title: Effect and safety of paroxetine for vasomotor symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paroxetine is the first non-hormone therapy for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) approved based on the results of two phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trials by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To confirm the effect and safety of paroxetine for vasomotor symptoms (VMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) and four Chinese databases was searched from the date of their inception to 7 June 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included RCTs on the effect of paroxetine compared with placebo or no treatment for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who experienced moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two reviewers screened records and extracted the information independently. The included studies were appraised by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. We synthesised the data in random-effects models and rated the quality of evidence using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five articles with six RCTs (1571 participants) were included. Paroxetine significantly reduced the frequency of hot flushes by 8.86 per week (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.69-12.04, P < 0.00001, I(2)  = 83%) at week 4 and 7.36 per week (95% CI, 4.25-10.46, P < 0.00001, I(2)  = 62%) at week 12. The quality of the evidence on the effect of paroxetine for VMS was moderate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was moderate quality of evidence supporting the effectiveness of paroxetine for vasomotor symptoms; however, it causes nausea and dizziness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Review finds paroxetine effective for menopausal symptoms with some side effects: evidence strength moderate.
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.|Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.|Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology Department of Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.|Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.|Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.|Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: X Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China. kehuyangebm2006@126.com.|Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China. kehuyangebm2006@126.com.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: GRADE; low dose paroxetine salt; meta-analysis; paroxetine; vasomotor symptoms