Escitalopram versus ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone acetate for symptomatic peri- and postmenopausal women

Autor: Hadine Joffe, Helga Arsenio, Lee S. Cohen, Claudio N. Soares, Bettina Bankier, Laura F. Petrillo, Paolo Cassano
Rok vydání: 2006
Předmět:
Zdroj: Menopause. 13:780-786
ISSN: 1072-3714
DOI: 10.1097/01.gme.0000240633.46300.fa
Popis: To examine the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram (ESCIT) compared to estrogen and progestogen therapy (EPT) for the treatment of symptomatic peri- and postmenopausal women.Forty women (aged 40-60 years) with depressive disorders and menopause-related symptoms were randomly assigned to an 8-week open trial with ESCIT (flexible dose, 10-20 mg/day; fixed dose, 10 mg/day for the first 4 weeks) or estrogen plus progestogen therapy (ethinyl estradiol 5 microg/day plus norethindrone acetate 1 mg/day). Primary outcome measures included Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Greene Climacteric Scale at week 8. Secondary outcome measures included the Clinical Global Impressions as well as sleep and quality of life assessments.Thirty-two women (16 on EPT, 16 on ESCIT) were included in the analyses. Full remission of depression (score of10 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) was observed in 75% (12/16) of subjects treated with ESCIT, compared to 25% (4/16) treated with EPT (P = 0.01, Fisher's exact tests). Remission of menopause-related symptoms (50% decrease in Greene Climacteric Scale scores) was noted in 56% (9/16) of women treated with ESCIT compared to 31.2% (5/16) on EPT (P = 0.03, Pearson's chi2 tests). Improvement in sleep, hot flashes, and quality of life was observed with both treatments.ESCIT is more efficacious than EPT for the treatment of depression and has a positive impact on other menopause-related symptoms. ESCIT may constitute a treatment option for symptomatic menopausal women who are unable or unwilling to use hormone therapy.
Databáze: OpenAIRE