Antidepressants: May Offer An Alternative Treatment For Menopause Symptoms

STUART — Hot flashes, night sweats, tiredness, irritability, loss of libido. These are just a few of the symptoms experienced by women during menopause. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers a successful treatment for many of these ailments, it also comes with some risks. And while its benefits may be promising, some women are unwilling -- or unable because of pre-existing medical conditions -- to take HRT. Antidepressants offer an increasingly popular, non-hormonal menopause treatment method.

About menopause and HRT

A normal part of aging, menopause comprises the period just before and after a woman stops menstruating. While not all women experience symptoms during menopause, many do. Until recently, HRT -- the prevalent method of treatment, which involves supplementing the body with estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progesterone -- was heralded for both its effect on menopause and its symptoms, as well as in the prevention of osteoporosis.

However, researchers have recently started to question the benefits of HRT against the risks, which may include increased risk of endometrial cancer, breast cancer, blood clots and stroke. Furthermore, research from the Women's Health Initiative has even linked estrogen-progestin combination therapy to higher risk of heart disease.

For some women, HRT is not even an option; it is not recommended for women who have had breast cancer, endometrial cancer, abnormal vaginal bleeding, blood clots, history of stroke or liver disease. For these women, antidepressants offer an alternate form of relief.

An alternative to HRT

Whether or not you suffer from depression, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may reduce or completely stop hot flashes during menopause. First observed as a side effect and since backed up by research trials, antidepressants including fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram and escitalopram have each offered relief from hot flashes to some menopausal women. Additionally, a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) called venlafaxine has demonstrated similar effects.

Not only do SSRIs and SNRIs offer non-hormonal relief for hot flashes, it happens almost immediately -- within one to two weeks of beginning treatment. While research hasn’t yet determine how these medicines relieve hot flashes, for many women the promise of HRT-free relief is enough. Of course, antidepressants come with their own range of side effects, including nausea and decreased sex drive.

While both HRT and antidepressant therapies methods are effective, each offers different advantages. Your family physician can help you understand your options in order to determine your optimal treatment method. Spread this helpful message with friends, family and members of your community to promote awareness about alternatives to HRT.

Source: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2014/jun/24/family-health-matters-antidepressants-may-offer-an/

Navigating through Pre-Menopause

Are you having difficulty sleeping due to night sweats or insomnia? Has your lack of sleep affected your moods, health and ability to function? If so, you may be like millions of females across the country that are experiencing pre-menopausal symptoms. To help understand the causes and treatments of pre-menopause, Silver Cross Hospital is offering a free program in June.

Girl Talk: The Pre-Menopausal Woman
Join Dr. Priya Shastri, family practice physician, for a discussion on hyperactive bladder, mood changes and menstrual irregularities. Find out what symptoms to look for and discover new self-care tips to help you live healthy. This free program will be held Wednesday, June 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Silver Cross Hospital Conference Center, Pavilion A, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. Call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

Menopause is the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and fertility. It happens when the ovaries no longer make estrogen and progesterone, two hormones needed for a woman's fertility, and periods have stopped for 1 year. Menopause happens naturally with age, it tends to happen on average at the age of 51. But for some women it can happen before age 40. This is called premature menopause. The age when women enter menopause is thought to be mostly determined by their genes. But it can also happen as a result of surgery or treatment of a disease. In these cases it is called induced menopause.

What is Pre-menopause?
Pre-menopause is the time before the actual menopause, when cycles may change and symptoms first start to appear. Pre-menopause can last only a few months or up to several years, and is different for every woman. Some women go through early menopause with no symptoms except changes in their monthly cycles, while others experience hot flashes, mood swings, erratic bleeding, and other discomforts.

"For women who may be suffering from pre-menopausal symptoms such as a hyperactive bladder, mood changes and menstrual irregularities, it is important to seek treatment in order to get relief," said Dr. Priya Shastri, family practice physician, at Silver Cross Hospital. "During this program, you will learn a lot of beneficial information and tools when it comes to understanding and treating pre-menopause."

About Priya Shastri, M.D.
Priya Shastri, M.D., board certified family practice physician, has over 18 years of experience caring for patients of all ages in the south and western suburbs of Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Having worked in several urgent care clinics, she has a special interest in occupational health care, emergency medicine, preventative screenings, and treatment of elderly patients. Dr. Shastri has received additional training in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Pediatric Life Support Programs. Dr. Shastri now sees patients on the Silver Cross Hospital campus at Pavilion A, 1900 Silver Cross Blvd., Suite 370, New Lenox. To schedule an appointment, call 815-300-1450. New and walk-in patients welcome. Evening and Saturday appointments are available. Medicare and most insurances are accepted.
 
About Silver Cross Hospital
Silver Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit health care provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner for seven consecutive years and as a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. With over 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 289-bed acute care hospital and 5 satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. Silver Cross opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital on February 26, 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. In 2013, Silver Cross provided over $48 million in charity care and other community benefits. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, visit www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325). Physicians on Silver Cross Hospital's Medical Staff have expertise in their areas of practice to meet the needs of patients seeking their care. These physicians are independent practitioners on the Medical Staff and are not the agents or employees of Silver Cross Hospital. They treat patients based upon their independent medical judgment and they bill patients separately for their services.