Women were paid $30 for each completed study visit to compensate for travel expenses and time.Ī total of 25 non-depressed menopausal women who reported at least 14 hot flashes per week were enrolled in the trial.
MEN HOT FLASHES FREE
All participants received the study medication and all study related evaluations free of charge. Women were recruited from the community via newspaper ads, as well as through physician referral at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS). The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the use of escitalopram (10-20mg flexibly dosed) for the treatment of hot flashes, as well as emotional distress, sleep, and quality of life, in non-depressed menopausal women, with no history of cancer. Therefore, it is important to continue to examine the impact of antidepressants on menopausal symptoms in populations of women without medical and psychiatric histories that may influence treatment response.Įscitalopram, the newest of the SSRIs, has not been previously evaluated as an alternative therapy for hot flashes in a healthy sample of non-depressed women. Of the non-oncology studies that have been conducted, very few have examined the use antidepressants to treat hot flashes in a psychologically healthy sample of women ( 32, 34- 36). However, most of this research has been conducted with oncology patients (e.g., breast cancer survivors) for whom HRT is contraindicated ( 25- 27, 29, 31). While some pilot studies, case reports, and randomized controlled trials have linked the use of antidepressants to significant reductions in hot flashes, dysphoria, anxiety, and insomnia, as well as improvements in quality of life ( 25- 33, 36), other studies have reported null findings ( 34, 35). Other prescription medications such as clonidine and gabapentin have also been investigated as a treatment for menopausal hot flashes but have again yielded inconsistent results ( 24).ĭue to the potential interaction between estrogen and neurotransmitters such as serotonin, the use of antidepressants (i.e., paroxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, citalopram, fluoxetine, desvenlafaxine) to treat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms has become a very important area of investigation ( 5, 25- 36). However, results on the effectiveness of these treatments have been mixed and data on the long-term safety of their use are lacking ( 20- 22, 23). For example, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches (i.e., acupuncture, reflexology, Chinese herbs, dong quai, evening primrose oil, ginseng, kava or red clover extracts, black cohosh) for the treatment of menopausal symptoms have received some empirical attention ( 19- 22). Therefore, many women are seeking novel interventions to help them cope with menopausal hot flashes.
The numerous risks and side effects (e.g., vaginal bleeding, edema) associated with HRT often result in a failure to initiate, poor adherence to, or an abrupt discontinuation of HRT regimens ( 10- 18). Additional studies have also linked the long-term use of HRT with increased risk of ovarian cancer ( 8) and dementia in postmenopausal women aged 65 years or older ( 9). Later, the women's international study of long duration oestrogen after menopause (WISDOM) confirmed that HRT increased cardiovascular and thromboembolic risk when started many years after menopause ( 7).
MEN HOT FLASHES TRIAL
For example, the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial was stopped early based on evidence that the increased risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism associated with HRT use far outweighed the possible benefit of decreasing the risk for hip fractures and colorectal cancer ( 6). However, a number of recent studies have raised concerns about the adverse effects of HRT. Of these, hot flashes have been reported to be one of the most troubling menopausal symptoms, affecting up to 80% of women ( 3, 4).īecause many of the physiological changes that occur during menopause result from decreased levels of estrogen, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has historically been considered a first-line treatment for hot flashes ( 5, 6).
The cessation of menstrual periods is frequently accompanied by hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, memory loss, and urogenital symptoms, often resulting in a significant disturbance of quality of life ( 1, 2).
Menopause is a physically and emotionally challenging transition phase in a woman's life.
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