Antidepressants may improve sleep disturbances in women around menopause: Study

The authors identified randomized controlled trials assessing the therapeutic effects of antidepressants against menopausal sleep problems. Studies that were clinical trials with placebo controls were included. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to a random-effects model. Analysis of seven eligible randomized controlled trials including a total of 1,949 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women showed the effectiveness of serotonergic antidepressants against sleep disturbances despite the small effect size.

The following findings were drawn-

1. The efficacy remained significantly better than that of placebo for postmenopausal women (Hedge g = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.04-0.45), participants with hot flashes (Hedge g = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.02-0.34), and those without diagnosis of major depressive disorder (Hedge g = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.06-0.40).
2. There was no difference in therapeutic benefit between sedating and nonsedating serotonergic antidepressants.
3. Besides, the dropout rate did not differ between antidepressant and placebo groups.

Therefore, the authors concluded that "that serotonergic antidepressant were effective against sleep disturbances in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. The efficacy remained significant for women without a major depressive disorder. The dropout rates were also comparable between serotonergic antidepressants and placebo groups."