There has recently been considerable discussion in the field of health care about the use of GLP-1-type drugs in women during the menopause period, and the health media has combed the 10 common cognitive blind areas of this group for the use of such drugs, raising public interest in the new programme of menopause management. Currently, the use has not been officially approved by national drug regulators and remains in the category of ultra-adaptative drugs, which are strictly subject to expert medical assessment, and related clinical research is still under way.
The GLP-1 receptor agonist is a star drug in recent years in the field of treatment of diseases, with common trade names such as Smegrope, Liraru, etc., initially approved for blood sugar control for type 2 diabetes patients, followed by approval for weight management for BMI-compliant obesity patients due to significant weight reduction and improved insulin resistance. The menopause usually refers to 5-10 years of pre-menopausal and pre-menopausal period for women, on average between the ages of 45 and 55 years. During this period, ovarian function is declining, estrogen levels are declining, most women experience metabolic-related symptoms such as hot sweating, sleep disorders, emotional fluctuations, abdominal fat accumulation, reduced insulin sensitivity, and some women are unable to receive routine hormone supplementation treatment because of the risk of breast cancer, haemobolism and so forth. At present, neither the United States Food and Drug Monitoring Authority (FDA) nor the National Drug Monitoring Authority (NMPA) of China have approved the use of GLP-1 drugs for treatment of menopause symptoms or for exclusive intervention in menopause metabolic issues, which are part of a “off-label drug” (out-label use) carried out by doctors on the basis of the patient's individual circumstances. It has been noted that some women during the menopause opt for a “microdose” below the dose of diabetes and obesity treatment using the GLP-1 in an attempt to reduce metabolic abnormalities and weight control while reducing side effects, but the method currently lacks proof of the validity of random clinical studies against large samples and long-term safety data for people in the menopause.
The three main groups of the discussion ' s actual impact are: first, menopause women with metabolic problems and who do not meet the criteria for hormonal complementary treatment, are potential demand-sides and are the core focus of the discussion; second, endocrinologists, gynaecologists, who are responsible for prescription and drug evaluation, need to follow up on recent research to provide patients with compliance intervention programmes; and third, GLP-1-type drug research and development enterprises, which, if the follow-up studies confirm that the method is safe and effective, may facilitate companies to apply for wider adaptation and further expand the drug application landscape. There are no publicly available data on the differential impact of the use on specific ethnic and geographical groups, and all menopauses for useful drugs require careful risk assessment.
Common side effects of GLP-1 drugs include gastrointestinal responses such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and rare but serious risks such as pancreas, thyroid mellitus cancer, cholesterol etc. Microdoses reduce the probability of some of the side effects, but do not fully avoid the risk. Women during menopausal periods often combine basic diseases such as hypertension and hypertension, and the use of self-purchase drugs may conceal the true state of the disease or interact with other drugs being taken, so it is never recommended to buy them. If there is a demand for medication, the metabolic indicators, underlying diseases, the history of the drug use must be assessed by a specialist before deciding whether it is suitable for use and the corresponding dose, and the indicators must be regularly monitored during the drug use to detect adverse effects in a timely manner.
A number of research teams around the world are currently conducting clinical trials of GLP-1 drugs for women during menopause, some of which are in the medium term and are expected to be published over the next three to five years. If the study confirms that the use is safe and effective, the drug regulatory agency may initiate an adaptation extension process, at which time the female use of the GLP-1 during menopause will be supported by a formal clinical guide. Prior to this, the public should take a rational view of the contents of the relevant science, avoid blind and wind medicine, give priority to the gynaecology or endocrinology of the regular hospital and intervene in accordance with medical instructions.