Escitalopram treatment of menopausal hot flashes

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 10 and 20 mg/day of escitalopram on objectively recorded hot flashes and on the rectal temperature threshold for sweating. Methods: Two studies were performed: 16 women received 10 mg/day and 26 women received 20 mg/day escitalopram for 8 weeks. They were randomly assigned in equal numbers to receive active drug or placebo in a double-blind fashion. Hot flash frequency was measured with an ambulatory recorder during the first 3 weeks and during the 8th week of the study. Rectal temperature threshold for sweating was measured during the 1st and 8th weeks of the study using published methods. Results: In the first study, there were no significant effects whatsoever for any measure. In the second study, the escitalopram group showed an average decline in hot flash frequency of 14.4%, whereas the placebo group showed an average increase of 6.7% (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant effects across time for either group. There were no significant effects whatsoever for rectal temperature sweating thresholds. Conclusions: Escitalopram at 10 or 20 mg/day is not effective in the treatment of menopausal hot flashes.