OTC Treatments to Manage Your Menopause Symptoms

Going through menopause is a pain in the you-know-what. We women all experience the same life transitions, albeit at different times and in different ways. But don’t despair, there is help to be had.

There are diet and lifestyle changes that can make a difference, herbal remedies you can try, and OTC treatments that may help manage your menopause symptoms. And, if all else fails, speak with your doctor about trying a prescription medication.

Keep in mind that it can take days or weeks to feel your symptoms ease. Most importantly, don’t be discouraged; if one treatment doesn’t help ease your menopause symptoms, try another.

Ways to Manage Your Menopause Symptoms

Since there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for menopause symptoms, there are very few recommendations from health editors or specialists. Each woman is as different as her symptoms, therefore there is no way for anyone to say what works best.

As the esteemed Estee Lauder was known for saying, “Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Woman.” So, what better place to learn which menopause treatments work than looking at those products most recommended by women on Amazon.

My research did reveal that making as many diet and lifestyle changes as possible is the first place to start. See if those changes help alleviate some of your menopause symptoms. Then try an herbal remedy OR an OTC treatment before speaking with your doctor about prescription options.

Diet & Lifestyle Changes

There are several diet and lifestyle changes that may help ease menopause symptoms:

• Drink no more than one alcoholic beverage per day
• Quit smoking
• Avoid trigger foods, especially at night, such as caffeine, alcohol and sugary or spicy foods
• Keep your body weight at a healthy level
• Exercise regularly (that includes doing your Kegels!)
• Eat a heart-healthy diet with protein-rich foods
• Reduce your intake of sugar and processed foods
• Drink plenty of water
• Get enough vitamin D (400IU) and calcium (1200-1500 mg) every day.
  • Foods Rich in Vitamin D — While sunlight is our main source of vitamin D, our skin gets less efficient at making it as we age, especially if you’re not out in the sun much or cover up when you are. Foods rich in vitamin D include fatty fish (tuna, mackerel, salmon), egg yolks, and foods fortified with vitamin D, such as some breakfast cereals, orange juice and soy milk.
  • Sources of Calcium — In addition to dairy products like yogurt, milk and cheese, good sources of calcium are green leafy vegetables, tofu, white beans, salmon, and calcium-fortified foods, such as certain breakfast cereals, orange juice and oatmeal.
• Eat more foods rich in plant estrogens, also known as phytoestrogens, which have been found to be effective in treating menopause symptoms. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds that can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body and may help balance your hormones.
  • Isoflavones are the most important source of phytoestrogens and can be found in soybeans and their processed products. It’s believed that women in Asian countries rarely experience hot flashes because their diets contain larger quantities of soy than Europeans and Americans. For more information on Isoflavones, I suggest starting with this article in Very Well Health.
  • Phytoestrogen foods to look for are flaxseeds, legumes, edamame, dried fruits, sesame seeds, garlic, peaches, apples, pomegranates, berries, wheat bran, tofu, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, and tempeh (a fermented soy product made from soybeans).

Herbal Remedies

For a holistic approach, The North American Menopause Society recommends trying herbs to help with hot flashes, such as:

• Black Cohosh
• Dong Quai
• Evening Primrose Oil
• Ginseng
• Kava
• Red Clover
• Wild Yam

There are several herbal remedies that are very highly rated by women on Amazon for alleviating menopause symptoms:

• Balanced Femme Natural PMS and Menopause Support is an all-natural liquid drop formulated with a proprietary blend of chasteberry, dong quai root, black cohosh, wild yam root, maca root, and red raspberry leaf (4 stars from almost 5,000 reviews).
• Evening Primrose Oil with 1300 mg of cold-pressed evening primrose oil in a non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan soft gel (4.6 stars from over 25,000 reviews!).
• Go with The Flow Hormone Balance for Women with chasteberry, black cohosh root, gelatinized maca, and dong quai (4.3 stars from almost 6,500 reviews).
• Nature’s Way Black Cohosh Root with 540 mg of black cohosh in a non-GMO, gluten-free capsule (4.4 stars from just under 13,000 reviews).

Note: Herbal therapies are not as closely regulated as prescription medications. Therefore, it’s important to do your research before beginning a course of herbal remedies. Many women find the above herbs effective, which is why they are often ingredients found in OTC treatments.

OTC Treatments

There are many OTC treatments that can help manage your menopause symptoms. Most contain some of the vitamins, herbs and isoflavones (mentioned above). I’ve tried a few myself and found relief from perimenopausal symptoms. After a few years, I needed something stronger and switched to a prescription, more on that below.

