Effect of guanfacine, an alpha-adrenergic agonist, on menopausal flushing.

The effect of guanfacine (0.5 mg/day), an alpha-adrenergic agonist, on menopausal flushing, was studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in 11 patients. Both guanfacine and placebo significantly decreased the total number of flushes from baseline values. There was, however, no significant difference between placebo and guanfacine. Larger doses of guanfacine may be required to exert a therapeutic effect similar to that reported in the literature with the alpha-adrenergic agents, clonidine and alpha-methyldopa.