A NK3 receptor blocker may emerge as an alternative to hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) for the treatment of hot flashes during menopause.
- Menopausal hot flashes are commonly treated with hormonal replacement therapy (HRT)
- Several women cannot or do not prefer to use HRT
- A new option that blocks NK3 receptors in the brain could emerge as an alternative for these women
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The study included 37 women, out of which 28 completed the trial. The women were between 40 and 62 years of age and did not have a period in at least the previous year. They did not receive any other treatment for their hot flashes for at least 8 weeks before the study. Around half of them received a daily dose of 80 mg for 4 weeks, and a placebo for another 4 weeks with a gap of two weeks in between. The other half had the placebo first and then the drug.
The researchers found that:
- The number of hot flashes reduced by almost 73%
- The severity and impact of the hot flashes including that on sleep also reduced
- Side effects were minimal. Three women experienced rise in a liver enzyme, which normalized within 90 days of stopping treatment
Reference:
- Prague JK et al. Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonism as a novel treatment for menopausal hot flushes: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30823-1
Source-Medindia