Rating of non-hormonal drugs for menopause: choosing effective and affordable drugs

With the onset of menopause, a woman's body undergoes numerous changes. The ovaries stop producing sex hormones and menstruation stops. Moreover, due to hormonal deficiency, a woman begins to experience many unpleasant ailments, both mental and physical. Among them, the most unpleasant are hot flashes and night sweats, which up to 55–75% of women experience during menopause.

Fortunately, there are ways to overcome this condition. Find out how to cope with sudden hot flashes in this article.

Why are non-hormonal medications needed for menopause?

The decline of reproductive function does not occur overnight, but takes a fairly long period of life, which is called menopause.

It is divided into 3 main stages:

1. Premenopause normally starts at about 45 years of age. The ovaries begin to synthesize fewer sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The pituitary gland, in order to stimulate the hormonal function of the ovaries, produces gonadotropic hormones: follicle-stimulating and luteinizing. Hormonal imbalance begins in the body. Against this background, menopausal symptoms appear.
2. Menopause or menopause is the last independent menstrual cycle. It is diagnosed when after the last menstruation there have been no periods for 1 year. Occurs at approximately 50 years of age.
3. Postmenopause lasts until the end of a woman's life. At this stage, the ovaries gradually atrophy, and the pituitary gland adapts to the changed hormonal levels.

As we can see, menopausal symptoms disturb a woman for several years, worsening her psycho-emotional and physical condition, which is reflected in her performance and quality of life in general.

Since every body is unique, all women experience menopause differently. Some people have many symptoms that are pronounced, while others have few and do not bother them significantly.

But hormonal changes are always accompanied by unpleasant psycho-emotional symptoms: irritability, tearfulness, frequent mood swings, and depressive states.

The hallmark of menopause is hot flashes, which are accompanied by profuse sweating. For some women, hot flashes occur only once, while for others they recur many times during the day and, especially, at night, preventing them from getting enough sleep and proper rest.

In addition, headaches, dizziness, surges in blood pressure and other manifestations appear.

In order for a woman to be able to lead her usual lifestyle after the onset of premenopause and maintain her ability to work, she is prescribed hormonal or non-hormonal therapy.

Taking hormonal drugs gives quick results, but has many side effects. Non-hormonal treatment for menopause involves taking herbal medicines.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators: Evista

Selective estrogen receptor modulators are drugs that act selectively as estrogens in some (non-reproductive) tissues and as anti-estrogens in other (reproductive) tissues.

Temoxifen was the first drug in this group to be discovered. It acted as an estrogen in relation to bone tissue (preventing the development of osteoprorosis) and as an anti-estrogen in relation to the mammary gland (suppressing cell proliferation - proliferation and their degeneration into cancer). A side effect of tamoxifen was considered to be its estrogenic effect on the endometrium - stimulating proliferation. Tamoxifen is used only as an antitumor agent in the treatment of breast cancer.

The next generation of selective estrogen receptor modulators includes raloxifene. As an estrogen, it has a positive effect on bone tissue, lipid metabolism (prevention of atherosclerosis) and the blood coagulation system (increases the risk of thrombosis). How an anti-estrogen affects the mammary gland without affecting the endometrium. Therefore, raloxifene is used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis during menopause.

Who are phytoestrogens indicated for during menopause?

Herbal preparations prescribed for menopause contain phytoestrogens - low molecular weight substances produced by plants.

https://youtu.be/FcpSpljZ150

They act on the human body in the same way as organic estrogen, a sex hormone synthesized by the ovaries. Their similar action is due to the fact that in the human body they bind to the same receptors.

With the onset of menopause, herbal medicine is resorted to quite often; in particular, herbal medicines are prescribed in such cases:

• premenopause begins before age 45;
• with the development of diabetes mellitus;
• after oophorectomy - surgical removal of one or two ovaries.

Also, drugs containing phytoestrogens are prescribed to women of reproductive age who have not had periods for a long time, as well as to girls with late puberty - their first periods came after 16 years.

Herbal preparations successfully cope with many symptoms that appear during premenopause:

• reduce the intensity of hot flashes;
• reduce the level of sweating and normalize the functioning of the sweat glands;
• normalize sleep and eliminate problems with falling asleep, as well as insomnia;
• eliminate surges in blood pressure;
• remove irritability, nervousness, mood swings, apathy and depressive moods.

During menopause, taking estrogen of plant origin helps prevent the development of such diseases:

• disturbances in the functioning of the genitourinary system, expressed in urinary incontinence;
• pathologies in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• hypertension;
• osteoporosis.

Preparations of herbal origin are not classified as medications, but as biologically active additives, or dietary supplements for short, which are well tolerated by most women and practically do not cause side effects.

For this reason, they are very popular among women who have entered menopause.

