A new drug for menopause that can effectively 'turn off' hot flushes could be making its way to the UK soon.
For people going through menopause, hot flushes are one of the most common symptoms triggered by the condition, according to John Hopkins Medicine.
It causes intense feelings of heat usually over a person's face, neck and chest, and can also cause reddening of the skin similar to blushing.
The drug that can apparently stop this from happening, fezolinetant, has just been approved for use in America and is now being assessed for release in Europe.
Wales Online reports that the drug, made by Astellas Pharma, could be suitable for women unable to take HRT.
Professor Waljit Dhillo, an endocrinologist at Imperial College London, told The Guardian: “This is going to be a completely blockbuster drug. It’s like a switch. Within a day or two the flushes go away. It’s unbelievable how well these drugs work. It’s going to be completely gamechanging for a lot of women."
The drug works by blocking a protein called neurokinin-3 that plays a role in regulating body temperature in menopausal women.
Trials showed that after 12 weeks of use the drug reduced the frequency of hot flushes by 60%. It also reduced the severity of flushes and improved sleep.
Women reported an instant impact after taking just one pill. 70% of women going through menopause suffer hot flushes.
It's reported that almost two million women were prescribed more than one form of HRT medication in England last year, but these aren't suitable for a lot of people - for example, those who have a history with breast or ovarian cancer.
HRT can also cause side effects, meaning many women might prefer to manage their menopause with a non-hormonal alternative.
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