title: Efficacy and safety of desvenlafaxine treatment for hot flashes associated with menopause: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: Vasomotor symptoms, such as daytime hot flashes and nighttime awakenings due to hot flashes, are commonly associated with menopausal women. The aim of this study was to assess desvenlafaxine in moderate to severe hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Electronic databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials that compared desvenlafaxine to placebo for postmenopausal women affected with hot flashes. The main outcomes were mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for change of the hot flashes. Six randomized controlled trials were identified in the meta-analysis. Pooled change of moderate and severe hot flashes frequency reduced SMD of -0.49 (95% CI -0.91 to -0.07) in desvenlafaxine 100 mg and -0.36 (95% CI -0.54 to -0.19) in desvenlafaxine 150 mg at week 12. Desvenlafaxine 100 mg reduced moderate and severe hot flashes frequency SMD of -0.74 (95% CI -1.05 to -0.44) within 26 weeks. There is no evidence for an increased risk of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or hepatic events associated with desvenlafaxine 100 mg/day. The meta-analysis suggests that treatment with desvenlafaxine 100 mg/day is associated with a significant reduction of moderate to severe hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Desvenlafaxine appears both safe and effective for treating hot flushes for up to 12 months.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Population and Family Planning, Taishan Medical College, Taian City 271000, China. sunzhengtaish@126.com
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yanqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069468:Desvenlafaxine Succinate; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D000069468:Desvenlafaxine Succinate