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Clinical Trial
. 2005 Sep;366(9488):818-24.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67215-7.

Gabapentin for hot flashes in 420 women with breast cancer: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Kishan J Pandya  1 , Gary R Morrow, Joseph A Roscoe, Hongwei Zhao, Jane T Hickok, Eduardo Pajon, Thomas J Sweeney, Tarit K Banerjee, Patrick J Flynn
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Gabapentin for hot flashes in 420 women with breast cancer: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Kishan J Pandya et al. Lancet. 2005 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Most women receiving systemic therapy for breast cancer experience hot flashes. We undertook a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-institutional trial to assess the efficacy of gabapentin in controlling hot flashes in women with breast cancer.

Methods: 420 women with breast cancer who were having two or more hot flashes per day were randomly assigned placebo, gabapentin 300 mg/day, or gabapentin 900 mg/day by mouth in three divided doses for 8 weeks. Each patient kept a 1-week, self-report diary on the frequency, severity, and duration of hot flashes before the start of the study and during weeks 4 and 8 of treatment. Analyses were by intention to treat.

Findings: Evaluable data were available on 371 participants at 4 weeks (119 placebo, 123 gabapentin 300 mg, and 129 gabapentin 900 mg) and 347 at 8 weeks (113 placebo, 114 gabapentin 300 mg, and 120 gabapentin 900 mg). The percentage decreases in hot-flash severity score between baseline and weeks 4 and 8, respectively were: 21% (95% CI 12 to 30) and 15% (1 to 29) in the placebo group; 33% (23 to 43) and 31% (16 to 46) in the group assigned gabapentin 300 mg; and 49% (42 to 56) and 46% (34 to 58) in the group assigned gabapentin 900 mg. The differences between the groups were significant (p=0.0001 at 4 weeks and p=0.007 at 8 weeks by ANCOVA for overall treatment effect, adjusted for baseline values); only the higher dose of gabapentin was associated with significant decreases in hot-flash frequency and severity.

Interpretation: Gabapentin is effective in the control of hot flashes at a dose of 900 mg/day, but not at a dose of 300 mg/day. This drug should be considered for treatment of hot flashes in women with breast cancer.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trial profile
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean change scores (and 95% CI) for hot-flash frequency and severity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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