Berhan and Berhan (2014)11, desvenlafaxine 7 RCTs (N=3685) Postmenopausal Desvenlafaxine at Placebo Hot flush Hot flush frequency: (1)Yes. Searched women. Unclear 50 mg/d, 100 frequency SMD - 0.3 (- 0.41, - 0.22); Cochrane Library, whether women mg/d, 150 mg/d 7 RCTs Medline and HINARI. with breast and 200 mg/d for Hot (2)Unclear. Quality cancer were a duration of severity Hot flush severity: appears to have ≥12 included. weeks SMD - 0.3 (- 0.38, - 0.17); been assessed but Treatment 7 RCTs methodology not described. due to AEs Discontinuation due to (3)Yes. Individual AEs: study results were not OR 2.4 (1.87, 3.15); 6 reported. RCTs (4)Yes. SR risk of bias: Moderate EB risk of bias: Unclear Authors’ conclusion: is effective in the treatment of hot flashes but it is strongly associated with several adverse events and “Desvenlafaxine treatment discontinuation. Further clinical trials focusing only on desvenlafaxine related adverse events are highly warranted before it is approved for public use.” Sun et al (2013)12, desvenlafaxine 6 RCTs Postmenopausal Desvenlafaxine Placebo Hot trial Hot trial frequency: (1)Yes. Three (N=1931) women 100mg or 150mg frequency, 100mg for 12 weeks databases were daily for 12 weeks GCS total (SMD=-0.49, 95% CI searched with score to -0.07, p=0.003); appropriate search number of 150mg for 12 weeks terms. night-time (SMD=-0.36, 95% CI (2)Yes. Quality awakenings to -0.19); 100mg assessed by two within 26 weeks independent 95% CI -1.05 to assessors. (3)Yes. Results GSC score: expressed as mean difference.
Berhan and Berhan (2014)11, desvenlafaxine 7 RCTs (N=3685) Postmenopausal women. Unclear whether women with breast cancer were included. Desvenlafaxine at 50 mg/d, 100 mg/d, 150 mg/d and 200 mg/d for a duration of ≥12 weeks Placebo Hot flush frequency Hot severity Treatment due to AEs Hot flush frequency: SMD - 0.3 (- 0.41, - 0.22); 7 RCTs Hot flush severity: SMD - 0.3 (- 0.38, - 0.17); 7 RCTs Discontinuation due to AEs: OR 2.4 (1.87, 3.15); 6 RCTs (1)Yes. Searched Cochrane Library, Medline and HINARI. (2)Unclear. Quality appears to have been assessed but methodology not described. (3)Yes. Individual study results were not reported. (4)Yes. SR risk of bias: Moderate EB risk of bias: Unclear Authors’ conclusion: “Desvenlafaxine is effective in the treatment of hot flashes but it is strongly associated with several adverse events and treatment discontinuation. Further clinical trials focusing only on desvenlafaxine related adverse events are highly warranted before it is approved for public use.” Sun et al (2013)12, desvenlafaxine 6 RCTs (N=1931) Postmenopausal women Desvenlafaxine 100mg or 150mg daily for 12 weeks Placebo Hot frequency, GCS total score number of night-time awakenings Hot frequency: 100mg for 12 weeks (SMD=-0.49, 95% CI to -0.07, p=0.003); 150mg for 12 weeks (SMD=-0.36, 95% CI to -0.19); 100mg within 26 weeks 95% CI -1.05 to GSC score: (1)Yes. Three databases were searched with appropriate search terms. (2)Yes. Quality assessed by two independent assessors. (3)Yes. Results expressed as mean difference. trial trial