Non-hormonal treatment of hot flashes

Abstract

The subject invention describes the use of dopamine agonists with affinity for the dopamine D2, D3, or Da receptors (the D2 family) for treatment of hot flashes, regardless of their being caused by natural aging in women or medical/surgical intervention of the HPG axis in either sex. The D2 family of dopamine receptors is most responsive to D2 agonist molecules, but also responsive to multiple other molecules that directly or indirectly utilize this pathway. Alpha-2-adrenergic agonists act synergistically to further reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and prolong the duration of dosing effectiveness. The combination of a D2 family dopamine agonist and alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, as well as additional molecules that can utilize the D2 receptor family pathway through formation of heterodimers, permits a multitude of molecules of varying efficacy for the treatment of hot flashes in either women or men. The subject invention expands the available non-hormonal options for treatment of hot flashes that are otherwise most disruptive to normal activities of daily living.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.