Objective
To obtain pilot prospective data regarding the efficacy and tolerability of gabapentin
for alleviating hot flashes.
Patients and Methods
This prospective single-arm clinical trial was conducted between July 26, 2001, and
November 30, 2001. Patients underwent a baseline week and then 4 weeks of gabapentin
treatment, with increasing doses during the first 3 weeks, from 300 to 600 to 900
mg/d. Data were obtained primarily from patient-completed questionnaires.
Results
Data from 20 evaluable women (of 24 entered in the trial) were available. Four patients
discontinued use of gabapentin for perceived drug-related untoward symptoms, primarily
related to light-headedness and dizziness. The 16 patients who completed this clinical
trial had a mean reduction in hot flash frequency, in the fourth treatment week compared
to the baseline week, of 66%. Their corresponding hot flash score (frequency times
average severity) reduction was 70%. Additionally, patients who completed the 4 treatment
weeks had a strong tendency to report an improvement in several other symptoms.
Conclusion
Although a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial should be conducted to better
elucidate the efficacy and toxicity of gabapentin in patients with hot flashes, the
available data suggest that gabapentin is a reasonable treatment to consider in patients
with hot flashes if they do not wish to use hormonal therapy.
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Article Info
Footnotes
This work was supported by a Komen Foundation grant.
Identification
Copyright
© 2002 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- Hot Flashes: The Old and the New, What Is Really True?Mayo Clinic ProceedingsVol. 77Issue 11
- PreviewEstradiol levels decline intermittently during the perimenopausal transition and permanently after menopause. As a consequence, women experience symptoms related to urogenital atrophy, vasomotor instability, neurocognitive dysfunction, accelerated bone loss, and cardiovascular disease. For some women, vasomotor instability and associated insomnia are disabling.
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