title: Effect of escitalopram on hot flash interference: a randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the effect of escitalopram (10-20 mg/d) versus placebo for reducing hot flash interference in daily life and understand correlates and predictors of reductions in hot flash interference, a key measure of quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multisite, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  MsFLASH clinical sites in Boston, Indianapolis, Oakland, and Philadelphia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 205 midlife women (46% African-American) who met criteria participated.
  
  
  METHODS
  After baseline, women were randomized to one pill of escitalopram 10 mg/d (n = 104) or placebo (n = 101) with follow-up at 4 and 8 weeks. At week 4, those not achieving 50% fewer hot flashes were increased to two pills daily (20 mg/d or 2 placebo pills).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale; correlates were variables from hot flash diaries; predictors were baseline demographics, clinical variables, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and hot flashes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to placebo, escitalopram significantly reduced hot flash interference by 6.0 points at week 4 and 3.4 points at week 8 more than placebo. Reductions in hot flash interference correlated with changes in hot flash diary variables. However, baseline variables did not significantly predict reductions in hot flash interference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Escitalopram (10-20 mg/d) for 8 weeks improves women's quality of life and this benefit did not vary by demographic, clinical, mood, sleep, or hot flash variables.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00894543.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. carpentj@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Ellen W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Hadine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joffe
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Kristine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ensrud
authors.forename: Andrea Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: LaCroix
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013546:Sweating / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors