Table 2.
Reasons for initiating and modifying select prescription and nonprescription treatments for symptoms associated with menopause
| Noncompounded estrogen/progestogen (n = 202) | Systemic estrogen (n = 188) |
Paroxetine (n = 32) |
Venlafaxine (n = 29) |
Black cohosh (n = 190) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top reasons for treatment initiation, n (%) | |||||
| Considered to have good efficacy | 100 (49.5) | 84 (44.7) | 14 (43.8) | 15 (51.7) | 41 (21.6) |
| Patient beliefs/perceptions | 50 (24.8) | 49 (26.1) | 7 (21.9) | 5 (17.2) | 94 (49.5) |
| HCP recommendation | 85 (42.1) | 78 (41.5) | 11 (34.4) | 10 (34.5) | 18 (9.5) |
| Consideration of potential adverse effects | 31 (15.3) | 17 (9.0) | 5 (15.6) | 6 (20.7) | 12 (6.3) |
| Advice/experience of family and/or friends | 24 (11.9) | 27 (14.4) | 2 (6.3) | 5 (17.2) | 51 (26.8) |
| Treatment modification made, n/N (%) | 34/202 (16.8) | 36/188 (19.1) | 7/32 (21.9) | 11/29 (37.9) | 52/190 (27.4) |
| Dose adjusted | 21/34 (61.8) | 27/36 (75.0) | 4/7 (57.1) | 10/11 (90.9) | 7/52 (13.5)a |
| Dose increased | 17/34 (50.0) | 22/36 (61.1) | 4/7 (57.1) | 10/11 (90.9) | — |
| Dose reduced | 4/34 (11.8) | 5/36 (13.9) | 0 | 0 | — |
| Treatment switch | 3/34 (8.8) | 4/36 (11.1) | 2/7 (28.6) | 0 | 0 |
| Treatment added | 1/34 (2.9) | 3/36 (8.3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other/switch to PO | 2/34 (5.9) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Medication discontinued | 8/34 (23.5) | 2/36 (5.6) | 1/7 (14.3) | 1/11 (9.1) | 45/52 (86.5) |
| Reason for treatment modification, n/N (%) | |||||
| Lack of efficacy | 15/34 (44.1) | 22/36 (61.1) | 7/7 (100.0) | 8/11 (72.7) | 38/52 (73.1) |
| Patient decision | 13/34 (38.2) | 8/36 (22.2) | 0 | 1/11 (9.1) | 14/52 (26.9) |
| Tolerability/AEs | 4/34 (11.8) | 1/36 (2.8) | 2/7 (28.6) | 0 | 0 |
| Consideration for potential AEs | 3/34 (8.8) | 2/36 (5.6) | 0 | 1 (9.1) | 0 |
| Duration of therapy | 1/34 (2.9) | 2/36 (5.6) | 0 | 1 (9.1) | 0 |
| Financial concerns | 2/34 (5.9) | 1/36 (2.8) | 0 | 0 | 4/52 (7.7) |
| HCP recommendation | 7/34 (20.6) | 2/36 (5.6) | 0 | 4/11 (36.4) | 5/52 (9.6) |
AE, adverse event; HCP, health care provider.
aCaptured only as a “dose adjustment.”