Paullinia cupana for control of hot flashes in breast cancer patients: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluated whether Paullinia cupana decrease number and severity of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors.


METHODS
This was a prospective phase II pilot study. We studied female breast cancer survivors who had completed the cancer treatment 3 months previously and who were experiencing at least 14 hot flashes per week. At least 9 of the 15 patients were required to have a decrease of at least 50% in hot flash severity score in keeping with the Simon Design. Patients received 50mg of dry extract of Paullinia cupana orally twice a day for 6 weeks. We assessed both frequency and severity of hot flashes.


RESULTS
A total of 18 patients started the Paullinia cupana treatment, and 15 completed the study. Three patients left the study immediately after starting the treatment because of personal difficulties in participation or noncompliance. Of the 15 patients who completed the study 10 had a decrease of more than 50% in hot flash severity scores. During the 6 weeks of treatment, statistically significant decreases were seen in both numbers of hot flashes (p=0.0009) and severity scores (p<0.0001). Paullinia cupana was well tolerated, and there were no instances of discontinuation because of toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Paullinia cupana appears promising for controlling hot flashes. More extensive studies seem warranted.
Saulo Silva
SS
Oliveira
Adriana Braz
AB
Del Giglio
Tatiana Goberstein
TG
Lerner
Rebecca Melo
RM
Zanellato
Livia
L
Tiemi
Lucas
L
Reifur
Patrícia Xavier
PX
Santi
Auro
A
Del Giglio
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D032126:Paullinia; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010936:Plant Extracts