Paroxetine
Paroxetine is the only FDA-approved non-hormonal medication, marketed as Brisdelle in a 7.5 milligram version, for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats in menopause. It belongs to the SSRI class.
What people track
- Hot flash frequency and severity
- Night sweat frequency and severity
- Mood symptoms like anxiety or depression
- Side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, dry mouth, or changes in libido
Tracking tips
- Log the exact time you use it each day to maintain consistency.
- Use a 1-10 scale to rate hot flash severity over time.
- Note side effects in your journal, especially in the first few weeks.
- Track mood and anxiety patterns alongside hot flash changes.
Clinician discussion prompts
- Here is my log of hot flash frequency since using paroxetine. Can we review whether the current approach is helping?
- I've been tracking drowsiness about an hour after using it. Should timing change?
- Could we look at my mood charts alongside my hot flash data to see the overall impact?
- I am thinking about stopping this medication. Can we discuss a safe off-ramp based on my tracking data?