Basically, using antidepressants to treat menopause symptoms is considered an off-label use for these medicines. Most common side effect that are reported with paroxetine (Paxil) use for hot flashes were headache, nausea, and insomnia. About 58% of women reported side effects. (Interestingly, of women who were taking a placebo, about 53% also reported side effects. Similarly, about 43% of women taking a placebo reported a 50% or better improvement in hot flashes.
Further research is needed to determine the risks and benefits of long-term antidepressant treatment. But many people have used these medicines for long-term treatment of depression. We just have to remember that never stop taking antidepressants abruptly. The use of any antidepressant should be tapered off slowly and only under the supervision of a doctor. Abruptly stopping these medicines can cause headaches, nervousness, anxiety, or insomnia.
In fact, studies have found that daily use of SSRIs may increase the risk of bone fracture in adults over age 50. Before you take an SSRI, talk to your doctor about this risk.
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