Gabapentin's effects on hot flashes in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether treatment with the anticonvulsant gabapentin may be effective in reducing hot flash frequency and severity.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 59 postmenopausal women with seven or more hot flashes per day examining the effects of gabapentin 900 mg per day on hot flash frequency after 12 weeks of treatment. Subsequently, study patients were enrolled in a 5-week, open-label treatment phase, during which patients could increase the dose of gabapentin to 2,700 mg per day, if needed.


RESULTS
After 12 weeks of double-blind treatment, intention-to-treat analysis showed that gabapentin 900 mg per day was associated with a 45% reduction in hot flash frequency and a 54% reduction in hot flash composite score (frequency and severity combined into one score) from baseline, compared with 29% (P =.02) and 31% (P =.01) reductions, respectively, for placebo. Four patients (13%) in the gabapentin group and one (3%) in the placebo group withdrew from the double-blind study because of adverse events. Fifteen patients (50.0%) in the gabapentin group reported at least one adverse event, compared with eight patients (27.6%) in the placebo group. Higher, open-label gabapentin dosing was associated with 54% and 67% reductions in hot flash frequency and composite score from baseline, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Gabapentin is effective in reducing hot flash frequency and severity in postmenopausal women.
Guttuso
Thomas
T
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. thomas_guttuso@urmc.rochester.edu
Kurlan
Roger
R
McDermott
Michael P
MP
Kieburtz
Karl
K
D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077206:Gabapentin; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin