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Levetiracetam for the treatment of hot flashes: a phase II study

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Abstract

Goals of work

The objectives of this pilot trial were to assess the potential efficacy and safety of levetiracetam for the treatment of hot flashes, a major cause of morbidity among breast cancer survivors.

Patients and methods

Women, aged 18 years or more, with a history of breast cancer or those who wished to avoid estrogen because of a perceived increased risk of breast cancer, who were experiencing bothersome hot flashes (more than or equal to 14 times per week, for more than or equal to 1 month before study entry), were included. During the baseline week, general demographic characteristics, hot flash information, and quality of life data were obtained. At the beginning of week 2, patients were started on levetiracetam for a total of 4 weeks. Information about hot flashes, quality of life, and toxicity were collected during these 4 weeks and compared with the baseline week.

Main results

After treatment with levetiracetam for 4 weeks (N = 19), mean hot flash scores (frequency times mean severity) were reduced by 57%, and mean hot flash frequencies were reduced by 53%, compared to the baseline week; both these reductions were greater than what would be expected with a placebo (20–25% reduction). There were significant improvements in abnormal sweating (p = 0.004), hot flash distress (p = 0.0002), and satisfaction of hot flash control (p = 0.0001), when comparing data from the fourth week of treatment to the baseline week. Twenty-nine percent of the subjects did not complete the study because of treatment-related adverse events, with the most frequently reported side effects being somnolence, fatigue, and dizziness, usually with mild to moderate intensity.

Conclusion

The results of this pilot trial suggest that levetiracetam might be an effective therapy for the treatment of hot flashes. Further data are needed to test this hypothesis, evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of this agent.

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Acknowledgment

Funding source: This study was supported in part by a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Susan Thompson, Debra L. Barton, Lisa Kottschade, Brad Christensen, DeAnne Smith & Charles L. Loprinzi

  2. Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Aditya Bardia

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Angelina Tan & Jeff A. Sloan

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  1. Susan Thompson
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  2. Aditya Bardia
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  3. Angelina Tan
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  9. Charles L. Loprinzi
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Correspondence to Charles L. Loprinzi.

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Thompson, S., Bardia, A., Tan, A. et al. Levetiracetam for the treatment of hot flashes: a phase II study. Support Care Cancer 16, 75–82 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0276-1

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