Breakthrough Menopause Drug Granted Approval in the UK

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Navigating the emotional complexities of a divorce, it's crucial to have a clear head and make sound decisions. However, the whirlwind of menopausal symptoms can often make this impossible. The fluctuating hormones, sleep disturbances, and heightened stress, all hallmarks of menopause, can cloud judgement, exacerbate anxieties, and hinder rational thinking.

Imagine trying to navigate a legal maze while blindfolded - that's how many women going through a divorce and menopause simultaneously describe their experience. Making crucial financial decisions, considering childcare arrangements, or even simply participating in constructive dialogue can feel like an insurmountable task when your well-being is under assault from within.

This is where actively managing menopause symptoms becomes paramount. By seeking medical advice and exploring treatment options, women can regain control of their physical and emotional health, laying the foundation for a more clear-headed approach to the challenges ahead. With improved sleep, and reduced stress, women can face the difficult process of divorce with better clarity, confidence, and ultimately, achieve a more favourable outcome for themselves and their families.

2024 brings good news for those suffering as the UK has approved a non-hormonal treatment for menopausal symptoms, specifically addressing hot flushes and night sweats.

In a significant development for women experiencing hot flushes associated with menopause, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given the green light for the use of Veoza, also known by its generic name fezolinetant, in the UK. The approval follows the authorisation granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May.

This particularly significant development in women’s healthcare with the widespread issue affecting around 70% of menopausal women which can negatively affect aspects of daily life and persist for many years, with a 2002 study reporting that 10–20% of women describe such symptoms as ‘near intolerable’.

Suffering in Silence for Decades

For decades, there have been limited safe and effective treatment options for managing vasomotor symptoms, described as the abrupt onset and intense sensations of warmth, frequently accompanied by perspiration, and reddening of the face, neck, and chest, commonly known as hot flashes and night sweats.

Traditionally, the treatment for such symptoms has been hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which may not be suitable for everyone, including those with a history of breast or ovarian cancer, and/or blood clots, as HRT utilises estrogen and progesterone, both of which decrease during menopause.

Until now, the options for those who cannot, or do not want to, take hormone therapy have been scarce, with the results from non-pharmacological treatments being not very effective, and adverse side effects associated with the use of non-hormonal drugs reported.

How the new drug works

The new drug is administered orally in pill form and directly targets the brain's temperature control center, diminishing both the frequency and intensity of moderate to severe hot flashes, with a reduction of approximately 60% in the frequency of hot flushes after 12 weeks of use.

While the drug will not alleviate other menopausal symptoms such as mood changes or vaginal dryness, the clinical trials undertaken for fezolinetant noted further characterisation of the benefit on quality of life, including on symptoms of mood, sexual wellbeing, sleep quality would merit investigation. So more good news for those suffering these symptoms may be on the horizon soon.

Veoza will be made available for women in the UK experiencing hot flushes under the age of 64, while safety and efficacy studies in women over 65 are still to be conducted, no dosage has been made for this age group.

The drug is available by prescription-only and will initially be available privately from 5 January with plans for the treatment to be accessible on the NHS. The cost of the drug is yet to be approved by the Department of Health and Social Care, but in the US, it was set at $550 (£430) for a 30-day supply.

If you’re trying to balance your career while experiencing menopause symptoms, you may find this post helpful on how the symptoms of brain fog, low mood and trouble concentrating can impact your working life.

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