But when menopausal symptoms manifest themselves clearly, it will not be possible to do without hormone replacement therapy, or HRT for short. By taking artificial hormones, a woman can quickly eliminate hormonal imbalances and reduce the intensity of symptoms, and eventually get rid of them altogether.

In case of difficult menopause, natural natural preparations are prescribed in addition to HRT.

Vitamin and mineral complexes

Why do we need vitamins during menopausal hot flashes? Can they really eliminate them? Vitamins do not act quickly and will not have any effect if taken once. Only a course of these medications will help . Vitamins for women in menopause contain biologically active substances that are so necessary for metabolism during this period. All symptoms of menopause (including hot flashes) are caused by metabolic disorders and after a course of taking vitamins, the condition will significantly improve due to the normalization of metabolic processes.

During menopause, doctors recommend taking:

• Menopace (Vitabiotics, UK)
• Vitrum Centuri (Unipharm, USA)
• Centrum Silver for women 50+ (Wyatt Canada)
• Complivit 45+ (Pharmstandard, Russia)
• Vitatress (Veropharm, Russia), etc.

How do herbal medicines work during menopause?

Herbal tea recipe for hot flashes.

Herbal remedies for menopause have an estrogen-like effect, which is directed to the hypothalamus. It begins to reduce the rate of production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which affects the pituitary gland's production of luteinizing hormone.

As a result, the level of luteinizing hormone in the body, which stimulates the hormonal function of the ovaries, decreases. The described chain of changes leads to the elimination of hormonal imbalances that provoke the appearance of menopausal symptoms.

Normalization of hormonal levels leads to a decrease in the intensity of menopausal symptoms, and then their complete disappearance. Taking a herbal preparation during menopause, a woman will reduce the frequency of hot flashes and profuse sweating, normalize sleep, eliminate headaches and get rid of other unpleasant symptoms.

Herbal medicines prescribed to women during menopause have a mild sedative effect, which allows them to normalize the functioning of the nervous system and remove symptoms such as irritability, nervousness, aggression, apathy, depression, etc.

They also have a mild diuretic effect, stimulate the digestive glands and relax the intestinal muscles. In addition, they have antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Admission rules

Herbal tablets are taken without chewing. They must be swallowed whole and washed down with a small amount of water. Typically, they are taken before or during meals. Therefore, before starting therapy, you must carefully study the instructions for the drug.

Homeopathic remedies, in addition to herbal components, include active substances of animal origin - snake venom, cuttlefish ink, etc. They are taken half an hour before meals or an hour after the end of the meal. Homeopathic tablets are not swallowed, but kept under the tongue until completely absorbed.

During menopause, drops of plant origin are taken in pure form, first dripped into a spoon, or diluted in a small amount of water. If the homeopathic remedy is released in the form of drops, then it is first kept in the mouth for 20-30 seconds and then swallowed.

Dosage

The dose of the drug is prescribed exclusively by the doctor, based on the results of blood tests for hormones and examination of the woman. The standard course of treatment with herbal remedies lasts 3 months, and a lasting therapeutic effect appears only after 2 weeks.

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe a second course of treatment, but always after a break of 1-2 months. Repeated therapy is prescribed based on the results of an examination and blood test for hormones.

Side effects

The choice of herbal remedies for menopause.

The body may react to taking herbal medications with the following side effects:

• begins to feel sick, and sometimes vomiting appears;
• urine becomes dark in color;
• the whites of the eyes and skin acquire a yellowish tint;
• the woman quickly begins to gain weight, but her appetite does not increase;
• there is a feeling of weakness throughout the body;
• pain symptoms begin in the chest or peritoneum.

The described manifestations are quite rare, but it is important to understand that they may indicate a negative effect of the drug on the liver. Therefore, if even one symptom appears, you should immediately stop taking the drug and make an appointment with your doctor.

After a thorough examination, the doctor will select another herbal preparation, but with a milder effect.

Contraindications

Herbal preparations for menopause are not recommended for use in the following diseases and conditions:

• hormone-dependent neoplasms of a benign or malignant nature, since taking phytoestrogens can provoke tumor growth;
• allergic reactions to at least one component included in the product;
• epilepsy and other brain diseases;
• problems in liver function;
• throughout the entire period of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Alcohol-containing herbal preparations during menopause should not be taken by women who previously had an irresistible craving for alcohol.

How to reduce hot flashes and excessive sweating

If signs of menopause appear, you should consult a gynecologist and endocrinologist. To relieve hot flashes, your doctor may recommend:

• drug therapy : their action is aimed at replenishing hormone deficiency;
• visiting a psychologist : this is effective in cases where the patient’s psychological state is unstable;
• consultation with a nutritionist : necessary to correct diet, work and rest.