Note: OTC treatments are most effective when taken regularly for a period of time. If one product doesn’t work, try another. These treatments are not one-size-fits-all, it may take some trial and error to find the one that’s right for you.

If you find a treatment that helps, consider receiving it monthly at a discount via Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program. I’ve been using it for years. It’s free, flexible and the more items you subscribe to, the more money you save.

When I was taking Estroven, I had it delivered monthly along with our other household basics, such as paper towels, coffee and dog food. It’s a great way to make sure you don’t run out and, more importantly, your symptoms don’t come creeping back.

The following OTC treatments are listed alphabetically.

Amberen

• What Women Say: 4.3 stars from over 4,600 reviews on Amazon where 68% gave it five stars and said it helped relieve their perimenopause symptoms. Several women said it started working right away, others said it took two to three weeks to feel a difference. Several refer to it as miraculous.

• What Women Say: 4.2 stars from over 11,200 reviews on Amazon! So many women say, “it works!” Those that found relief from their menopause symptoms highly recommend it.

Diindolylmethane (DIM)

• What Women Say: 4.4 stars from almost 19,000 reviews on Amazon! Women say it alleviated many of their menopause symptoms along with other benefits, such as clearing up acne, improving hair loss and boosting weight loss. Learn more about DIM in this article at Healthline and reading the reviews on Amazon.

DrFormulas Menopause Support

The formula combines different herbal ingredients to create a comprehensive menopause supplement. It includes sage, chasteberry, wild yam, red raspberry, black cohosh, dong quai, and DIM (see diindolylmethane above). Available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian capsules.

• What Women Say: 4.1 stars from over 3,100 reviews on Amazon. Women said this supplement was a “game changer” that totally helped their menopause symptoms.

Estroven

Estroven takes a targeted approach offering several different formulas, each designed to provide relief from specific symptoms. Luckily, they all help reduce the severity and frequency of hot flashes and night sweats. I’m all about multi-tasking and multi-symptom.

• What Women Say: 4.4 stars from almost 8,500 reviews on Amazon where 69% of reviewers gave it five stars. Women agree that it “works great” at treating a host of menopause symptoms. Some found relief after only a day, while others felt better after two to three weeks.

Others Estroven formulas to consider are:

• Estroven Mood Boost — Wonky hormones can make us cranky, so this is formulated with magnolia bark to manage mood swings. Plus, black cohosh to relieve hot flashes and night sweats, and Ginkgo biloba for memory support and mental sharpness.
• Estroven Sleep Cool — Created to support a restful night’s sleep and minimize night sweats with black cohosh and isoflavones. Plus, melatonin to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Estroven Stress Relief & Energy Boost — Made with magnolia bark to manage stress, and green tea and yerba maté to boost energy. There’s also black cohosh to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats.
• Estroven Weight Management — Designed to help manage extra pounds and promote a healthy metabolism. This formula features a metabolic herbal extract that has been clinically tested to balance declining serotonin levels, which is important for weight management. It also contains black cohosh and soy isoflavones to reduce hot flashes and night sweats.

One A Day Women’s Menopause Formula

• What Women Say: 4.6 stars from almost 4,000 reviews on Amazon, of which 75% are five stars. Reviewers said, “It’s the miracle pill” and “Can’t live without it.” Some women said it helped their symptoms right away. Others said it took weeks before they felt any relief and then it was great.

Remifemin

• What Women Say: 4.4 stars from almost 3,000 reviews on Amazon, where 70% gave it five stars. They said, “this little pill works wonders” at alleviating menopause symptoms. Several women have been taking it successfully for years. Some take two capsules per day. Others take one during the day and take Remifemin’s Good Night before bed for help sleeping.

Prescription Therapies

If none of the above help you manage your menopause symptoms, speak with your doctor about prescription options. While I found relief with OTC treatments for a few years, my symptoms finally pushed me to try something stronger.

I’ve been taking venlafaxine (Effexor®) and rarely have hot flashes or night sweats now. It also helps takes the edge off, minimizing any moodiness. Other prescription therapies your doctor may suggest are desvenlafaxine (Pristiq®), escitalopram (Lexapro®), fluoxetine (Prozac®), gabapentin (Neurontin®), and paroxetine (Paxil®, Brisdelle®).

I hope one of the above treatments help you manage your menopause symptoms!

This article was commission by FLO/50.