Monday, August 24, 2015

A Discussion On Menopause Medication

By Shawn Hunter


Menopause is not an illness. It is part of the normal aging process for women. However, it involves problematic symptoms which require treatment. The medication used in the treatment process will be influenced by the level of discomfort the woman is in. The symptoms vary widely ranging from minor changes in lifestyle like dislike of spicy foods to being put on prescription menopause medication.

In many instances, maintaining a regular schedule of exercising and eating balanced meals are all it takes to manage the signs and symptoms of menopause, stay healthy and avert complications. However, if this does not work the woman may have to take depression drugs, blood pressure drugs, anti-seizure drugs or hormonal medications. The level of estrogen hormone in the body decreases considerably during this stage. Some conditions may also come up including Alzheimer disease, colon cancer, glaucoma, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Taking measures to reduce the risk of suffering from such diseases is by far the best approach.

Estrogen replacement therapy is the most effective technique for relieve of hot flashes. However, it needs thorough family and medical history taking in order to determine whether the person is fit to take this hormone. At times, if the related risk is not so great, it can be prescribed in low doses. For those who have not undergone hysterectomy, progestin has to be taken along with the estrogen. This hormone also prevents loss of bone density and cardiovascular diseases.

Vaginal dryness is commonly experienced by women in menopause stage. This can be a bother to the woman as she will not be able to enjoy sexual intercourse due to pain and discomfort. At times, pain during micturition can be present too. Applying estrogen vaginal creams may lessen the discomfort and pain due to softening of the vaginal mucosa.

Mood swings may have to be managed by antidepressants drugs if other non-pharmacological techniques have failed. Those in the SSRI class are preferred. Women who are not able to take estrogen due to a number of reasons can benefit a lot from these drugs.

Gabapentin is an anti-seizure medication which has been cleared to treat hot flashes associated with menopause. It is also recommended for those women who are not fit to take estrogen in relieve of hot flashes or those who suffer from migraines.

Osteoporosis is another troublesome symptom when women hit menopause. This is even worse for women who already had low bone density before. Low estrogen level is one of the biggest contributors of osteoporosis. Management involves taking of estrogen, vitamin D and calcium. Salt intake should be reduced. Alcohol and smoking should be avoided and the woman is advised to exercise regularly.

Before the treatment plan is put in place, the woman and her doctor have to engage in discussions on the options at hand. The benefits and risks of each of the option have to be considered. The technique chosen has to be reviewed every year to determine the changes to be incorporated if any.




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