Pilot evaluation of venlafaxine hydrochloride for the therapy of hot flashes in cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
Hot flashes can be a prominent clinical problem for breast cancer survivors and men who undergo androgen-deprivation therapy. Anecdotal information suggested a low dose of a relatively new antidepressant, venlafaxine, could abrogate this clinical problem.


METHODS
This study included 28 consecutive assessable patients entered onto a phase II clinical trial. Hot flash data were collected by daily diary questionnaires during a 1-week baseline period and then for 4 weeks, during which time patients received venlafaxine 12.5 mg orally twice daily.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight percent of patients who completed the study had a greater than 50% reduction in hot flash scores (frequency times severity) during the fourth treatment week as compared with the baseline week. Median weekly hot flash scores were reduced by 55% from baseline during the fourth week of venlafaxine therapy. Therapy was generally well tolerated and appeared to alleviate fatigue, sweating, and trouble sleeping.


CONCLUSIONS
Venlafoxine appears to represent an efficacious new method to alleviate hot flashes. Further evaluation of this compound for alleviating hot flashes is indicated.
Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. cloprinzi@mayo.edu
C L
CL
Loprinzi
T M
TM
Pisansky
R
R
Fonseca
J A
JA
Sloan
K M
KM
Zahasky
S K
SK
Quella
P J
PJ
Novotny
T A
TA
Rummans
D A
DA
Dumesic
E A
EA
Perez
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride