Effects of escitalopram on menopause-specific quality of life and pain in healthy menopausal women with hot flashes: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effects of escitalopram 10-20 mg/day on menopause-related quality of life and pain in healthy menopausal women with hot flashes.

STUDY DESIGN:

A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of escitalopram 10-20mg/day vs. identical placebo was conducted among 205 women ages 40-62 years with an average of ≥4 daily hot flashes recruited at 4 clinical sites from July 2009 to June 2010.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The primary trial outcomes, reported previously, were the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms at 8 weeks. Here, we report on the pre-specified secondary endpoints of total and domain scores from the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) and the pain intensity and interference scale (PEG).

RESULTS:

Outcome data were collected on 97% of randomized women and 87% of women took at least 70% of their study medication. Treatment with escitalopram resulted in significantly greater improvement in total MENQOL scores (mean difference at 8 weeks of -0.41; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.71 to -0.11; p<0.001), as well as Vasomotor, Psychosocial, and Physical domain scores with the largest difference seen in the Vasomotor domain (mean difference -0.75; 95% CI -1.28 to -0.22; p=0.02). There was no significant treatment group difference for the Sexual Function domain. Escitalopram treatment resulted in statistically significant improvements in PEG scores compared to placebo (mean treatment group difference at 8 weeks of -0.33; 95% CI -0.81 to 0.15; p=0.045).

CONCLUSIONS:

Treatment with escitalopram 10-20mg/day in healthy women with vasomotor symptoms significantly improved menopause-related quality of life and pain.

• Authors: Andrea Z LaCroix, Ellen W Freeman, Joseph Larson, Janet S Carpenter, Hadine Joffe, Susan D Reed, Katherine M Newton, Rebecca A Seguin, Barbara Sternfeld, Lee Cohen, Kristine E Ensrud
• Journal: Maturitas (Maturitas) Vol. 73 Issue 4 Pg. 361-8 (Dec 2012) ISSN: 1873-4111 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 23031421 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Placebos
• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
• Citalopram

Topics

• Adult
• Citalopram (therapeutic use)
• Cohort Studies
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Hot Flashes (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Linear Models
• Menopause (drug effects)
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement (drug effects)
• Placebos
• Quality of Life
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (therapeutic use)