Effects of a combination of Nigella sativa and Vitex agnus-castus with citalopram on healthy menopausal women with hot flashes: results from a subpopulation analysis

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2019 Jan;35(1):58-61. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2018.1499086. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to evaluate the efficiency of a phytotherapeutic intervention consisting of a combination of Nigella sativa and Vitex agnus-castus with citalopram in the control of hot flashes in healthy menopausal women. An 8 week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed among 46 women aged between 40 and 60 years experiencing an average of more than four hot flashes per day recruited during July 2016 to June 2017. Data on severity of vasomotor symptoms were collected at the end of the eighth week. Herbal medication or placebo capsules were administered once daily in morning. At the end of the 8-week treatment period, analyses of covariance demonstrated the superiority of herbal combination with citalopram over placebo and citalopram for three MENQOL domain scores including vasomotor (p < .001), physical (p = .036), psychosocial (p = .001) but no significant differences were observed in terms of sexual function (p = .231). Based on the results, the addition of a combination of N. sativa and V. agnus-castus to the citalopram may be a potential clinical application for improving therapeutic outcomes. Larger randomized, controlled trials are also warranted for further investigations of these symptoms.

Keywords: MENQOL scores; citalopram; hot flashes.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Citalopram / administration & dosage
  • Citalopram / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hot Flashes / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Menopause / drug effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nigella sativa
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitex

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Citalopram