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Menopause MedicationMenopause can be a difficult time emotionally and physically for women, producing a whole host of symptoms. As a result, women often look for different ways to relieve their symptoms and menopause treatment, including menopause medication. Menopause medication can help women deal with painful and annoying menopausal symptoms when herbal remedies, natural menopause treatment or lifestyle changes aren’t strong enough. Hormone therapy is one of the most common types of menopause medication used for menopausal symptoms, although it has recently been touted as high-risk menopause medication, especially if used on a long-term basis. But it’s not the only option out there for menopause treatment. Prescription drugs target specific symptoms associated with menopause. There are many different types of drugs used as menopause medication to treat specific menopausal symptoms that you can ask your doctor about, depending on your symptoms. One common symptom is incontinence, and anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs are sometimes prescribed as menopause medication for that particular problem. Anticholinergic drugs (such as Detrol and ProBanthine) help prevent involuntary bladder contractions while expanding its capacity, while antispasmodic drugs—Ditropan, Urispas and Bentyl—treat incontinence by relaxing the bladder muscle. Another type of menopause medication is prescription antihypertensive drugs used to treat menopause-related high blood pressure and hot flashes. These drugs include Catapres and Aldomet as well as Inderal and Calan, Covera-HS and Verelana. In addition, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are used as another form of menopause treatment for symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with menopause. Antidepressent medications most commonly used fall into three categories: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). For menopause-induced anxiety, doctors often prescribe either SSRIs or benzodiazepines. In addition, some types of antidepressants can help decrease hot flashes in addition to relieving mood swings. Examples include Zoloft, Effexor and Prozac. Further types of menopause medication are used to treat osteoporosis as well as cholesterol-lowering drugs. Osteoporosis is a major concern for post-menopausal women, and there are many effective drugs available to help treat this condition, such as biphosphonates, calcitonin and raloxifene. High cholesterol and the risk of heart disease is another common concern for menopausal women. Statins are most commonly prescribed as menopause medication to lower cholesterol, including Mevacor, Lescol, Pravachol, Zocor and Lipitor. Of course, all types of menopause medication may be contraindicated for certain individuals, and all have the risk of side-effects ranging in severity such as dry mouth, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fainting, insomnia, heart-beat irregularities, blurred vision and slurred speech, among others. It’s essential to talk to your doctor when considering prescription drugs for menopause treatment to see which one is the best for you.
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