General rules for the use of herbal medicines

1. There are the following general rules for choosing and taking herbal preparations:
2. The herbal medicine, its dosage and course of treatment should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor based on the results of a woman’s examination and blood tests.
3. Only a doctor can change the dosage, duration of therapy and discontinue the drug.
4. Each herbal medicine has contraindications, therefore, the doctor must be informed about any allergies or chronic diseases.
5. Therapy is carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Phytoestrogens should not be taken for preventive purposes.

Tip 6: Monitor the air temperature

Too high a temperature can increase the frequency of hot flashes. Therefore, a woman during menopause should avoid heat and frequently ventilate the apartment, especially before bed.

In conclusion, although menopause is an integral part of a woman's life, it does not have to be associated with bothersome symptoms such as hot flashes. We can reduce the frequency of their occurrence in various ways, for example, through a diet rich in phytoestrogens, hormone replacement therapy, and other methods.

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Which phytohormones are better for menopause?

Phytohormones containing plant hormones similar to organic estrogen are divided into the following types:

1. Isoflavones are found in large quantities in soy.
2. Coumestins – the leader in their content is red clover.
3. Flavones – There are a lot of them in broccoli and other varieties of cabbage.
4. Lignans – found in flaxseed.

With the onset of menopause, the phytoestrogens that enter the body with food are no longer enough and the woman is prescribed herbal-based medications. You should not be afraid to take medications containing soy isoflavones during menopause, since they are produced only from non-genetically modified soybeans.

New generation herbal preparations for menopause include several types of phytoestrogens. They are able to normalize hormonal levels, reduce the intensity of symptoms and eliminate them altogether, as well as slow down the aging process, helping the body cope with the complex processes of hormonal changes.

Diet for weight loss

A diet for losing weight during menopause is a guarantee of maintaining excellent health and a slim figure. During menopause, it is important to eat right, but this does not mean that you have to follow a strict diet. You just need to stick to a balanced diet, which is aimed at maintaining the required level of substances necessary for the healthy functioning of the body. Losing weight by following proper nutrition is quite simple, especially supplementing it with physical activity and giving up unhealthy foods and habits.

Healthy foods

A woman's healthy diet should include the following foods:

• non-fatty meats and fish;
• low-fat or low-fat dairy products;
• cereals, bran;
• greens with vegetables;
• berries and fruits;
• dried fruits, nuts;
• freshly squeezed juices, herbal infusions;
• vegetable oils;
• legumes;
• garlic with onions.

It is important to remember - it is better to eat boiled, stewed, steamed, or oven-baked dishes.

Harmful

You should avoid using:

• fatty meat;
• semi-finished products, fast foods;
• sweets, baked goods;
• smoked meats;
• canned foods;
• spicy, unnatural sauces;
• margarine;
• soda, especially sweet, unnatural juices;
• caffeine;
• alcoholic beverages, tobacco products.

Sample menu for the week

Everyone can independently create an individual menu for the week, following the advice of nutritionists.

• muesli with natural yogurt, banana and nuts;
• toast with low-fat cottage cheese, boiled egg, green hour with fruit salad;
• vegetable salad dressed with olive oil, toast with berry jam, rosehip infusion;
• pumpkin pancakes, berry smoothie.

• mashed potatoes with boiled chicken breast, vegetable salad;
• buckwheat porridge with steamed fish, cottage cheese;
• lean borscht, a slice of bread with fish pate;
• vegetable soup, bean puree.

• vegetable stew, rice cutlet, apple;
• boiled beans, a slice of bread, a little liver pate, one orange;
• millet porridge with lean chop, cucumber and tomato salad;
• steamed chicken cutlets with vegetable salad.

Preparations with plant estrogens

There is a huge list of drugs that include phytoestrogens. We will look at the most effective herbal remedies for menopause.

Estrovel

Estrovel is a Belarusian dietary supplement that has a very rich composition. The drug contains phytoestrogens from the fruits of the sacred vitex, soybeans, and wild yam root, which has another name: Dioscorea.

In addition, the dietary supplement contains the amino acid L-5-hydroxytryptophan, the antioxidant indole 3-carbinol, the trace element boron and a complex of the following vitamins: B6, B9, K1 and E.

Taking Estrovel allows you to normalize the hormonal level and eliminate many menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, increased sweating, irritability, nervousness, headaches, soreness of the mammary glands, etc.

Instructions for the dietary supplement Estrovel.

The drug helps strengthen the immune system and prevent the development of osteoporosis, diseases of the cardiovascular and genitourinary systems.

For menopause, the course of treatment is 2 months. Tablets are taken 2 times a day, 1 piece. after meal. If menopausal symptoms manifest themselves intensely, then the doctor can double the consumption of tablets - 4 pieces per day.

If necessary, the course of therapy is repeated, but only after a break of 1-2 months.

