Menopause, cessation of menses, vs. “menopause”, a primary brain disorder? ()
ABSTRACT
The
“menopause” (not menopause, the cessation of menses) mechanism responsible for
its symptom complex (Menopausal Symptom Complex) (or, Climacteric Syndrome)
including chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, tension headache,
cervical vertigo, sleep disturbances, irritability, anxiety/panic attacks,
cognitive changes (decreased concentration to obsessional/delusional thought),
decreased libido, and vasomotor dysfunction remains elusive. And MSC, other
than vasomotor dysfunction, is not significantly altered by treatment with
sex hormones (estrogen/progesterone), which have major neoplastic and vascular
side effects. Thus at present, there are minimal indications for treatment with
these compounds. Confusion between menopause and “menopause” (MSC) as well
as research money made available by pharma advocating ERT/HRT (estrogen replacement
therapy/hormone replacement therapy) has produced both therapeutic and research
inertia. Presently, there would appear to be mismanagement of a symptom complex
which infers primary brainlimbic system dysfunction and for which there is no
correlation with falling sex hormone levels. Pharmacological modification of
the proposed aberrant limbic circuitry responsible for the MSC has been successfully
accomplished using specific NT/MMs (neurotransmission/modulation modifiers)
i.e. a combination of alpha-1 and norepinephrine reuptake blockers, and thus
providing initial elucidation of this particular brain pathophysiology as well
as an efficient treatment of a problem affecting up to 60% of women ages 35 to
55. Specific NT/MMs capable of affecting a number of neurotransmitter/receptor
types within limbic circuitry appear to reverse the MSC which includes chronic
fatigue and fibromyalgia, pointing to aberrant limbic circuitry as their
etiology as well.