Modern Health Therapy

What is menopause? It is a stage in adult life (may be given between 40 and 55) of the woman you stop producing estrogen, and therefore menstruation disappears. This means that with the reduction of female hormones, are exposed to a number of risks to health. It is very important to be well informed to understand their symptoms and make the best possible quality of life.

The two main problems to be confronted with a woman who has moved to this new life cycle are those of osteoporosis and breast cancer. It is essential a change of attitude and keep in mind that health care is that it is the greatest treasure.

It is very important to establish a healthy diet: no fat, calcium and vitamin D are also prohibited the use of snuff and alcohol. If, moreover, get moderate exercise you make to prevent or relieve symptoms of menopause, chronic fatigue, hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, vaginal dryness, etc. With regard to breast cancer, it is essential to maintain tight control annual gynecological examination. A mammogram can save your life. (more…)

The frequency and severity of hot flashes of menopause could be reduced with the antidepressant Celexa (citalopram) according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on the effectiveness of this drug against hot flashes.

Debra L. Barton of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and his colleagues conducted the study with 254 women with frequent hot flashes (at least 14 per week for one month). They were randomly assigned to take 10 mg, 20 mg or 30 mg of citalopram or placebo (inactive product).

After six weeks of treatment, the dose of 10 mg brought about a 46% reduction in hot flashes compared to 23% in the placebo group. Higher doses did not increase significantly the benefits.

Studies have already shown the efficacy of antidepressants in the class of inhibitors selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which Deroxat or Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine) and Effexor (venlafaxine), for reduce hot flashes. (Another antidepressant in the same class, sertraline (Zoloft), proved ineffective.)

Citalopram has the advantage, however, in contrast to paroxetine, and fluoxetine can be taken with tamoxifen in the case of premature menopause caused by treatment of breast cancer, say the authors. (See: The antidepressant paroxetine (Deroxat, Paxil) reduces the effectiveness of tamoxifen.)

Other psychotropic drugs used against hot flashes are the anticonvulsant drugs (AEDs) Neurontin (gabapentin) and Lyrica (pregabalin). Celexa (citalopram) is more easily tolerate these drugs, say the authors.

A limitation of the study, the authors note, is its limited duration. The long-term control of hot flashes and the occurrence of side effects with citalopram and can not be determined.