Feminal

Feminal is a Croatian dietary supplement in the form of capsules. The drug contains one active substance – red clover extract. Taking the drug helps alleviate the following menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, increased sweating, irritability, nervousness, mood swings, sleep disorders, headaches, tachycardia, etc.

The course of treatment is 1 month. It is recommended to take 1 capsule per day with meals. If necessary, you can repeat courses of treatment, but only after consulting a doctor.

Klimadinon

Klimadinon is a German herbal medicine. The tablets contain one active substance, containing phytoestrogens - black cohosh rhizome extract and additional substances.

The drug is prescribed to eliminate menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, bouts of sweating, irritability, mood swings, sleep disturbances and apathy. It is taken 2 times a day, 1 tablet, without chewing.

The recommended course of treatment is 3 months. Only a doctor can continue therapy.

Remens

Remens is an Austrian homeopathic medicine, which is produced in the form of sublingual tablets or drops. The drug contains the following active substances: black cohosh, sanguinaria canadensis, pilocarpus, surukuku snake venom and cuttlefish gland secretion.

The drug helps eliminate the following menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, excessive sweating, surges in blood pressure, attacks of rapid heartbeat, sleep disturbances, tearfulness, aggressiveness, reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and prevents weight gain.

For menopause, the course of treatment lasts at least 6 months. Take 1 tablet 3 times a day. After stabilization of the condition, the number of doses is reduced to 1-2 times a day, 1 tablet. The tablets are kept under the tongue until completely dissolved.

Drops are taken at the same frequency, 10 drops at a time. The drops are diluted in a spoon of water and first kept in the mouth for 20-30 seconds and then swallowed. Drops can be taken without diluting them in water, but in their pure form.

Klimaksan

Klimaxan - homeopathic granules and tablets of Russian origin. They contain active substances such as cohosh, bee venom and lachesis - snake venom.

The drug is prescribed to reduce the intensity of the following menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, sleep disturbances, attacks of tachycardia, irritability and tearfulness.

The standard course of treatment is 6 months, but if necessary, the doctor may prescribe re-therapy after a month's break. The drug is taken not during meals, 2 times a day, 1 tablet or 5 granules, which are kept in the mouth until completely dissolved.

If menopausal symptoms manifest themselves strongly, the doctor may increase the intake of the drug up to 3-4 times a day.

Qi Klim

Qi-klim is a Russian anti-climacteric herbal preparation. The active ingredient of the drug is phytoestrogens from the rhizome of black cohosh. The drug is prescribed to eliminate a whole range of menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, excessive sweating, sleep disturbances, frequent mood swings, irritability, apathy.

The standard course of therapy is 3 months. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe repeated therapy. The tablets must be swallowed whole with a small amount of water. They are taken 2 times a day, 1 tablet. Improvement occurs after 2-4 weeks of treatment.

Prices for drugs

In different pharmacies of the same region, the price of herbal preparations may differ slightly, and by region they may differ significantly.

We looked at the limits of the price of the drugs we reviewed:

1. Extravel - 400-490 rubles.
2. Feminal - 697-735 rubles.
3. Klimadinon - 400-429 rubles.
4. Remens – 450-502 rubles.
5. Klimaxan – 124-160 rubles.
6. Qi Klin - 300-350 rubles.

All of these drugs can be purchased both in pharmacies and online pharmacies.

Herbs for menopausal hot flashes

Often, at the beginning of premenopause, a woman is only bothered by hot flashes, and there are no other symptoms yet. In such cases, some women do not want to take herbal preparations that relieve menopausal symptoms, but are looking for folk recipes for hot flashes.

Popular folk remedies that reduce the frequency of hot flashes and, over time, eliminate them altogether:

1. Sage tea: pour 1 teaspoon of dry sage into 100 ml of boiling water and let brew for 3 minutes. When the tea has cooled a little, you can add honey or lemon to it. You can drink 4 cups of this healing drink a day, which not only eliminates hot flashes and excessive sweating, but lowers blood pressure.
2. Sage infusion: 1 tbsp. Pour 240 ml of boiling water over a spoonful of dry herbs and leave under the lid closed for 30 minutes. The number of doses of such a concentrated product depends on the severity of hot flashes. For mild manifestations, it is enough to take a glass of infusion once a day, and for intense manifestations - 3-4 times a day.
3. Hawthorn infusion. Pour 5 g of hawthorn fruit or 10 g of hawthorn flowers into a glass of boiling water and leave for 40 minutes, then strain, take ½ glass 30 minutes before meals, 2 times a day.

To prevent hot flashes from being long and disturbing, you can often take baths with sage. First you need to prepare an infusion: 7 tbsp. spoon dry herb, pour 1.5 liters of boiling water and let it brew for 30 minutes. Before going to bed, take a hot bath for 10-15 minutes, into which the strained infusion is poured. The water temperature should be 37-40 degrees.