Pilot study using gabapentin for tamoxifen-induced hot flashes in women with breast cancer.
In this pilot study, 22 women with breast cancer on tamoxifen therapy with at least two hot flashes a day took oral gabapentin at 300 mg three times a day for 4 weeks. The 16 women who completed the study had a mean decrease in hot flash duration of 73.6% (P = 0.027), frequency of 44.2% (P < 0.001), and severity of 52.6% (P < 0.001), with a complete response in 8/16 women. Side effects reported by four women who did not complete 4 weeks of the study were nausea (1/4), rash (1/4) and excessive sleepiness (3/4). Two additional patients did not provide complete data. Gabapentin is a promising new agent in the treatment of tamoxifen induced hot flashes, and should be studied further.
James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA. kishan_pandya@urmc.rochester.edu
Kishan J
KJ
Pandya
Anuradha R
AR
Thummala
Jennifer J
JJ
Griggs
Joseph D
JD
Rosenblatt
Deepak M
DM
Sahasrabudhe
Thomas J
TJ
Guttuso
Gary R
GR
Morrow
Joseph A
JA
Roscoe
D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000588:Amines; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin