Gabapentin for Hot Flashes

Although hormone replacement therapy is experiencing a small revival after the dark days of 2002, it’s still only being recommended for the shortest period possible to control severe menopausal symptoms. Recently, it’s been found that there’s less risk of severe cardiovascular side effects if it’s given as close to the time of menopause as possible.

In July 2006 an article in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology reported a well-designed and well-conducted trial of gabapentin, estrogen, and placebo in treating hot flashes. In 60 postmenopausal women, gabapentin, up to a dose of 2,400 mg daily, had a similar success to estrogen in reducing hot flash scores: 72% of patients on estrogen, 71% on gabapentin, and 54% on placebo had a reduction over the 12-week period. There was no difference between estrogen and gabapentin in the extent of the reduction in responding patients. And the adverse events were similar in the two groups, although there were more incidences of headache, dizziness, and disorientation with gabapentin.

These findings suggest that gabapentin may be a suitable drug for treating menopausal symptoms in women who are unsuitable for, or reluctant to, take hormone replacements.