Is Desvenlafaxine Effective for Reducing Hot Flashes In Postmenopausal Females?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not Desvenlafaxine is effective in reducing daily hot flashes in postmenopausal females. STUDY DESIGN: Review of three primary randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published after the year 2000 in the English language. DATA SOURCES: Three double-blind, randomized controlled trials were found using PubMed and EBSCOhost Web. All trials selected compared treatment with Desvenlafaxine to a visually matched placebo. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Patients completed daily diary cards on which they recorded the number and severity of daily hot flashes from the screening period through the 12 weeks of therapy. Patients completed self-administered questionnaires at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment: Profile of Mood States, Work Limitations, Menopause Symptoms Treatment Satisfaction, Sexual Functioning, EuroQuality of Life Visual Analog Scale, Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS). RESULTS: All three RCTs demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the number of moderate to severe daily hot flashes in postmenopausal women receiving treatment with Desvenlafaxine compared to those receiving the placebo. CONCLUSION: The results of the RCTs evaluated suggest Desvenlafaxine is effective in reducing the daily number of moderate-severe hot flashes in postmenopausal women