[Comparison of the therapeutic effects of fluoxetine, citalopram, estrogen and progesterone and placebo in the treatment of hot flushes in perimenopausal women]

ABSTRACT

Frequency and morbidity of hot flushes has led to development of multiple hormonal and non hormonal treatments in the recent years. Fluoxetine and citalopram with limited side effects and high tolerability by most women with hot flushes have attracted the researchers' attention but there are plenty of rooms for disagreement on their effectiveness. In this study the effects of fluoxetine, citalopram, hormone therapy and placebo on perimenopausal flushes, were compared with one another. This study was a randomized clinical trial [RCT]. The study population included 46 to 55 year old women with hot flush who had lack of menstruation and reached menopause for at least 1 year. Sampling method was blocked randomization and the patients were divided into four groups including fluoxetine, citalopram, hormone therapy and placebo groups. The collected data were introduced into the SPSS software and analyzed by chi-square, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests. There were no significant differences between the groups in the mean duration of menopause, history of any chronic disease, drug use and frequency of hypertension before intervention [p<0.05]. But there was significant differences between the values of the mean age of the groups before intervention [P=0.03]. The mean frequency of hot flushes decreased by 57%, 74.7%, 81.8% and 80% after intervention in estrogen+progesterone, fluoxetine, citalopram and placebo groups respectively [P<0.001]. Considering the high rate of success of the treatment of the hot flushes with citalopram and fluoxetine and few side effects of these drugs, they can be regarded as good alternatives to hormone therapy and for thoese who are not willing to take estrogen