Jill Brook Hervik
Vestfold Hospital Trust, Norway
Title: Adverse effects of non-hormonal pharmacological interventions in breast cancer survivors, suffering from hot flashes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Biography
Biography: Jill Brook Hervik
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.