Veozah (fezolinetant) is a prescription drug used to treat certain symptoms of menopause. Veozah comes as an oral tablet.
Veozah is prescribed to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms from menopause. These symptoms can include hot flashes and night sweats.
To learn more about Veozah’s uses, see the “What is Veozah used for?” section below.
Veozah basics
Veozah contains the active ingredient fezolinetant. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It belongs to a group of drugs called neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists.
Veozah is a brand-name medication. A generic version of this drug isn’t currently available.
Like most drugs, Veozah may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects the drug may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Veozah. They can also suggest ways to help reduce or manage them.
Mild side effects
Below is a list of some of the mild side effects Veozah can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Veozah’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Veozah that have been reported include:
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
- back pain
- hot flashes
- mild allergic reaction*
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Veozah can occur, but they aren’t common.
A serious but rare side effect of Veozah that has been reported is high levels of liver enzymes in your blood. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes), and pain in the upper-right abdomen.
Your doctor will monitor your liver enzymes at different times during treatment with Veozah.
A severe allergic reaction is possible with any drug but hasn’t been reported in studies of Veozah. See the “Allergic reaction” section just below for more information.
If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Allergic reactionWhile allergic reaction wasn’t reported in studies of Veozah, it can still happen.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:
- skin rash
- itchiness
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause breathing difficulties.
Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Veozah. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Veozah is prescribed to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms from menopause, including hot flashes and night sweats. Menopause is usually diagnosed when a female* has gone 12 months without a menstrual cycle (period). This usually happens between ages 40–60 years.
* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Veozah. What you’ll pay for Veozah may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.
Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:
- Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Veozah when using coupons from the site. See the coupon options below. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
- Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Veozah Savings Program may also be available to you.
- The supply of medication you receive: It’s often possible to save on your prescriptions by getting a 90-day supply of the drug vs. a 30-day supply.
You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
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Below is the commonly prescribed dosage of Veozah, but always follow the dosage your doctor prescribes. They’ll determine the dosage that’s right for you.
Form and strength
Veozah is available as an oral tablet in one strength of 45 milligrams (mg).
Recommended dosage
For the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms from menopause, your doctor will likely prescribe a dosage of 45 mg once daily.
Before starting Veozah, your doctor will order blood tests to check your liver function. If the results of these tests come back higher than expected, your doctor may not prescribe Veozah for you.
Your doctor will continue to monitor your liver function with blood tests at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months after you start Veozah.
Questions about taking Veozah
Below are some common questions about taking Veozah.
- Can Veozah be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you should not chew, crush, or split Veozah tablets. You should swallow them whole with liquid. If you have difficulty swallowing pills, check out this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
- Should I take Veozah with food? Veozah can be taken with or without food.
- Is there a best time of day to take Veozah? Veozah can be taken at any time of day, but it’s best to take it around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps Veozah work effectively.
- What if I miss a dose of Veozah? If you miss a dose of Veozah, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s fewer than 12 hours before your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could increase your risk of side effects.
- Will I need to take Veozah long term? Possibly. People took Veozah for up to 1 year in studies. But you may experience vasomotor symptoms for a few years after your last period. Your doctor will monitor you throughout Veozah treatment to determine the duration that’s safe and effective for you.
Overdose
Do not take more Veozah than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
What to do in case you take too much Veozah
Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Veozah. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Veozah.
How does Veozah work?
Veozah is prescribed to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and night sweats. Menopause is usually diagnosed when a female* has gone 12 months without a menstrual cycle. This usually happens between ages 40–60 years.
Veozah blocks the activity of a certain chemical in your brain that helps to manage your body temperature. In this way, the drug reduces night sweats, hot flashes, and other vasomotor symptoms of menopause.
To learn more about how Veozah works, check out the manufacturer’s website or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
Will Veozah cure my vasomotor symptoms related to menopause?
No, Veozah does not cure vasomotor symptoms related to menopause. Veozah works to manage these symptoms as your body adjusts to changing hormone levels after your final menstrual cycle.
Once your body has adjusted, vasomotor symptoms will likely subside. You may experience vasomotor symptoms for a few years after your last period.
If you have other questions about what to expect from Veozah treatment, talk with your doctor.
How does Veozah compare with Bijuva?
Both Veozah and Bijuva are prescribed to treat vasomotor symptoms related to menopause. But they belong to different groups of drugs and contain different active ingredients. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Veozah contains fezolinetant and Bijuva contains estradiol and progesterone. Bijuva contains hormones, and Veozah does not.
Veozah comes as a tablet, and Bijuva comes as a capsule. You can take Veozah any time of the day with or without food, but Bijuva should be taken in the evening with food.
If you have other questions about how Veozah and Bijuva compare, talk with your doctor. They can help you find the best treatment for your symptoms.
Below is important information you should consider before taking Veozah.
Interactions
Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions. Veozah can interact with several other medications.
Before starting Veozah treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take, as well as any vitamins, herbs, and supplements. Discussing this information with them can help you avoid potential interactions.
Drug interactions
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Veozah. This list may not contain all drugs that can interact with Veozah.
| Drug group | Drug examples |
| drugs that slow down the CYP1A2 enzyme* | • fluvoxamine (Luvox) • mexiletine • cimetidine (Tagamet HB) |
*Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) is an enzyme in the liver that helps to break down certain drugs, including Veozah.
If you take a drug that slows down the CYP1A2 enzyme, your doctor may not prescribe Veozah for you.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Veozah and alcohol
Alcohol is not known to interact with Veozah. But Veozah and alcohol consumption (especially in large amounts) may cause liver problems. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you limit the amount of alcohol you drink during Veozah treatment.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Veozah during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting this medication.
Warnings
Veozah can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you. Talk with your doctor about your health history before taking Veozah. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:
- liver problems, including high levels of liver enzymes in your blood
- cirrhosis
- severe kidney problems, including end stage kidney disease
- past allergic reaction to Veozah
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Veozah, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for your condition.
The following drugs may also be prescribed to treat vasomotor symptoms related to menopause:
- hormone replacement therapy, such as:
- estradiol/progesterone (Bijuva)
- conjugated estrogens (Premarin)
- certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as:
- paroxetine (Brisdelle)
If you have questions about taking Veozah, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Questions you may want to ask include:
- If Veozah isn’t working for me, can hormone replacement therapy be added to my medication regimen?
- If Veozah manages my symptoms, how long will I continue to take the medication?
- What other options do I have if I can’t take Veozah because of liver or kidney problems?
To learn more about Veozah, see these articles:
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.