Your healthcare provider may consider other prescription treatments for some of your menopausal symptoms, depending on your situation and needs.

For example, antidepressants, anticonvulsants or antihypertensives (blood pressure drugs) can be useful to manage menopausal symptoms for some people.

Some antidepressants, particularly SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), can help to reduce hot flashes. Some SSRIs are preferred options for women taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for the treatment of breast cancer, to reduce hot flashes and also improve fatigue, mental health and sleep disturbance.

Antidepressants can work quickly, but some women experience side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue and changes in sexual function, that mean they stop taking the treatment.

An anticonvulsant that was originally used to treat epilepsy, and a blood pressure drug, both have been found to help with hot flashes too.

Your healthcare provider might discuss these prescription treatments with you if other treatment options aren’t able to provide relief.