How Long Does It Take Veozah to Work? Plus, 5 More Veozah FAQs
Key takeaways:
Veozah (fezolinetant) is a medication that treats vasomotor symptoms of menopause. It works differently than hormone-based or antidepressant treatments. Veozah typically starts working within a few weeks, with its full effects usually seen after 4 to 12 weeks.
You can take Veozah at any time of day, but it’s best to be consistent. Most Veozah side effects are mild and temporary, but liver problems can occur in rare circumstances. Your prescriber will likely monitor your liver health during treatment.
There’s no fixed treatment length for Veozah. How long you take it depends on your symptoms and side effects. After stopping it, Veozah typically clears from your system in about 2 days.
There are ways to save on Veozah. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you get your first Veozah prescription for as little as $0 per month. A patient assistance program is also available.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Veozah (fezolinetant) is a prescription medication that helps treat vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) caused by menopause. Your healthcare team is likely to review side effects and drug interactions with you before starting Veozah. But it’s common to have other questions, such as, “How long does it take Veozah to work?” or, “How long does Veozah stay in your system?”
Here, we’ll review these and other common questions about Veozah to help you better understand how it works and what to expect while taking it.
1. How long does it take Veozah to work?
In clinical studies, there was a decrease in both the number and severity of hot flashes within 1 to 4 weeks of starting Veozah. At the 4-week point, people taking Veozah experienced over 50% fewer hot flashes, versus a 33% reduction with a placebo (a pill with no medication in it).
How long does it take to see the full effects of Veozah?
Most people see the full effects of Veozah within the first 4 weeks of treatment. But for some people, symptoms may continue to improve over the first 12 weeks of taking Veozah.
2. Is Veozah an antidepressant?
No, Veozah isn’t an antidepressant. It’s a neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist. Veozah works by blocking a chemical (neurokinin B) in the brain that regulates body temperature. This helps prevent hot flashes from happening.
3. What should you expect when starting Veozah?
As mentioned, you should notice fewer hot flashes within the first few weeks of taking Veozah. You may also notice fewer night sweats and improved sleep.
Common Veozah side effects include stomach pain, diarrhea, and back pain. These symptoms often improve as your body adjusts to taking Veozah. But let your prescriber know if they’re bothersome or don’t get better over time.
Veozah can cause liver problems for some people. Because of this, your prescriber will likely keep an eye on your liver function during treatment. So be sure to keep your scheduled appointments so they can catch any problems early and take steps to manage them.
In rare cases, Veozah may actually make hot flash symptoms worse. If this happens, talk to your healthcare team about other options that may work better for you.
How to take Veozah: Veozah is a once-daily oral pill. Read more about its typical dosage and how to manage missed doses.
Advice for hot flashes: Read a first-hand account of one woman’s experience with hot flashes, including her top tips for managing them.
Compare options: Veozah is one of several available menopause treatments. Learn about the different options and how to save on them.
4. When is the best time to take Veozah?
You can take Veozah with or without food, at any time of day that works for you. But it’s best to be consistent with when and how you take it. So choose a time of day that works well with your schedule.
It isn’t common, but Veozah can cause insomnia (trouble sleeping) for some people. In this case, taking it in the morning may help.
5. When can you stop taking Veozah?
There isn’t a set time for how long you should take Veozah. Recurring hot flashes can last for several years, but this can vary widely. If you stop taking Veozah and your hot flashes reappear, it could be a sign that you stopped taking it too soon.
On the other hand, if you develop liver problems, you may need to stop taking Veozah, even if you’re still having hot flashes. Your prescriber will work with you to determine how long you should take Veozah.
6. How long does Veozah stay in your system?
Veozah stays in your system for about 2 days after you stop taking it. This is based on Veozah’s half-life of 9.6 hours. The half-life of a medication is the time it takes for your body to clear 50% (half) of the medication from your system. It typically takes about 5 half-lives to completely clear a medication.
How to save on Veozah
There are ways to save on Veozah, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 for your first month of Veozah using a savings card from the manufacturer. Each prescription after that could be as low as $30 per month with the card.
Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Veozah’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
The bottom line
Veozah (fezolinetant) usually begins to reduce hot flashes within the first few weeks of treatment, with full results often seen after 4 to 12 weeks. It works differently from hormone therapy or antidepressants and is designed specifically for vasomotor menopause symptoms. You can take Veozah at any time of day, but it’s best to be consistent.
Veozah side effects are typically mild and improve over time. More serious issues, such as liver problems, are rare but possible. There isn’t a set amount of time you should take Veozah. Your prescriber will help determine how long you should take it based on your symptoms, as well as any side effects you experience. It typically takes about 2 days to fully clear Veozah from your system after your last dose.
Why trust our experts?
References
Astellas Pharma US. (2024). Veozah- fezolinetant tablet, film coated [package insert].
LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. (2024). Fezolinetant. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Johnson, K. A., et al. (2023). Efficacy and safety of fezolinetant in moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause: A Phase 3 RCT. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Lugo, T., et al. (2022). Hot flashes. StatPearls.
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.