Bellamine for hot flashes: An effective nonhormonal treatment?

Bellamine is a prescription medication that is used to treat symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. It is a combination of:

• Belladonna, an herb with antispasmodic properties
• Ergotamine, a medication that narrows blood vessels (vasoconstrictor)
• Phenobarbital, a barbiturate that reduces brain and nervous system activity

In two small clinical trials, the combination of belladonna, ergotamine and phenobarbital was found to be slightly more effective than a placebo in relieving hot flashes. But larger clinical trials are needed to support these initial findings.

Bellamine isn't usually recommended as a first-line drug to treat hot flashes because of its potential side effects, which can include sedation. For this reason, other medications — such as estrogens, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, gabapentin or clonidine — are often tried first before Bellamine.