Hot flash due to menopause is a sudden feeling of warmth, usually very intense over face, neck and chest, and profuse sweating. More than 50% of menopausal women experience hot flashes which are very uncomfortable and can last for years with an average of seven years. Though Hormone Therapy is available for treating it and is also effective and safe when used appropriately but it does involve risk and also all patients are not suitable candidates for it.
Keeping this in mind, a nonhormonal intervention called NK3R antagonists has come up as a viable and effective alternative to hormone therapy. This group of drugs disrupts a signaling pathway in the brain that is implicated in the development of hot flashes. In clinical trials these nonhormonal drugs have shown positivity for relieving moderate to sever hot flashes as effectively as hormones. Still more studies need to be done to completely understand the safety and effectiveness of these non- hormonal treatments for patient safety. But introduction of NK3R clearly shows that the next generation of nonhormonal treatments is on the horizon.
source: www.thalancet.com
