Desvenlafaxine compared with placebo for treatment of menopausal vasomotor
symptoms: a 12-week, multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled efficacy trial.
Author(s): Pinkerton JV(1), Constantine G, Hwang E, Cheng RF; Study 3353 Investigators.
Collaborators: Moe PR, Obritsch J, Parker RL Jr, Poindexter A, Raman A, Reagan R,
Rowe D, Phillips R, Sapin NJ, Scutella M, Seidman LS, Swanson SG, Valaoras TG,
Delahunty NP, Donovan A, Edger DE, Fenton D, Floyd S, Fowler S, Gaetze JO, Gass
M, Gearhart DL, Gorman A, Hermann SR, Vendeland LL, Waldbaum A, Whittington FK,
Williams S, Yankaskas M, Aguirre OA, Baker J, Ballard J, Bearnson P, Berg S,
Berger M, Beyerlein R, Brandenburg V, Bretton E, Brody K, Hoggarth T, Holm MK,
Huffman C, Jennings W, Kalafer M, Knapp H, Koltun WD, Kroll R, Lackey JD, Lubin
B, Lunde NM, Dietrich J, Drosman S, Farmer M, Feldman R, Finnegan P, Gerrish C,
Gollapudi GM, Hoekstra JA, Lederman S, Manganiello PD, Pack E, Pinkerton JV,
Walland D, Semple L, Shields RL, Smith RL Jr, Spitz RM, Tomlinson DA, Baron M,
Fried DL, Goldberg C, Nedoss BR, Sigman G, Stavoy TG, Weinstein RL, Zbella EA,
Archer DF, Barker CL, Rothman J, Feltheim CJ, Gee PJ, Ho L, Hrozencik DS,
McCluskey DC, Bressman PL, Watkins JM, Tanner JA, Summers WD, Weprin S, Woodson
GC, Spratt DI, Moyer GS, Casson P, Funk SA, Williams BM, Scott SR, Twede ML,
Ramsay AJ, Speller M, Taber LA, Biunno MJ, Fisk FM, May CV, Smith WB, Lowe D,
Frenette L, Gorfinkel IS, Lasko BH, Sethna RH, Tellier G, Blouin F, Ayotte NJ,
Hauck BA, Boroditsky RS, O'Mahony WF, Fortier M, Janzen JL, Beauchesne A, Carlson
B, Derzko CM, O'Mahony MF, Gamache N, Bergeron R, Ayers CA, Brainard CP, Booth W,
Ramjattan BR, Lobo RA.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
JVP9U@Virginia.edu
Publication date & source: 2013, Menopause. , 20(1):28-37
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the 12-week efficacy of
desvenlafaxine in treating moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms and the clinical
relevance of improvements in postmenopausal women experiencing 50 or more
moderate to severe hot flashes per week.
METHODS: Participants were randomized to placebo or desvenlafaxine 100 mg/day in
the 12-week efficacy substudy of a year-long, multicenter, parallel-group,
double-blind study. Coprimary outcomes were changes from baseline in the daily
number and severity of hot flashes on weeks 4 and 12. The percentage of women
achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in the number of hot
flashes on week 12 was determined.
RESULTS: The efficacy substudy modified intent-to-treat population included 365
women (desvenlafaxine, n = 184; placebo, n = 181). Desvenlafaxine 100 mg/day
significantly reduced the number and severity of hot flashes versus placebo on
week 4 (P < 0.001) and week 12 (P < 0.001). On week 12, desvenlafaxine reduced
the number of moderate and severe hot flashes by 7.3 (62%) per day (placebo, -4.5
[38%] per day) and the severity score by 0.59 (25%) per day (placebo, -0.28 [12%]
per day). MCID-a reduction of 5.35 moderate and severe hot flashes per day-was
achieved by 64% of desvenlafaxine-treated women (placebo, 41%; P < 0.001). In
all, 17.2% (67/390) of participants discontinued, 10.0% (20/200) of participants
taking desvenlafaxine and 3.7% (7/190) of participants taking placebo
discontinued because of adverse events (P = 0.016), and 2.5% (5/200) of
participants taking desvenlafaxine and 8.4% (16/190) of participants taking
placebo discontinued because of lack of efficacy (P = 0.012).
CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal women with moderate to severe hot flashes who are
treated with desvenlafaxine achieve rapid symptom reduction that is clinically
relevant based on MCID.
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