Paroxetine safe, effective for refractory erythema of rosacea

Treatment with paroxetine is effective against moderate-to-severe erythema of rosacea and has no serious adverse effects, a study has shown.

A multicentre, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to assess the efficacy and safety of a 12-week course of paroxetine for moderate-to-severe erythema of rosacea. Patients with this condition were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either paroxetine 25 mg daily or placebo for 12 weeks.

Ninety-seven patients (49 on paroxetine and 48 on placebo) completed the study. The proportion of participants who achieved Clinical Erythema Assessment success (defined as Clinical Erythema Assessment score of 0, 1, or ≥2-grade improvement from baseline) at week 12 was significantly greater in the paroxetine group than in the placebo group (42.9 percent vs 20.8 percent; p=0.02).

Patients on paroxetine also met some secondary endpoints, including flushing success with point reductions ≥2 (44.9 percent vs 25.0 percent; p=0.04) and improvement in overall flushing (2.49 vs 1.68; p=0.047), burning sensation (46.9 percent vs 18.8 percent; p=0.003), and depression (p=0.041).

Adverse events associated with paroxetine use included dizziness, lethargy, nausea, dyspepsia, and muscle tremors.

“Paroxetine is an effective and well-tolerated alternative treatment for moderate-to-severe erythema of rosacea,” the researchers said.

One limitation of this study is that only a single-dosage regimen of paroxetine within a 12-week period was evaluated.

“Patients with refractory erythema of rosacea have limited treatment options,” the researchers noted.