A drug originally developed to fight seizures has also been successful in reducing hot flushes in menopausal women, potentially offering a hormone-free alternative oestrogen therapy.

Researchers examined the drug gabapentin’s effect on 600 post-menopausal women experiencing moderate to severe hot flushes and found that, compared with a placebo, extended-relief gabapentin significantly reduced both the frequency and severity of hot flushes.

Up to three quarters of women experience menopause-induced hot flushes and a quarter of those require treatment. At present, only one hormone therapy has FDA-approval for the relief of hot flushes.