ROCHESTER, Minn., Oct 12, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Mayo Clinic researchers have found an antidepressant effective in reducing hot flashes experienced by men undergoing hormonal treatment for prostate cancer.

The antidepressant paroxetine has been used to treat mental depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, among others.

The five-week study followed 18 men who had completed hormone replacement therapy, illustrating their hot flashes decreased from 6.2 per day to 2.5 per day. Hot flash scores, the frequency multiplied by the severity, decreased during the same period from 10.6 per day to 3 per day.

"Newer antidepressants have been proven effective in reducing hot flashes in women, but have not been studied in men," said Dr. Charles Loprinzi of the Mayo Clinic's Division of Medical Oncology and the lead author of the study. "Although hot flashes in men with prostate cancer are well documented, their treatment has not received as much attention."

The research is described in the October issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

• More news on Men's Health Issues
• More news on Prostate Cancer

Related MedlinePlus Pages:

• Men's Health Issues
• Prostate Cancer