A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association, has investigated the use of a specific form of antidepressant medication known as paroxetine controlled release (CR) for the treatment of menopausal hot flushes. 

The study which was conducted over a 6 week period, showed that using either 12.5 mg or 25 mg of paroxetine CR daily compared to placebo, resulted in a 50% or greater reduction in both the severity and frequency of hot flushes in women who experience an average of 6.5 hot flushes daily. Both the 12.5 mg and 25 mg doses of paroxetine CR were equally effective, however the lower dose preparation was better tolerated in terms of side effects. 

The results of the study compare favourably with other studies that have evaluated the use of other antidepressant medication, such as venlafaxine and fluoxetine for the treatment of hot flushes in women who are only mildly to moderately affected by this problem.

The study did not evaluate the effects of the medication for other menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, nor did it evaluate the effects of paroxetine CR in women with severely frequent hot flushes (10 or more hot flushes daily). 

Despite the findings of the study, estrogen therapy still remains the most effective treatment available for menopausal hot flushes and the other symptoms of menopause such as night sweats and vaginal dryness. However, the use of paroxetine CR offers an alternative therapy to estrogen therapy for those women who are mildly to moderately affected by hot flushes who are looking for a non hormonal alternative.

Paroxetine Controlled Release in the Treatment of Menopausal Hot Flashes, A Randomized Controlled Trial
Vered Stearns, MD; Katherine L. Beebe, PhD; Malini Iyengar, PhD; Eric Dube, PhD
JAMA. 2003;289:2827-2834 http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/289/21/2827

Content updated June 12, 2003