Antidepressant May Cut Hot Flashes

A drug prescribed for depression also may decrease hot flashes, a study suggests. The study included 205 women. All were beginning menopause or had completed it in the last year. They were randomly divided into two groups. One group took escitalopram (Lexapro), a depression medicine. The other took identical placebo (fake) pills. After 8 weeks, 55% of the women in the escitalopram group said their hot flashes were reduced by at least half. About 36% of those in the placebo group had such a decrease. Women who got the real drug were also more likely to say their hot flashes were less severe or bothersome than before. Researchers said the drug could be an option for women who don’t want to take hormones for hot flashes. Hormones are effective but have risks. The Journal of the American Medical Association published the study.