Effect of intravenous clonidine on menopausal flushing and luteinizing hormone secretion.

The effect of clonidine (0.075 mg given intravenously) on subjectively experienced menopausal flushes, skin temperature and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion was investigated in eight women in a double-blind, saline-controlled cross over study. Subjects were monitored over a 5-hour period. The number and magnitude of temperature peaks (increment greater than 1 degree C) was unaffected by clonidine. Clonidine significantly decreased the number of subjectively experienced flushes as well as the intensity of the flushes. Clonidine had no effect on the number of LH secretory pulses or on total LH secretion. These results indicate that the therapeutic effect of clonidine is independent of factors responsible for episodic skin temperature changes or factors regulating LH secretion.