Desvenlafaxine did not separate from placebo in reducing the number of moderate to severe hot flushes at week 12, although it did allow women to achieve 50% reduction sooner than placebo. Tibolone did separate from placebo, but with smaller than expected effect. The placebo effect was high (57%). Adverse drug reactions were consistent with the known safety profile of desvenlafaxine, and significantly more women who received tibolone experienced episodes of bleeding compared with women who received desvenlafaxine or placebo.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01432457.

The treatment efficacy of desvenlafaxine 100 mg/day achieved on week 12 in postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms is maintained for 1 year.

Postmenopausal women with moderate to severe hot flashes who are treated with desvenlafaxine achieve rapid symptom reduction that is clinically relevant based on MCID.

No abstract