Adapted from BMJ 21-28 March 2026
NICE has approved an important new pill for menopausal flushes. It is non-hormonal and can be taken by women who can’t take oestrogen based HRT products. This usually means women who have had a previous diagnosis of breast cancer or a high risk of getting it.
The drug is called Fezolinetant and will be marketed under the name of Veoza by Astellas Pharma. It can be used for moderate to severe flushes and sweats and 45 mg is taken once daily.
It is a neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist that blocks nerve pathways in the brain that trigger vasomotor symptoms.
My comment: This is a breakthrough drug which will help a lot of women who have previously been unable to get effective treatment. Because it is non-hormonal, it will treat symptoms, but there won’t be the other bone and vascular protection afforded by oestrogen based HRT. After other surgeries eg for hysterectomy and oophorectomy in a case of endometriosis, the patient is put into an immediate menopausal state, but can’t take oestrogen HRT because it can make the endometriosis grow again. I’m delighted that this drug is now available.
I was asked a question by a reader who wondered if she was suitable for this drug as she was 73 years old. The answer is that I don’t know. This would depend on the licensing indications for the drug and whether local prescribing committees have approved it or not. If flushes are still a problem there is certainly no harm in asking. Another drug that sometimes works is low dose Citalopram.
Diabetes Diet 