Post hoc analysis of the efficacy and safety of desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with major depressive disorder

Of 426 women, 32% were perimenopausal and received desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day or placebo.

• Both perimenopausal and postmenopausal women showed greater improvement in depression scores with desvenlafaxine compared to placebo.
• In perimenopausal women, the improvement in functional impairment scores was significantly greater with desvenlafaxine than with placebo.
• No significant effect of menopause status or time since menopause on overall depression scores was observed.
• Desvenlafaxine significantly improved quality of life measures in postmenopausal women.
• Lower placebo response rates in perimenopausal women contributed to the greater apparent treatment benefit of desvenlafaxine in this group.

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