Lynkuet (elinzanetant) is a nonhormonal capsule, FDA-approved in October 2025, for moderate to severe menopausal hot flashes. It's taken once daily at bedtime and blocks two related brain receptors (NK1 and NK3) — a broader mechanism than Veozah's NK3-only approach, which is also thought to help with sleep disruption from night sweats.
Lynkuet (elinzanetant), made by Bayer, is the second nonhormonal medication approved for menopausal hot flashes, joining Veozah (fezolinetant) as an estrogen-free option.
How Does Lynkuet Work?
Like Veozah, Lynkuet targets the overactive brain neurons that drive hot flashes as estrogen declines during menopause. But Lynkuet blocks two receptors on those neurons — neurokinin 1 (NK1) and neurokinin 3 (NK3) — rather than NK3 alone. Combining both blockades is thought to calm the temperature-regulation pathway more broadly and may also help with the sleep disruption that often comes with night sweats.
Dosing
| Detail | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Standard dose | 2 capsules (120 mg total) by mouth, once daily at bedtime |
| Reduced dose | 1 capsule (60 mg) once daily, if your provider adjusts for other medications you take |
| Food | Can be taken with or without food |
| Swallowing | Swallow capsules whole; do not crush or chew |
| Avoid | Grapefruit and grapefruit juice |
Lynkuet is taken at bedtime rather than any time of day — its longer half-life and drowsiness-related side effects make an evening dose the better fit.
🔮 Liver monitoring is required, similar to Veozah: your provider checks liver function tests before you start and again around 3 months into treatment. As with any medication in this class, report fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice, or dark urine to your provider right away.
- Drowsiness and dizziness: Because Lynkuet can cause excessive sleepiness, use caution with driving or other tasks requiring alertness until you know how it affects you.
- Seizure risk: Use with caution if you have a history of seizures.
- Pregnancy: Lynkuet is contraindicated in pregnancy. Women who could become pregnant need a negative pregnancy test before starting and should use effective contraception while taking it.
- Drug interactions: Lynkuet has a longer list of potential drug interactions than Veozah — tell your provider about every medication and supplement you take.
Side Effects
The most commonly reported side effects are headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, abdominal pain, rash, diarrhea, and muscle spasms.
Lynkuet vs. Veozah
| Lynkuet (elinzanetant) | Veozah (fezolinetant) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | NK1 + NK3 receptor antagonist | NK3 receptor antagonist only |
| Dosing | 120 mg (2 capsules) once daily at bedtime | 45 mg once daily, any consistent time |
| FDA approval | October 2025 | May 2023 |
| Notable side effects | More drowsiness/sedation; broader drug-interaction list | Generally fewer interactions; less sedating |
| Liver monitoring | Required (baseline + ~3 months) | Required (baseline + months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9) |
Both are nonhormonal and effective for hot flashes; the right choice depends on your other medications, whether daytime sedation would be a problem, and your provider's assessment. Neither has been studied head-to-head against the other in a published trial as of this writing, so the comparison above reflects each drug's individual data rather than a direct trial comparison.
Key Takeaways
- Lynkuet (elinzanetant) is a nonhormonal capsule for moderate to severe menopausal hot flashes, approved October 2025
- Blocks both NK1 and NK3 brain receptors, a broader mechanism than Veozah's NK3-only approach
- Taken as 2 capsules (120 mg) once daily at bedtime, with or without food
- Requires liver function monitoring before starting and around 3 months in
- Can cause more drowsiness than Veozah — use caution with driving until you know how it affects you
- Contraindicated in pregnancy; avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice
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