When hot flashes and night sweats are making life uncomfortable and interrupting your sleep, it doesn’t take long to start feeling desperate. But that doesn’t mean you should reach for unproven ideas circulating on social media.
“We are asked very often about so many different types of hacks that they’re seeing on social media,” Dr. Tina Zhang, assistant professor of medicine and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Women’s Wellness & Healthy Aging Program, tells TODAY.com.
One that she and her colleagues have been getting a lot of questions about in recent months is a combination of over-the-counter antacid medications (such as Pepcid) and antihistamines (such as Zyrtec, Allegra or Claritin).
So, is this over-the-counter drug cocktail actually able to knock out hot flashes and night sweats? For most people, probably not, Zhang says. But there are a variety of other options out there that do have evidence behind them to try first, she adds.
What Causes Hot Flashes in Menopause?
Hot flashes in menopause are caused by changes to the body’s temperature regulation systems, as TODAY.com explained previously.
That includes KNDy neurons, Dr. Lauren Streicher, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University, previously told TODAY.com. “One of the pathways that controls the KNDy neurons is estrogen,” she explained. “So, when you lose your estrogen, you lost that control factor.”
But there are other hormone-related shifts happening that could cause or worsen hot flashes and flushing in some people, Zhang says. “During the menopause transition, the ovaries are aging and there’s less estrogen being produced, and estrogen really impacts histamine release,” she explains.
Specifically, fluctuating estrogen levels affect the function of mast cells, a type of white blood cell that releases immune chemical messengers called histamines. (These are same histamines that drive allergic reactions, including seasonal allergies.)
In people who have a condition called mast cell activation syndrome, a pattern of overactive histamine activity causes symptoms like flushing and hot flashes. Certain antacids and antihistamines blunt histamine responses, so folks with this condition can use that combination of over-the-counter medications to keep their symptoms in check.
So, the thinking goes, if this combo works to treat hot flashes in people with mast cell activation syndrome, could it also work for hot flashes related to menopause?
Could Antacids and Antihistamines Help With Hot Flashes?
Not necessarily, Zhang says.
While some people may find relief with this combo, we don’t have enough to data to know if it’s truly effective.
On top of that, research shows that “there’s actually a pretty significant placebo effect for the management of menopausal symptoms,” Zhang explains. So, even if you do feel better after taking these drugs, that doesn’t mean it’s really the medications that are responsible.
And keep in mind that while these medications are generally safe when used as intended, Zhang says, they are not approved for this specific use. If you’re using them for an extended period of time, there are some safety concerns.
Safer Ways to Manage Hot Flashes
If you have hot flashes, you don’t need to suffer through them — or reach for unproven treatments.
In fact, hot flashes and night sweats (also referred to as vasomotor symptoms) are among the menopause issues for which we have multiple effective and approved treatments on the market.
That includes hormone therapy, as well as newly-approved non-hormonal medications. Lifestyle approaches including diet and exercise changes, as well as stress management, can also help reduce hot flashes and night sweats.
Lack of Access to Care Leads to Risky Choices
Really, the popularity of unproven supplements and DIY “hacks” like this speaks to something much deeper, Zhang says: the challenges of getting effective medical care for menopause symptoms.
“Patients have to find providers who are knowledgeable enough about menopause and hormone therapy to get the prescriptions and to feel heard — that’s the first barrier,” she explains. Then, even if they do get an appointment with a menopause expert, they may end up waiting weeks or months for that appointment to arrive.
“So they may be struggling in the meantime and just want to try something that seems to work for other people,” Zhang says. Others may simply not know where to turn for help or that hot flashes are something that can be treated, she adds.
“A lot of women are just really eager and hoping to find something that makes them feel better,” Zhang says. “They just want to try something, which is better than nothing.”
But, ideally, menopause treatment should be individualized to each patient, she adds, which is why it’s so valuable to see someone knowledgeable.
If you’re not sure where to look, experts previously recommended using this tool from The Menopause Society to find certified practitioners in your area.
