DIAGNOSIS
Your doctor may diagnose hot flashes based on your signs and symptoms. Your doctor may request blood tests to check whether you’re in the menopausal stage.
TREATMENT
The best strategy to ease hot flashes is to take estrogen, but it is not without risks. If estrogen is given to you and you start it within 10 years of your last menstrual period or before age 60, your risks may be lessened. Hot flashes subside well in most women, even without treatment, but it can take a long time for them to stop.
Hormone therapy
Estrogen is the hormone that is used to reduce hot flashes. Women who have had a hysterectomy can use estrogen.
Antidepressants
A low-dose form of paroxetine is the nonhormone treatment for hot flashes. Diverse antidepressants that have been used to treat hot flashes include:
- Venlafaxine
- Paroxetine
- Fluoxetine
Other prescription medications
Other medications that may offer assistance for specific women include:
- Gabapentin, whichis an anti-seizure medication that is used to diminish hot flashes.
- Clonidine is usually used to treat hypertension but may reduce hot flashes.
Nerve block procedure
A procedure known as a nerve block has been shown to decrease hot flashes, yet more research is required regarding its efficacy.