Objective: To compare the treatment effects between fluoxetine plus hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and HRT alone on menopausal depression.
Methods: A total of 54 women with climacteric symptoms and depression were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. The fluoxetine plus HRT group received fluoxetine (20 mg, qd, po) and cyclic use of conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg, while HRT group was assigned to receive cyclic use of conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg only. All subjects were interviewed and evaluated with Hamilton Depression score (HAMD) and Kupperman menopause index (KMI) at week 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 of the treatment.
Results: There was no difference between two groups in HAMD and KMI before the trial (P > 0.05). HAMD scores at the 8th week in fluoxetine plus HRT group and HRT group were 3.0 +/- 2.3 and 11.2 +/- 5.8 respectively, being significantly different (P < 0.001). At the 6th week of treatment KMIs in fluoxetine plus HRT group and HRT group were 9 +/- 6 and 14 +/- 7 respectively, also significantly different (P < 0.05). The healing rates of fluoxetine plus HRT group and HRT group were 92% and 48% respectively, which were statistically different by Chi square test (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: The effect of fluoxetine plus HRT on menopausal depression is significantly superior than that of HRT only and the difference becomes more obvious with treatment time. Both groups could ameliorate the climacteric symptoms with the effect of fluoxetine plus HRT more obvious.