Hot Flashes Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Hot Flashes Clinical Trials?

According to Mayo Clinic, hot flashes are a sudden onset or feeling of heat or warmth that is usually accompanied by a flushed red face and sweating. Hot flashes are also a common symptom of menopause. In addition, hot flashes accompany uncomfortable symptoms that can affect those diagnosed for many years.

Clinical trials for hot flashes are necessary because women will start to experience hot flashes from the age of 40. In addition, current treatments may not be completely effective in managing hot flashes, and some hormonal therapies may not be suitable for some women and may come with complications.

An ongoing clinical trial to treat this condition is the study of Fezolinetant. This medication is being studied for women who are unable to use hormonal treatments to treat hot flashes and aims to improve their symptoms and help manage this condition.

Why Are Hot Flashes Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials for hot flashes not only aim to improve the condition but are also aimed at finding new treatments for this condition. Most treatments are hormonal treatments that come with increased side effects. Other treatments for hot flashes are anti-depressants and anti-seizure medications, which are less effective than hormonal treatments in managing hot flashes.

According to the National Library Of Medicine, more than 80% of women worldwide will experience hot flashes during menopause. Most women experience hot flashes for two years, while a smaller percentage will experience hot flashes for a prolonged period.

Hot flashes can severely affect menopausal women and others diagnosed with this condition. The symptoms can be challenging to manage and can impact daily life. Hot flashes can also cause disrupted sleep and can increase the likelihood of developing heart disease and bone loss.

What Are The Types Of Treatments Available For Hot Flashes?

Doctors can diagnose hot flashes based on a patient’s symptoms. Blood tests may also be required to determine if a woman is pre-menopausal or has begun the transition into menopause.

Because this condition varies from patient to patient and symptoms can also range from mild to extreme, multiple treatment options are available to treat hot flashes. These include:

1. Hormone therapy. The most commonly administered treatment for hot flashes is hormone therapy. Hormone therapy usually involves estrogen but, in some cases, may include both estrogen and progesterone.
2. Anti-depressants. A low dose of anti-depressants is also used to treat hot flashes.
3. Prescription medication. There are a couple of prescription medications used to treat hot flashes. These include gabapentin, pregabalin (anti-seizure medications), or oxybutynin (a pill or patch used to treat urinary conditions). Clonidine may also be used to treat hot flashes but is typically used to treat high blood pressure.
4. Nerve blocking. A stellate ganglion block has proven to be a beneficial treatment for hot flashes but is still being researched and was initially used to treat pain.

There are ongoing trials for suitable treatments for hot flashes. Some of these treatments include:

1. M2S. M2S is a new treatment in phase II of clinical trials, which is being developed to treat moderate to severe symptoms of hot flashes that include night sweats and disrupted sleep. This treatment is a non-hormonal, non-antidepressant, and non-herbal oral medication that may offer new hope for those struggling with the daily effects of hot flashes.
2. MLE4901. This treatment blocks a key receptor in the brain and hopes to treat menopause symptoms. MLE4901 has the potential to improve side effects like weight gain, poor concentration, sleep disruptions, and hot flashes.

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Hot Flashes?

There have been some impressive treatments for treating hot flashes, especially in menopause. Some of the most promising breakthrough clinical trials for hot flashes include:

2018: Estradiol and progesterone for the treatment of hot flashes. Estradiol and progesterone is a bioidentical hormone therapy used for hot flashes. This treatment is called Bijuva and is an oral medication taken daily. This clinical trial was completed in 2019 and is currently being used as an approved treatment for hot flashes.

2020: Fezolinetant, Elinzanetant, and Pavinetant for treating hot flashes. This combination drug treatment is being studied for women resistant to hormonal therapies for hot flashes. This study is currently in phase 3b and started in October 2021, and is estimated to be completed on 30 May 2023.

Who Are Some Of The Key Opinion Leaders / Researchers Conducting Hot Flashes Clinical Trial Research?

Paul C. Carpenter specializes in hormone therapy treatments and treating conditions like menopause, Addison's disease, and infertility. He is based in the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and has many publications on various disorders and treatments, including estrogen therapy treatment.

Paru S. David focuses on primary care and women's health. She is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and focuses on treating menopause, perimenopause, and vaginal atrophy. She also has many publications based on women's health.