title: The efficacy of sertraline for controlling hot flashes in women with or at high risk of developing breast cancer.
abstract: The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of sertraline for controlling hot flashes in women with or at high risk of breast cancer. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. All participants were asked to complete hot flash diaries. Participants reporting weekly hot flash scores >15 during baseline week underwent a 1-week single-blind placebo run-in. Those reporting hot flash score reductions >50% following placebo run-in were excluded. The remaining women received an assigned treatment for 4 weeks. Both groups' demographic and clinical characteristics were similar with a greater decline, but not statistically significant, in hot flash frequencies and scores in the sertraline-treated group compared with the placebo (P = 0.13 and P = 0.15, respectively). Emotional well-being improved significantly in the sertraline group (P = 0.041). The study failed to demonstrate effectiveness of sertraline in attenuating hot flashes in women with or at high risk of developing breast cancer who were not recommended to take hormone replacement therapy.
authors.affiliation: Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza BCM 600, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mengfenw@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Meng-Fen
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hilsenbeck
authors.forename: Yee L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Elledge
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline