The FDA approved Brisdelle (paroxetine) to treat moderate to severe hot flashes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Brisdelle (paroxetine) to treat moderate to severe hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms) associated with menopause.
Brisdelle, which contains the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine mesylate, is currently the only non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes approved by the FDA. There are a variety of FDA-approved treatments for hot flashes, but all contain either estrogen alone or estrogen plus a progestin.
The safety and effectiveness of Brisdelle were established in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in a total of 1,175 postmenopausal women with moderate to severe hot flashes (a minimum of seven to eight per day or 50-60 per week). The treatment period lasted 12 weeks in one study and 24 weeks in the other study. The results showed that Brisdelle reduced hot flashes compared to placebo. The mechanism by which Brisdelle reduces hot flashes is unknown.
