the present invention is a method of treating a thermoregulatory dysfunction treatment using paroxetine as free base or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof , in an anhydrate , a hydrate , or solvate form , in any non - crystalline or any crystalline polymorphic form of any of the foregoing in a dosage of from about 0 . 1 mg / day up to less than an antidepressant therapeutically effective amount of paroxetine . the invention is also a dosage form of paroxetine in a dose which is less than that effective for its use as an antidepressant . for the present invention , paroxetine may be in the form of the free base or any pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof . pharmaceutically acceptable salts include , but are not limited to , hydrohalides ( such as hydrochloride , hydrobromide , hydroiodide ), sulfates ( such as sulfate , bisulfate ), phosphates ( such as mono , di , or tri basic phosphate ), oxalate , mesylate , tosylate , pamoate , citrate , carbonate , bicarbonate , maleate , malate , fumarate , as well as many others set forth in the patent references indicated in paragraph 0010 above . preferably , the paroxetine is present as the free base , the hydrochloride salt , or the mesylate salt or mixtures thereof . most preferably the paroxetine is present as the hydrochloride salt or the mesylate salt . paroxetine for use in the present invention may be in the anhydrate , hemihydrate , monohydrate , or higher hydrate forms . paroxetine for use in the present invention may also be either amorphous or crystalline , the choice being made by the formulator depending upon the formulation and dissolution characteristics desired . crystalline forms have better stability , but amorphous forms have faster dissolution profiles . the dosage is about 0 . 1 mg / day up to less than an antidepressant effective amount of paroxetine ( based on the free base , anhydrate ); preferably up to about 9 . 5 mg / day . preferably the paroxetine can be administered to achieve the invention in amounts of at least 0 . 5 mg / day , more preferably at least 1 mg / day , still more preferably at least 2 mg / day , even more preferably at least 4 mg / day , up to preferably not more than about 9 mg / day , more preferably not more than about 8 . 5 mg / day , still more preferably not more than 8 mg / day . other non - limiting dosages that are specifically suitable for the present invention include 2 mg / day , 2 . 5 mg / day , 3 mg / day , 3 . 5 mg / day , 4 mg / day , 4 . 5 mg / day , 5 mg / day , 5 . 5 mg / day , 6 mg / day , 6 . 5 mg / day , 7 mg / day , 7 . 5 mg / day , 8 mg / day , and 8 . 5 mg / day . the present invention is applicable to the treatment of thermoregulatory dysfunction and in particular to such conditions ( without limitation ) as hot flushes , hot flashes , night sweats , etc . whether or not related to menopause ( female or male ), perimenopause , hormone ablative therapy ( including , but not limited to , anti - estrogenic therapy and antiandrogenic therapy ), treatments with other chemical agent or therapeutic agents that are antiestrogenic or antiandrogenic or interfere with thermoregulatory function , surgical procedures ( such as , without limitation castration , hysterectomy , ooectomy , etc ), and disease states interfering with normal thermoregulatory functioning . most preferably , the present invention is directed to the treatment of perimenopausal and postmenopausal hot flashes , hot flushes and night sweats in women , whether due to aging , therapeutically induced menopause , or surgically induced menopause . the invention is also preferably directed to hot flashes or hot flushes or night sweats in men whether such symptoms are due to aging , chemical castration , hormonal ablative therapy , or surgical castration . the following non - limiting examples are presented only to exemplify various embodiments of the invention and do not limit it in any fashion . females having hot flashes associated with menopause are administered paroxetine ( based on free base non - solvate , anhydrate ) as follows : form of paroxetine dosage hydrochloride 1 . 0 hydrochloride 2 . 0 hydrochloride 3 . 0 hydrochloride 4 . 0 hydrochloride 5 . 0 hydrochloride 6 . 0 hydrochloride 7 . 0 hydrochloride 8 . 0 hydrochloride 9 . 0 hydrochloride 9 . 5 mesylate 1 . 0 mesylate 2 . 0 mesylate 3 . 0 mesylate 4 . 0 mesylate 5 . 0 mesylate 6 . 0 mesylate 7 . 0 mesylate 8 . 0 mesylate 9 . 0 mesylate 9 . 5 females having hot flashes associated with menopause are administered paroxetine ( based on free base non - solvate , anhydrate ) as follows : form of paroxetine hcl dosage anhydrous 1 . 0 anhydrous 2 . 0 anhydrous 3 . 0 anhydrous 4 . 0 anhydrous 5 . 0 anhydrous 6 . 0 anhydrous 7 . 0 anhydrous 8 . 0 anhydrous 9 . 0 anhydrous 9 . 5 hemihydrate 1 . 0 hemihydrate 2 . 0 hemihydrate 3 . 0 hemihydrate 4 . 0 hemihydrate 5 . 0 hemihydrate 6 . 0 hemihydrate 7 . 0 hemihydrate 8 . 0 hemihydrate 9 . 0 hemihydrate 9 . 5 monohydrate 1 . 0 monohydrate 2 . 0 monohydrate 3 . 0 monohydrate 4 . 0 monohydrate 5 . 0 monohydrate 6 . 0 monohydrate 7 . 0 monohydrate 8 . 0 monohydrate 9 . 0 monohydrate 9 . 5
the present invention relates to a method for treating a patient suffering from a thermoregulatory dysfunction , especially hot flashes and flushes associated with hormonal changes due to naturally occurring menopause or due to chemically or surgically induced menopause . the method is also applicable to treating the hot flashes , hot flushes , or night sweats associated with disease states that disrupt normal hormonal regulation of body temperature .