Gabapentin, a drug used to prevent seizures, might reduce the frequency of menopausal-related hot flushes, according to a case report in Neurology (2000;54:2161).
Dr Thomas Guttuso (department of neurology, University of Rochester, New York) describes the cases of six patients who took gabapentin. Overall, the patients experienced an average 87 per cent reduction in the frequency of hot flushes.
In addition, a patient with known hypothalamic dysfunction experienced increased episodes of hypothermia when gabapentin was prescribed for seizure control.
Dr Guttuso comments: "Gabapentin may prove to be a safe and effective alternative treatment for hot flushes in women who are medically unable to take oestrogen therapy." A clinical trial to test gabapentin's effect on hot flushes is currently underway, he says.
(Use of antidepressants for hot flushes, see p968)