How best is to discontinue postmenopausal hormone therapy: immediate or tapered?
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the differences between the immediate and tapered cessation protocols of hormone therapy in terms of recurrence of menopausal symptoms.


METHODS
In this prospective, randomized clinical study 70 consecutive patients in whom hormone therapy was no longer preferred were recruited from the menopause clinic of a university hospital and rank randomized into two groups. In group 1 (n=35) hormone therapy was immediately discontinued and in group 2 (n=35) the medication was tapered. Every patient was questioned about vasomotor symptoms before the initiation of hormone therapy at the first visit, and then revisited at the end of 2 and 4 weeks.


RESULTS
We did not find any statistically significant difference between two protocols in terms of symptom severity and frequency at the end of 2 and 4 weeks of discontinuation. Although statistically insignificant, the symptoms tended to recur in fewer patients and in a less severe form in both groups when compared with their pretreatment status.


CONCLUSIONS
Tapering or immediate discontinuing of hormone therapy did not affect the recurrence rate and severity of menopausal symptoms at the end of 4 weeks.
Aslan
Erdogan
E
Baskent University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Adana Seyhan Hospital, Turkey. er_aslan@yahoo.com
Bagis
Tayfun
T
Kilicdag
Esra Bulgan
EB
Tarim
Ebru
E
Erkanli
Serkan
S
Kuscu
Esra
E
D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins