Elinzanetant at a glance
Medicine class
Selective neurokinin-1 and neurokinin-3 receptor antagonist
Hormonal treatment
No — it does not contain a hormone.
Main use
Moderate to severe hot flushes and night sweats related to menopause or breast-cancer endocrine therapy
Food
May be taken with or without food; avoid grapefruit.
Driving
Fatigue, dizziness or sleepiness can affect safe driving and machinery use.
What is Elinzanetant used for?
Licensed for adult women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms.
Hot flushes and night sweats associated with menopause.
Hot flushes and night sweats caused by adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer.
How does Elinzanetant work?
Elinzanetant blocks NK1 and NK3 receptor signalling in brain pathways involved in temperature and sleep regulation, helping control hot flushes and night sweats.
Elinzanetant preparations and strengths
Capsule
Route: Oral
Strengths: 60 mg
How to take Elinzanetant
Follow the prescription directions.
Swallow the soft capsules whole with water.
Do not cut, chew or crush them.
Take with or without food.
Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
Elinzanetant side effects
Common or expected effects
- Fatigue or sleepiness
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Headache
- Diarrhoea or abdominal pain
- Muscle spasms
- Rash
- Depression or depressed mood, particularly with adjuvant endocrine therapy
- Hair loss with adjuvant endocrine therapy
Get urgent medical advice
- Seizure
- Possible liver injury, including jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, itching, loss of appetite, persistent nausea or abdominal pain
Elinzanetant in pregnancy
Elinzanetant is contraindicated in known or suspected pregnancy. Effective contraception is required during treatment. Stop treatment and contact the prescriber promptly if pregnancy occurs.
Elinzanetant while breastfeeding
Use while breastfeeding is not recommended because it is unknown whether elinzanetant or its metabolites enter human milk.
Elinzanetant interactions
Elinzanetant is mainly metabolised through CYP3A4, so a full medicines review is important.
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including clarithromycin, itraconazole, ritonavir and cobicistat
Can substantially increase elinzanetant exposure and must not be used with it.
Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, including erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, fluconazole and verapamil
Can increase exposure and require prescriber review and adjustment.
CYP3A4 inducers, including rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and St John’s wort
Can lower exposure and reduce its effect.
Common questions about Elinzanetant
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is elinzanetant a hormone?
No. It is a non-hormonal NK1/NK3 receptor antagonist.
Can it be used for hot flushes caused by breast-cancer treatment?
Yes. Its licence includes moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms caused by adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer.
Can it be taken with HRT?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.