Table 6: Nonhormonal Interventions for Hot Flashes

Table 6:
Nonhormonal Interventions for Hot Flashes
Drug	Dosage	Side Effects
Vitamin E	400-800 IU daily	Can thin the blood. Stop prior to surgery
Black cohosh	20 mg twice a day	Mild stomach upset. Safe up to 6 months
Soy (plant estrogen)	Variable	Appears safe if consumed in foods
Clonidine	0.1 mg in AM and at bedtime	Dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue. Lowers blood pressure
Fluoxetine	20 mg in AM	Dry mouth, nausea, insomnia
Paroxetine	20 mg at bedtime	Fatigue, nausea
Venlafaxine	37.5 mg to 75 mg a day	Fatigue, nausea, headache, dry mouth. Elevated blood pressure (at high doses).
Gabapentin	300 mg a day to 300 mg three times a day	Fatigue, dizziness, stomach upset.
For further information, go to the NIH National Complementary and Alternative Medicine Website
Copyright 2003 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation