PILOT EVALUATION OF VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE FOR THE THERAPY OF HOT FLASHES IN CANCER SURVIVORS

Purpose: Hot flashes can be a prominent clinical problem for breast ca ncer survivors and men who undergo androgen-deprivation therapy Anecdo tal information suggested a low dose of a relatively new antidepressan t, venlafaxine, could abrogate this clinical problem. Materials and Me thods: 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 w eeks, during which time patients received venlafaxine 12.5 mg orally t wice 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 hat flash scores were reduced by 55% fro m baseline during the fourth week of venlafaxine therapy. Therapy was generally well tolerated and appeared to alleviate fatigue, sweating, and trouble sleeping. Conclusion: Venlafaxine appears to represent an efficacious new method to alleviate hot flashes, Further evaluation of this compound far alleviating hat flashes is indicated. (C) 1998 by A merican Society of Clinical Oncology.