Management of postmenopausal hot flushes with venlafaxine hydrochloride: a randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy of extended-release venlafaxine for the treatment of postmenopausal hot flushes.


METHODS
Eighty postmenopausal women with more than 14 hot flushes per week were randomized to receive treatment with extended-release venlafaxine or placebo. Participants received 37.5 mg daily for 1 week, followed by 75 mg daily for 11 weeks. Daily hot flush severity scores and adverse effects were recorded by subjects. Baseline and monthly follow-up questionnaires assessed patient-perceived hot flush score, quality of life, and sexual function. Participants were treated for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Of the 80 subjects who enrolled in the study, 40 were in the treatment group and 40 in the control group. Of these, 61 completed the study (treatment, n = 29; control, n = 32). Subjective assessment at monthly visits of the effects of hot flush symptoms on daily living were significantly improved in the treatment group (P < .001). Hot flush severity scores based on daily diaries were somewhat lower in the treatment group, but the between-group difference did not reach statistical significance (P = .25). Three side effects, dry mouth, sleeplessness, and decreased appetite, were significantly more frequent in the venlafaxine group, but others, including dizziness, tremors, anxiety, diarrhea, and rash, were significantly less frequent. Ninety-three percent of participants in the venlafaxine group chose to continue treatment at the conclusion of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Extended-release venlafaxine, 75 mg per day, is an effective treatment for postmenopausal hot flushes in otherwise healthy women, based on a significant decrease in patient-perceived hot flush score.
Evans
Michele L
ML
Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0556, USA.
Pritts
Elizabeth
E
Vittinghoff
Eric
E
McClish
Karen
K
Morgan
Kevin S
KS
Jaffe
Robert B
RB
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D017698:Postmenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride