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
Which antidepressants can be used to treat hot flushes?
On page two in Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Antidepressants, dated February 2025, the Australasian Menopause Society explain:
- Venlafaxine (a Serotonin-Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor or SNRI)
- Escitalopram and paroxetine (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs)”
Paroxetine might decrease the effectiveness of tamoxifen, a medication sometimes used for women living with breast cancer. If this is an issue, ask your doctor about other options”.
In Menopausal Symptom Treatment: Non-Hormone Treatments for Menopause – Non-Hormone Medicine: Antidepressants the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health note:
- Venlafaxine or Desvenlafaxine
- Paroxetine
- Citalopram or Escitalopram
- Fluoxetine”.
On page two in Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Non Hormone Treatment Options – Recommended the Menopause Society include:
- SSRIs/SNRIs: Multiple formulations have been studied and found to be beneficial for VMS management, including paroxetine, escitalopram, citalopram, venlafaxine, and desvenlafaxine, often at lower doses than those used for treatment of anxiety or depression. Only paroxetine mesylate 7.5 mg daily is FDA approved for VMS management specifically. These treatments may be ideal for women with coexisting mood or anxiety symptoms.
In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants, dated 03 September 2026, the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
“Some treatments that don’t use hormones are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for hot flashes. One of these is a low-dose form of the antidepressant paroxetine (Brisdelle).
Other antidepressants have been used to treat hot flashes, but they are not approved by the FDA for this use. These 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”.
Off Label
What does off-label mean?
Depending on the Source the definition of off-label may vary. In Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Non-Hormonal Medications To Treat Hot Flashes: Care and Treatment – How Do I Treat A Hot Flash? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic’s definition is:
Hot Flushes + Depression
Do the antidepressants used to help 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 explain:
Health Care Provider
What if I would like to try an antidepressant to treat my hot flushes?
The Cleveland Clinic note:
“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”.Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Antidepressants for Hot Flushes?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
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- Brisdelle (Paroxetine) [31 October 2026]
- Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Antidepressants [03 September 2026]
- International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause [23 December 2026]
- Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations: Evidence-Based Management of Vasomotor Symptoms [09 June 2026]
- Antidepressants
- Find A Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
- Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
- Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
- Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Non-Hormonal Medications To Treat Hot Flashes: Care and Treatment – How Do I Treat A Hot Flash?
- Hot Flashes: Diagnosis – Treatment: Antidepressants
- International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
- Menopausal Symptom Treatments
- Menopause: How To Talk To Your Doctor
- Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
- Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Antidepressants
- Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
- Off-Label Prescriptions: What To Know When Medications Are Used Beyond the Label
- Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations: Evidence-Based Management of Vasomotor Symptoms
- Paroxetine. Generic Brisdelle. Used for Menopause.
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence
- Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause,
