Antidepressants for Hot Flushes

Have you been prescribed antidepressants to treat hot flushes or hot flashes even though you do not feel depressed? Yes, antidepressants can be used to treat hot flushes.

Antidepressants for Hot Flushes

Can antidepressants be used to treat hot flushes or hot flashes?

Yes, antidepressants can be used to treat hot flushes. On page two in Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Vasomotor Symptoms – Antidepressants, dated 08 September 2024, the Australasian Menopause Society note:

“Several types of antidepressants (SNRI and SSRIs explained below) have been noted in small, short-term studies to reduce hot flushes. Four weeks is sufficient to establish whether these will be effective in reducing hot flushes. These medications should not be taken with any other antidepressants or any substance containing St. John’s Wort. Discontinuation should be tapered.

  • Venlafaxine and Desvenlafaxine are serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Serotonin and noradrenaline, known to affect mood, may also impact thermoregulation…
  • SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). This class of antidepressants includes paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, citalopram, and escitalopram. There is limited information about how different non-hormonal agents compare with each other for efficacy due to a lack of head-to-head studies…”

In Treatments for Menopause: Non-Hormone Treatments for Menopause – Non-Hormone Medicine: Antidepressants the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

“Some antidepressants have been shown to reduce hot flushes and night sweats, and also help with mood, anxiety and depression. These medicines include:

  • Venlafaxine or Desvenlafaxine
  • Paroxetine
  • Citalopram or Escitalopram
  • Fluoxetine”.

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants, dated 04 March 2025, the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

Antidepressants for Hot Flushes

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves only one treatment that doesn’t use hormones for hot flashes. The treatment is a low-dose form of paroxetine (Brisdelle).

Other antidepressants that have been used to treat hot flashes include:

  • Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil)
  • Citalopram (Celexa)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Antidepressants don’t work as well as hormone therapy for strong hot flashes. But they can help people who can’t use hormones. Possible side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping or feeling sleepy, weight gain, dry mouth or trouble having sex”.

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Menopausal Hormone Therapy, published online 30 October 2023, the authors include:

“The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are effective in some, but not all, women with VMS. Paroxetine, 7.5 mg/day, has regulatory approval for VMS in the USA”.

Hot Flushes + Depression

Do antidepressants used to manage hot flushes also treat depression?

In Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Non-Hormonal Medications To Treat Hot Flashes the (United States) National Institute on Aging note:

“People who take an antidepressant to help manage hot flashes generally take a lower dose than people who use the medication to treat depression or other psychiatric conditions”.

Off Label

What does “off-label” mean?

In Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Non-Hormonal Medications To Treat Hot Flashes: Care and Treatment – How Do I Treat A Hot Flash?, dated 21 October 2024, the (United States) Cleveland Clinic’s definition is:

“Some prescription medications are used as off-label treatments to help reduce hot flashes. Using a product “off label” means that it’s not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hot flashes, but it can be safe and effective as a treatment option”.

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to try an antidepressant to treat my hot flushes?

The Cleveland Clinic also note:

Antidepressants for Hot Flushes“It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about any treatment option and discuss the pros and cons. Your provider is aware of your medical history. Some treatment options may not be safe to take with your other medications or other medical conditions”.

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  21. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
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Last Updated: 17 March 2026 – Last Revised: 12 March 2026
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