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 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. Materials and 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 hat 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. 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 American Society of Clinical Oncology.