In America, the FDA has recently approved the use of an antidepressant, Brisdelle, for the treatment of moderate to severe hot flashes associated with menopause. Brisdelle is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and it contains the active ingredient paroxetine. The approved dosage is 7.5mg which is lower than that used for major depressive disorders.
Antidepressants are not licensed for treating hot flashes in the UK but the NHS website comments that “there are several antidepressant medications that may be effective”. They then list the possible side effects as “nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, anxiety and sleeping problems”.
So is the FDA approval good news for women? Let’s look at the benefits. The research into the effects of the drug was carried out in two randomised, controlled studies of 1,175 women experiencing moderate to severe hot flashes associated with menopause. Women who were experiencing an average of 10 hot flashes per day experienced a reduction down to as few as 4 after 12 weeks on the drug. Women on the placebo went from 10 a day to around 5. Because of this marginal improvement relative to the placebo effect, the FDA’s advisory panel voted against the approval of the drug.
Now let’s look at the risks. The most common side-effects of the drug include headache, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. At higher doses the drug has been associated with suicidality. Other warnings on the label will include a possible reduction in the efficacy in the cancer treatment drug, tamoxifen, an increased risk of bleeding and a risk of developing serotonin syndrome. Suddenly those hot flashes don’t sound so bad.
In my opinion, many women turn to antidepressants for hot flashes because they are not aware of effective alternatives. There are certainly changes that you can make to your nutrition that will help. There are also food supplements, homeopathic and herbal remedies. Most importantly, research has shown that hypnosis which includes visualisation is very effective in treating this symptom. And it has no dangerous side-effects.
If you want to try it for yourself, go to the Bonus page on this website and download the ‘Stay Cool Hypnotic Relaxation Recording’.
For more information:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00029157.2004.10401473#.UdxNeTukoYl
