For the millions of women experiencing hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, relief has often meant choosing between hormone therapy or simply enduring these disruptive symptoms. However, a groundbreaking medication approved by the FDA in May 2023 offers a new option: Veozah (fezolinetant), the first non-hormonal treatment specifically designed to target the root cause of vasomotor symptoms.
What Is Veozah?
Veozah is a prescription medication used to reduce moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause. Vasomotor symptoms is the medical term for hot flashes and night sweats—those sudden waves of heat, intense sweating episodes, and temperature fluctuations that can disrupt daily life and sleep quality.
What makes Veozah unique is that it's not a hormone. Unlike traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces declining estrogen levels, Veozah takes an entirely different approach by targeting specific receptors in the brain that regulate body temperature.
How Does Veozah Work?
To understand how Veozah works, it helps to know what causes hot flashes in the first place. During menopause, declining estrogen levels cause the body to become more sensitive to a chemical called neurokinin B (NKB). This substance is found in the hypothalamus—the part of your brain that acts as your body's thermostat.
When NKB binds to neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptors in the hypothalamus, it disrupts normal temperature regulation, triggering those familiar hot flashes and night sweats. Veozah works by blocking these NK3 receptors, preventing NKB from binding to them. By interrupting this chain reaction at its source, Veozah helps restore the balance in your body's temperature control center.
Essentially, Veozah addresses the problem where it starts—in your brain—rather than replacing hormones throughout your entire body.
Key Benefits of Veozah
Clinically Proven Effectiveness
Clinical studies have demonstrated that Veozah can reduce hot flashes and night sweats by more than 50%. Women in these trials experienced:
- A significant decrease in the frequency of hot flashes
- Reduced severity of episodes when they do occur
- Improvement in sleep quality due to fewer nighttime disruptions
- Relief that begins within the first few weeks of treatment
Non-Hormonal Option
For many women, Veozah's non-hormonal nature is its most appealing feature. This makes it an option for:
- Women who cannot or prefer not to use hormone therapy
- Those with a personal or family history of hormone-sensitive cancers
- Women with certain cardiovascular conditions where hormones may pose risks
- Anyone seeking an alternative to traditional HRT
Once-Daily Convenience
Veozah comes as a 45 mg tablet taken once daily by mouth, making it simple to incorporate into your daily routine. This straightforward dosing schedule means no patches to change, no creams to apply, and no complicated regimens to follow.
Sustained Relief
Unlike some treatments that may lose effectiveness over time, studies show that Veozah continues to provide symptom relief with ongoing use, helping you maintain quality of life throughout your menopausal transition.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Veozah?
Veozah may be right for you if:
- You're experiencing moderate to severe hot flashes or night sweats due to menopause
- Your symptoms significantly impact your daily life, work performance, or sleep quality
- You're unable to use hormone therapy due to medical contraindications
- You prefer a non-hormonal treatment option
- You've tried lifestyle modifications without sufficient relief
- You're willing to commit to regular liver function monitoring
Important Considerations and Safety Information
While Veozah offers promising benefits, there are important factors to consider before starting treatment.
Liver Monitoring Requirements
The most critical safety consideration with Veozah is the potential for liver injury. The FDA has added a warning about the rare occurrence of serious liver problems with Veozah use. Your healthcare provider will:
- Perform a blood test to check your liver function before you start treatment
- Repeat liver function tests monthly for the first three months
- Continue monitoring if deemed necessary based on your individual situation
You should stop taking Veozah immediately and contact your doctor if you experience signs of liver problems, including:
- Unusual fatigue or feeling more tired than normal
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Itching
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Pale-colored stools
- Dark urine
- Abdominal pain
Common Side Effects
Like all medications, Veozah can cause side effects. The most commonly reported include:
- Abdominal pain or stomach discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- Back pain
- Paradoxically, some women initially experience hot flashes as their body adjusts
Most side effects are mild to moderate and often improve as your body adjusts to the medication.
Drug Interactions
Important: Do not consume caffeine while taking Veozah. This combination can increase the amount of medicine in your blood and potentially cause side effects. This means avoiding or significantly limiting:
- Coffee (regular and decaf contains some caffeine)
- Tea (black, green, white)
- Soft drinks and energy drinks
- Chocolate
- Certain medications containing caffeine
Additionally, alcohol should be limited, as it can increase hot flashes and affect liver function. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and herbal products you're taking, as some may interact with Veozah.
Who Should Not Take Veozah
Veozah may not be appropriate if you have:
- Severe liver disease or impaired liver function
- Current liver problems
- A history of serious liver injury
Your doctor will evaluate your medical history and current health status to determine if Veozah is safe for you.
What to Expect When Starting Veozah
Timeline for Results
While individual experiences vary, many women begin noticing improvement in their symptoms within the first few weeks of treatment. Maximum benefit typically occurs after several weeks of consistent use. Patience is important—give the medication time to work rather than expecting overnight results.
Ongoing Monitoring
Beyond the initial three months of liver function testing, your healthcare provider will continue to monitor your overall response to treatment. Keep all scheduled appointments and be proactive about reporting any concerning symptoms.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
As a relatively new medication, Veozah may be expensive without insurance coverage. Check with your insurance provider about coverage details, and ask your doctor or pharmacist about patient assistance programs that may be available. The manufacturer may offer copay assistance programs for eligible patients.
Check out our HRT Price Checker for current Veozah pricing at your local pharmacy - it can sometimes be cheaper than using your health insurance.
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider
Before starting Veozah, consider discussing these questions with your doctor:
- Based on my medical history, is Veozah a safe option for me?
- How do my symptoms compare to others who benefit most from this medication?
- What specific liver tests will I need, and how often?
- Should I stop taking any of my current medications or supplements?
- How will we measure whether the treatment is working?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
- Are there any dietary restrictions beyond caffeine?
- How long might I need to take this medication?
- What are the costs, and what financial assistance might be available?
- What alternatives exist if Veozah doesn't work well for me?
Making an Informed Decision
Veozah represents an important advancement in menopause treatment, offering women a non-hormonal option backed by scientific research. However, like any medical decision, choosing to start Veozah should involve careful consideration of your unique health profile, symptom severity, lifestyle factors, and personal preferences.
For women whose quality of life is significantly impacted by hot flashes and night sweats—whether affecting sleep, work performance, relationships, or emotional well-being—Veozah may offer meaningful relief. The fact that it works differently from hormones expands treatment options for women who need alternatives to traditional HRT.
The Bottom Line
Menopause is a natural transition, but debilitating symptoms aren't something you simply have to accept. Veozah offers a scientifically sound, non-hormonal approach to managing vasomotor symptoms by targeting their neurological source. While liver monitoring requirements and the need to avoid caffeine require commitment, many women find the potential for significant symptom relief makes these considerations worthwhile.
If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your life, talk to your healthcare provider about whether Veozah might be right for you. Armed with information and working in partnership with your medical team, you can make the choice that best supports your health and quality of life during this transition.
Symptom Relief
Managing menopause symptoms can feel overwhelming, especially when effective solutions seem hard to find. From unexpected skin changes to frustrating hot flashes, these shifts can impact daily life and overall well-being. Explore our Symptom Relief page to discover products that other women have found helpful in managing their symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
If you’ve found a product that has made a difference for you, let us know through our contact form—we’d love to share it with others!
Explore More
Want to dive deeper into menopause and its symptoms? Visit our Resources page, where you’ll find a collection of studies, articles, and books from trusted experts. Whether you're looking for the latest research or practical insights, these resources can help you better understand your body and make informed decisions about your menopause journey.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. Individual results may vary.