Breast Cancer: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Purpose: To access frequency and severity of adverse effects (AE) of non-hormonal drugs (NHD) for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors compared to controls and analyze adverse effect risk by reviewing published randomized trials. Methods: Five data bases were searched, trials were included where participants were breast cancer survivors suffering from hot flashes, treatment was self-administered venlafaxine, gabapentin or clonidine, and AE’s were reported. AE frequency and severity was graded and a meta-analysis with sub-group analyses was conducted. Results: 12/49 studies were included, 1467 participants experienced 772 adverse effects, 81% from treatment groups and 19% from control groups. 67% of AE’s was graded as mild and 33% as moderate. The frequency of AE for NHD was overall significant versus placebo. AE frequency and severity increased at higher doses for venlafaxine and gabapentin compared to placebo. Conclusion: The odds for experiencing AE was significantly higher in patients randomized to high dose NHD than those randomized to controls, including placebo, low dose medication and acupuncture. These therapies should be considered as a potential treatment alternative.

Biography

Jill Brook Hervik is currently working as a Physiotherapist, Acupuncturist and Researcher in hospital pain clinic (Vestfold Hospital Trust, Norway). Her areas of interest include integrative medicine, the importance of detailed clinical examination, multidisciplinary approach to pain syndromes and long term side effects of breast cancer treatments. She has published eight different articles in reputable medical journals.

Email: jill.hervik@siv.no