Escitalopram and hot flushes

The antidepressant escitalopram could reduce hot flushes in menopausal women. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine studied 205 women over an 8-week period. Half were given escalitopram and half were given a placebo. After the eight-week trial the number of hot flushes experienced by the women declined by 47% in the group taking escitalopram and 33% in the group taking the placebo. Interestingly at a three-week follow-up those who had taken escitalopram had more hot flushes than those who had taken the placebo. The researchers' interpretation of this was that the flushes increased because the escitalopram had an effect on them but it could, of course, also mean that the placebo was more effective in the long term!