Effect of escitalopram on hot flash interference: a randomized, controlled trial.
Author(s): Carpenter JS, Guthrie KA, Larson JC, Freeman EW, Joffe H, Reed SD, Ensrud KE,
LaCroix AZ.
Affiliation(s): Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. carpentj@iupui.edu
Publication date & source: 2012, Fertil Steril. , 97(6):1399-404
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.
DESIGN: Multisite, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
SETTING: MsFLASH clinical sites in Boston, Indianapolis, Oakland, and
Philadelphia.
PATIENT(S): A total of 205 midlife women (46% African-American) who met criteria
participated.
INTERVENTION(S): 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).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): 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.
RESULT(S): 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.
CONCLUSION(S): 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.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00894543.
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