Help for Hot Flashes
September 16, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
Hot flashes not only greatly annoy women during the day, but they can prove a big disruption to sleep. For women suffering hot flashes after cancer treatment, rest is important, but difficult. And breast cancer patients can’t take advantage of hormone replacement therapy because they need to avoid estrogen.
One answer to the problem may be the drug gabapentin, a nonhormonal therapy. It was approved by the FDA to fight seizures, but other uses are becoming common. Gabapentin is widely prescribed to reduce pain.
In a study reported on at the National Cancer Institute website, patients taking gabapentin experienced either a 49% or 33% reduction in severity of hot flash symptoms depending on dosage (900 mg or 300 mg). The drug was also very well tolerated.
Researchers note the need for further studies comparing the effectiveness of nonhormonal drug treatments for hot flashes. Another drug commonly used with minimal side effects is the antidepressant venlafaxine.
Do you take a drug for hot flashes?
(Image via MorgueFile)
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