Can antidepressants help treat hot flashes?

Low doses of certain antidepressants such as Paxil, Prozac, Effexor, or Lexapro can be used to decrease hot flashes. In some cases, the dose is lower than the dose used to treat depression. Antidepressants are not associated with a risk of breast cancer or uterine cancer.
Antidepressants should not be stopped suddenly. As the hot flashes become more manageable, or subside completely, taper off the medication under your doctor's supervision to avoid unnecessary side effects.

Each antidepressant medication will affect each individual differently. If one antidepressant is associated with unacceptable or unpleasant side effects (for example, weight gain or sexual problems), a sister antidepressant medication may provide relief from hot flashes without the same difficulties. You may end up trying several different medications before you find the one that is best for you.

Prescription antidepressants can do double duty in menopause, relieving both depression and hot flashes. Those shown to work for both conditions in clinical trials include venlafaxine (Effexor), 25 to 150 mg daily; fluoxetine (Prozac), 20 mg daily for four weeks; and paroxetine (Paxil), 10 to 20 mg daily.