Pilot evaluation of venlafaxine hydrochloride for the therapy of hot flashes in cancer survivors.

Journal: Journal Of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal Of The American Society Of Clinical Oncology
Published:
Abstract

Objective: Hot flashes can be a prominent clinical problem for breast cancer survivors and men who undergo androgen-deprivation therapy. Anecdotal information suggested a low dose of a relatively new antidepressant, venlafaxine, could abrogate this clinical problem.

Methods: This study included 28 consecutive assessable patients entered onto a phase II clinical trial. Hot flash data were collected by daily diary questionnaires during a 1-week baseline period and then for 4 weeks, during which time patients received venlafaxine 12.5 mg orally twice daily.

Results: Fifty-eight percent of patients who completed the study had a greater than 50% reduction in hot flash scores (frequency times severity) during the fourth treatment week as compared with the baseline week. Median weekly hot flash scores were reduced by 55% from baseline during the fourth week of venlafaxine therapy. Therapy was generally well tolerated and appeared to alleviate fatigue, sweating, and trouble sleeping.

Conclusions: Venlafoxine appears to represent an efficacious new method to alleviate hot flashes. Further evaluation of this compound for alleviating hot flashes is indicated.

Authors
C Loprinzi, T Pisansky, R Fonseca, J Sloan, K Zahasky, S Quella, P Novotny, T Rummans, D Dumesic, E Perez