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Menopause - Management
What follow up is required?
- Advise the woman to return if:
- Lifestyle measures alone have been of insufficient benefit or her symptoms worsen.
- She does not respond to antidepressant treatment within 2 weeks.
- Clonidine was started and her symptoms have not improved in 4 weeks, or she is experiencing adverse effects, such as dizziness or constipation.
- Review all women at least annually.
Basis for recommendation
- There is no published guidance on when to follow up menopausal women who are being treated with alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. These recommendations are based on pragmatic advice.
- Women who are going to respond to antidepressants generally do so within 1–2 weeks.
- Women who start clonidine therapy usually respond to treatment within 2–4 weeks.
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