Are antidepressants the magic pill to end hot flashes?
Washington — As the debate continues over the safety of hormone replacement therapy, an alternative treatment for the hot flashes that can plague postmenopausal women — and some men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer — has recently emerged. Studies have shown that at least some medications among the new generation of antidepressants, the serotonin reuptake inhibitors, can provide safe and effective relief for hot flashes. The finding emerged from attempts to control hot flashes in women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, which can bring with it severe menopausal symptoms. “We’ve looked into this for our patients because it is a big quality-of-life issue,” said Charles Loprinzi, MD, a Mayo Clinic oncologist, who has been seeking ways to alleviate hot flashes for several years. “We’ve looked at soy, which didn’t work; vitamin E, which worked a little and is nontoxic; and a blood pressure medication, which works a little but has side effects,” he said.
