If you are not a candidate for HT or prefer an alternative to HT, low-dose Paroxetine is the only FDA-approved, non hormonal medication for hot flashes. It’s a medication typically used to treat depression.
Other medications that have been shown to improve hot flashes but are not FDA-approved are Venlafaxine, an anti-anxiety medication; Gabapentin, an anti-seizure medication; and Clonidine, a blood pressure medication.
It’s important to know that hot flash intensity and frequency varies from person to person — some won’t experience them at all. If you have hot flashes or night sweats and are not bothered by them, you don’t need any treatment, however, lifestyle changes are always beneficial to your overall health.
But if your symptoms are bothersome and affecting your quality of life, you should consider treatment. Whatever your approach, the best results will come from a shared decision-making conversation between you and your physician.