
    1. Germaine LM, Freedman RR. Behavioral treatment of menopausal hot flashes: evaluation by objective methods. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1984;52(6):1072–1079.
    1. Fenlon DR, Corner JL, Haviland JS. A randomized controlled trial of relaxation training to reduce hot flashes in women with primary breast cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2008;35(4):397–405.
    1. Kabat-Zinn J. Full Catastrope living: using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York: Delacorte; 1990.
    1. Carmody J, Crawford S, Churchill L. A pilot study of mindfulness-based stress reduction for hot flashes. Menopause. 2006;13(5):760–769.
    1. Tremblay A, Sheeran L, Aranda SK. Psychoeducational interventions to alleviate hot flashes: a systematic review. Menopause. 2008;15(1):193–202.
    1. Stern JA, Brown M, Ulett GA, Sletten I. A comparison of hypnosis, acupuncture, morphine, valium, aspirin, and placebo in the management of experimentally induced pain. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1977;296:175–193.
    1. Wadden TA, Anderton CH. The clinical use of hypnosis. Psychol Bull. 1982;91(2):215–243.
    1. Borkovec TD, Fowles DC. Controlled investigation of the effects of progressive and hypnotic relaxation on insomnia. J Abnorm Psychol. 1973;82(1):153–158.
    1. Elkins GR. Consulting about insomnia: Hypnotherapy, sleep hygiene, and stimulus-control instructions. In: Matthews WJ, Edgette JH, editors. Current thinking and research in brief therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel; 1997.
    1. Gruber BL, Hersh SP, Hall NR, et al. Immunological responses of breast cancer patients to behavioral interventions. Biofeedback Self Regul. 1993;18(1):1–22.
    1. Bridge LR, Benson P, Pietroni PC, Priest RG. Relaxation and imagery in the treatment of breast cancer. BMJ. 1988;297(6657):1169–1172.
    1. Decker TW, Cline-Elsen J, Gallagher M. Relaxation therapy as an adjunct in radiation oncology. J Clin Psychol. 1992;48(3):388–393.
    1. Elkins G, Marcus J, Stearns V, Hasan Rajab M. Pilot evaluation of hypnosis for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. Psychooncology. 2007;16(5):487–492.
    1. Elkins G, Marcus J, Stearns V, et al. Randomized trial of a hypnosis intervention for treatment of hot flashes among breast cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(31):5022–5026.
    1. Cho SH, Whang WW. Acupuncture for vasomotor menopausal symptoms: a systematic review. Menopause. 2009;16(5):1065–1073.
    1. Lee MS, Kim KH, Choi SM, Ernst E. Acupuncture for treating hot flashes in breast cancer patients: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009;115(3):497–503.
    1. Elias M. Cervical sympathetic and stellate ganglion blocks. Pain Physician. 2000;3(3):294–304.
    1. Lipov E, Lipov S, Stark JT. Stellate ganglion blockade provides relief from menopausal hot flashes: a case report series. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2005;14(8):737–741.
    1. Lipov EG, Joshi JR, Sanders S, et al. Effects of stellate-ganglion block on hot flushes and night awakenings in survivors of breast cancer: a pilot study. Lancet Oncol. 2008;9(6):523–532.
    1. Pachman DR, Barton D, Carns PE, et al. Pilot evaluation of a stellate ganglion block for the treatment of hot flashes. Submitted for publication. 2010
    1. Lipov EG, Lipov S, Joshi JR, Santucci VD, Slavin KV, Beck Vigue SG. Stellate ganglion block may relieve hot flashes by interrupting the sympathetic nervous system. Med Hypotheses. 2007;69(4):758–763.

Source: PubMed

3
Tilaa