Non-hormonal treatment of hot flushes in breast cancer survivors: gabapentin vs. vitamin E

Objectives To assess the efficacy and the tolerability of gabapentin 900 mg day compared to vitamin E for the control of vasomotor symptoms in 115 women with breast cancer. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of the treatments on the quality of sleep and other aspects of the quality o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society 2009-01, Vol.12 (4), p.310-318
Main Authors: Biglia, N., Sgandurra, P., Peano, E., Marenco, D., Moggio, G., Bounous, V., Tomasi Cont, N., Ponzone, R., Sismondi, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Amines - adverse effects
Amines - therapeutic use
Breast cancer
BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy
Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - adverse effects
Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - therapeutic use
Female
GABAPENTIN
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - adverse effects
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - therapeutic use
Hot Flashes - drug therapy
HOT FLUSHES
Humans
MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Sleep
Sleep - drug effects
Surveys and Questionnaires
Survivor
Survivors
Tamoxifen - therapeutic use
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E - therapeutic use
Womens health
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Summary:Objectives To assess the efficacy and the tolerability of gabapentin 900 mg day compared to vitamin E for the control of vasomotor symptoms in 115 women with breast cancer. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of the treatments on the quality of sleep and other aspects of the quality of life. Methods A hot flush diary was completed daily; sleep quality and other menopausal symptoms were assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the SF-36 Health Survey. Results The prescribed treatment with gabapentin was never started by 28.3% of the patients and was interrupted by 28% for side-effects (dizziness and somnolence). Among the women allocated to vitamin E, 16.36% never started therapy and 34.78% dropped out because of inefficacy. Hot flush frequency and score decreased by 57.05% and 66.87%, respectively (p < 0.05) in the gabapentin group. The effect of vitamin E was fairly small: hot flush frequency and score were reduced by 10.02% and 7.28%, respectively (p > 0.05). Gabapentin was also particularly effective in improving the quality of sleep (PSQI score reduction: 21.33%, p < 0.05). Conclusion Gabapentin appears to be effective for the treatment of hot flushes with a favorable effect on quality of sleep. Vitamin E has only marginal effect on vasomotor symptoms.
ISSN:1369-7137
1473-0804
DOI:10.1080/13697130902736921